Monday, November 2, 2009

Just the way it is



Ise is the land of the rising sun where the sun appears from the ocean.

In Kumano, the sun is hidden in the morning looking from Ise. And the ancient Shintoist acknowledged the area as Yomi-no-kuni (the land of the dead).

Thus the god worshipped in Ise has been the sun goddess Amaterasu-Ohomikami. And the god worshipped in Kumano was the god of the land of the dead, Susanoo, in the ancient time. The original shrines worshipped one or the other. But nowadays, other gods are added from humanly thoughts and the distinction of shrines has become dim.

The essence of Japanese Shinto is the teachings of nature. The name of the gods expresses the different functions of nature.

Amaterasu = sunlight = activate lives.
Susanoo = moonlight = give rest to lives.

This morning, I received a message from a god that Susanoo = sunaosa (meaning honesty). Susanoo is also a god of harai purification. So this message means that one’s honesty will purify one’s impurity and problems.

In the mythology, Susanoo was unruly to his father, a rebel. But old tales are often told the other way around.

In this world, we have day and night, light and dark. Some spiritual gurus would say they are no light and dark, it's just in your imagination. But that is not true.

I would say, just look at your life the way it is with honesty. We humans have gone through many problems through out our lives from ancient times. That has been the same. We need those problems in order to grow. It’s meant to be the way it is.

How do we get through our problems? Look at it with your honest feelings. Don’t get sucked into the problem. Observe. If you look at your problems from the point of life and death, it’s really no big deal. Time will be the solution. Accept the way it is with honesty.

Ikashite-itadaite Arigato-gozaimasu

Thank you for letting us live

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

My mom showed me this blog, and she lives by everything you say. I'm not in a good place in my life right now, I feel lost and empty. I'm not good at anything, I have no interest in anything, no hobbies, no real friends, I hurt or push away any guys and try to be secluded from everyone. I don't care for my job, I just want to die. There's nothing here for me. I'm either really extremely happy and skinny or very unhappy and over eat. I pick on my mom and dad so much and put them down all the time. I call them stupid, moronic, and tell them mean things all the time. I have so much anger and rage for some reason towards everyone. Please help me figure out what's wrong with me, I'm desperate right now. I just want to disappear from the world.

マータ said...

Thank you for question. I will translate this to the author and get back to you.

マータ said...

From the author: Work on the three incense kuyo to your ancestral spirits. Continue to do it daily. Then you will start to feel better and alright.

マータ said...

If you don't understand ancestral kuyo, please read "Sending gratitude to your ancestors" July,20,2008. also click on bottom Labels:Ancestral Worship to see other articles.

Anonymous said...

Ok I will start to do that daily. I did it for awhile but some days I would forget or not really care. I understand there are so many important things in the world going on right now, war, poverty, recession.. and I'm lucky to even have shelter, food, water...a job. But how can anyone be happy living in this sick society. I see people everyday doing the same things, working, going out with friends or family, wasting money on stupid things, drinking, doing drugs, it kills me to see how some people live and then you see some have NOTHING at all. Most of the news on tv is just lies, or twisted stories. This is not a world I would want to raise children in. I guess if I just focus on the negative that's all it's going to be but there doesn't seem to be enough positive
Now that I look at my previous comment it seems insignificant but I read the symptoms of depression and it fits me perfectly. So I will light the 3 incense and send gratitude, hopefully it will help me.

マータ said...

As mentioned in earlier articles, if you have lost ancestral spirits above you, your condition cannot progress. That is why you need to stay strong and continue the gratitude sending so they can leave this plane and elevate so your pipeline is clear. You don't want any heavy clouds above you. Also don't focus on the negative things happening on the outer world, but simply focus on what you have and be in gratitude. You have good meals at home, you have a nice warm house, a bed to sleep on, you have clothes, you have a job.... many people don't have this. Be appreciative and do your best. It doesn't have to be perfect. Just do your best and shine your light to help influence others. It may not appear in your eyes immediately but it will definitely help. When each and one of us start shine their light, a big good change will happen. Don't expect immediate results. Simply continue daily.
Ganbatte ! Keep smiling!

マータ said...

as they say, fake it til you make it !

Anonymous said...

I will give it a shot. I really appreciate you taking time out of your day to respond to me and give me advice. It's greatly helpful, so thanks a lot.