Worship

When in pain, you come to worship for a cure. 

When there's no pain, you come to worship for faith.

GI: Ichimura, Mitsugoro (2) 28-1

When you feel pain physically or mentally, your first reaction is to want the pain to subside.  You seek immediate relief, and search the resources available to you to find a possible cure.  With faith, you may visit your church to pray and seek Kami's help to receive divine blessings.  In fact, seeking relief through religious devotion is a natural reaction to the pain you feel and will bring about relief and divine blessings.

Konko Daijin teaches us that when you are in a normal state of mind and body, worship can do even more.  It can help you to grow spiritually.  Coming to church to worship when things are going well will develop your faith and strengthen your relationship with Kami.  It may not seem important at the time, but it is like preventative maintenance to help avoid future problems down the road.

You must remember to practice faith even if you are not in pain or in need of immediate help.  You should practice faith consistently in good times and bad to become closer to Kami each and every day.  Your faith must not be temperamental; it should be steady and strong so it can support you when you experience difficulties in your life.