FEATURED ARTICLE

April 2006 - by Mako Tsuyuki (KC Los Angeles)

This article is both an edited and shortened version of the presentation given at the KCNA Regional Seminar in February of 2006, in Sacramento. The diagram provided with this article (see below) was used to assist the presenter and participants attending the seminar.

In seeking Kami, one must be aware of why we have so much difficulty finding our way. Referring to level #1 of the diagram, the relationship between you and Kami as presented can be described in the following way. Kami exists without boundaries or limitations. You, on the other hand, are heavily encircled with many human shortcomings, accumulated over time. The heavy circle around “the Living You” can represent a variety of characteristics which have become part of so-called personality, such as lack of trust, self centeredness, hate, arrogance, selfishness, greed, self doubt, bias, pretentious and the like. In this circumstance, it is impossible for you to realize the Kami that is around you. Some people spend their entire lives at this level, often times blaming others and feeling sorry for the conditions in their lives.

When you acknowledge your imperfections and begin to consciously make an effort to remedy your shortcomings, you have taken the first step in the development of faith. As you become more fully aware of the nature of your shortcoming and take steps to remedy this situation, you move to level #2 of the diagram.

In level #2, the circle around you is not as heavily drawn, as in level #1, because you have become more aware of a particular shortcoming or flaw in yourself and have begun trying to correct this situation. This acknowledgement can occur in part when your lack of trust is replaced with a growing trust (in Kami) and Kami desires to save you. Thus, your increasing trust (replaces your lack of trust) and begins to thin the barrier or circle around you, enabling Kami to come closer to you.

At the level #3 stage, you have continued your faith development by realizing more of your shortcomings and have sought to remedy each of them over time. As you make progress, the circle around you continues to get thinner and thinner and Kami is able to come closer and closer to you. One of the ways we move from one level to another is when we seek mediation and get assistance from a minister. The following prayer expresses this method. Through Ikigami Konko Daijin, to Tenchi Kane no Kami, (Repeat) pray wholeheartedly, the divine favor depends upon the sincerity of your prayers. Another way is when we seek Kami’s help directly through prayer.

Finally, the level #4 stage is the ultimate goal sought by both Kami and you. You have addressed you shortcomings and flaws. They are not part of your personality any longer and thus the barriers have been removed. What has developed in its place is your true virtue, which is one and the same as the virtue of Kami. Thus, Kami and you have become one, which is called a “Living Kami” in the Konko faith.

At this level, Kami is fulfilled because Kami has been able to save you, and you are fulfilled because you have been saved by Kami. In Konko faith phraseology, this is called mutual fulfillment (or aiyo kakeyo). Most of us have read the story of the Founder, Konko Daijin, and how he was able to become a Living Kami. However, most of us lack the confidence (one of the shortcomings creating a circle around you), desire (another circle) and patience (yet another circle) to develop in a way the Founder did. The consequence of not developing our virtue is that Kami remains distant, vague, and seemingly unreachable, (unfulfilled in relation to you and me) and we, in turn, remain heavily encircled with numerous shortcomings and flaws, continually wondering why our lives are so problematic (or why our lives are so unfulfilled without Kami).

In conclusion, to answer the question of Kami, Where Art Thou, each of us needs to begin to make an effort in self discovery and acknowledgement of who we are as individuals. Though sincere and honest self evaluation, each of us can begin to remove the circles that keep us away from Kami and from revealing our true virtue as a Living Kami.