44. “It Is to Be Done by Everyone Coming Together”

Once when a construction was being planned at Church Headquarters, the ministers of a certain branch church expressed their wish to be allowed to undertake and complete the construction solely on their own. They also promised to supply the lumber for the project. In response, the Honseki warned:

“To undertake a construction on your own is against the spirit of the path. It is to be done by everyone coming together.”

Thus the Honseki’s words were saying that God does not want a single person to gain credit or recognition. God becomes joyful when God’s children all come together and achieve results by proceeding cheerfully.

The central objective in the path is for everyone to come together cheerfully. The ideal on this path is for rich and poor, strong and meek, young and old, to all come together in a unity of mind and cheerfully engage in earth-carrying hinokishin.

(From Ten no jogi p. 143)

• Next installment in this series: 45. Encouraging a Spirit of Kindness

*Note: This post has been revised since its original publication.