"'Who Do You Say I AM?'; Peter Answered, 'You Are God's Messiah'"
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Transfiguration and Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Transfiguration and Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Now, we can focus on the biggest enigma, mystery, or wonder reported in the Gospels: "Resurrection."
The point is as follows:
1) Jesus Christ met "two mysterious figures" in the night of Transfiguration.
2) The women who came to a sepulcher, after the Crucifixion, where Jesus' body had been laid met "two mysterious figures" they took as angels.
They are the same two persons or their agents who had informed Jesus Christ of Judas' plight and forced betrayal and thus arranged how to cope with it.
As Jesus Christ decided to accept execution by Romans in order to save Judas whose life must have been at stake depending on success of this conspiracy concocted by the Roman Governor, the God praised Jesus Christ and endowed Him with the might to revive Himself, though Jesus Christ had already various supernatural power.
Accordingly, Jesus Christ revived Himself, though with certain support from "the two mysterious figures" or their agents who told the women at the sepulcher to go back to Galilee (for safety and security).
This is the most reasonable interpretation on the "Resurrection" the Gospels reported.
+ + +
Let's see the report in the King James Version so as to get the hint and insight on who the "two mysterious figures" were:
"Mar 15:43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
Mar 15:44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.
Mar 15:45 And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph."
The "two mysterious figures" seem to have relations with Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, and the centurion of Roman troops.
They must have been secret followers of Jesus Christ, but due to their states and positions, they could not see Him openly in daylight.
They must have sent their valets or servants, who were also followers of Jesus Christ, to the sepulcher. And, when Jesus Christ resurrected with the holy but physically effective power, their garments must have turned to "dazzling white," too.
Let's confirm it:
"Luk 24:1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
Luk 24:2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
Luk 24:3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
Luk 24:4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
Luk 24:5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
Luk 24:6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,"
And further:
"Mar 16:7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
Mar 16:8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid."
+ + +
You had better think about it well.
I will extend this theory later, maybe tomorrow, that is, Sunday in Japan.
+ + +
Nowadays, even news broadcast stations like CNN have sometimes focused on Christian issues, such as the "last days" of Jesus Christ.
And, authors, such as Mr. Bob Woodward, have also attached importance on a religious aspect on public people.
(Especially, "State of Denial" by Mr. Bob Woodward is interesting, since it reports that US President Mr. George W. Bush is really observing, at least, his version of Christianity.)
+ + +
In most cases, Japanese are significantly cultivated in terms of spirituality and religion, while they do not look so honestly observing Buddhism or Shinto, or more profoundly monotheistic religion.
But, there are no problems in real life, since Japanese are significantly cultivated in terms of spirituality and religion or a view on life and death as well as good and evil.
("Master formality and then forget about the formality, though keeping an enlightened mind" is one of profound, Japanese proverbs.
World-class professionals and performers, including actors, models, TV personalities, and politicians, must understand it.
In this context, Jesus Christ really behaved as such unlike poor rabbis 2000 years ago.
Now, it is your turn, if you like to.)
"Lord Has Given Me - Authority to Build You Up, Not to Tear You Down"
Now, we can focus on the biggest enigma, mystery, or wonder reported in the Gospels: "Resurrection."
The point is as follows:
1) Jesus Christ met "two mysterious figures" in the night of Transfiguration.
2) The women who came to a sepulcher, after the Crucifixion, where Jesus' body had been laid met "two mysterious figures" they took as angels.
They are the same two persons or their agents who had informed Jesus Christ of Judas' plight and forced betrayal and thus arranged how to cope with it.
As Jesus Christ decided to accept execution by Romans in order to save Judas whose life must have been at stake depending on success of this conspiracy concocted by the Roman Governor, the God praised Jesus Christ and endowed Him with the might to revive Himself, though Jesus Christ had already various supernatural power.
Accordingly, Jesus Christ revived Himself, though with certain support from "the two mysterious figures" or their agents who told the women at the sepulcher to go back to Galilee (for safety and security).
This is the most reasonable interpretation on the "Resurrection" the Gospels reported.
+ + +
Let's see the report in the King James Version so as to get the hint and insight on who the "two mysterious figures" were:
"Mar 15:43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
Mar 15:44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.
Mar 15:45 And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph."
The "two mysterious figures" seem to have relations with Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, and the centurion of Roman troops.
They must have been secret followers of Jesus Christ, but due to their states and positions, they could not see Him openly in daylight.
They must have sent their valets or servants, who were also followers of Jesus Christ, to the sepulcher. And, when Jesus Christ resurrected with the holy but physically effective power, their garments must have turned to "dazzling white," too.
Let's confirm it:
"Luk 24:1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
Luk 24:2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
Luk 24:3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
Luk 24:4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
Luk 24:5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
Luk 24:6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,"
And further:
"Mar 16:7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
Mar 16:8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid."
+ + +
You had better think about it well.
I will extend this theory later, maybe tomorrow, that is, Sunday in Japan.
+ + +
Nowadays, even news broadcast stations like CNN have sometimes focused on Christian issues, such as the "last days" of Jesus Christ.
And, authors, such as Mr. Bob Woodward, have also attached importance on a religious aspect on public people.
(Especially, "State of Denial" by Mr. Bob Woodward is interesting, since it reports that US President Mr. George W. Bush is really observing, at least, his version of Christianity.)
+ + +
In most cases, Japanese are significantly cultivated in terms of spirituality and religion, while they do not look so honestly observing Buddhism or Shinto, or more profoundly monotheistic religion.
But, there are no problems in real life, since Japanese are significantly cultivated in terms of spirituality and religion or a view on life and death as well as good and evil.
("Master formality and then forget about the formality, though keeping an enlightened mind" is one of profound, Japanese proverbs.
World-class professionals and performers, including actors, models, TV personalities, and politicians, must understand it.
In this context, Jesus Christ really behaved as such unlike poor rabbis 2000 years ago.
Now, it is your turn, if you like to.)
"Lord Has Given Me - Authority to Build You Up, Not to Tear You Down"
Friday, March 30, 2007
70% of Chinese Petitioners Beaten
70% of Chinese Petitioners Beaten
I got a piece of information on poor people in China.
A large number of poor farmers and workers in local areas have come to, and are staying in, the capital of China, Beijing, to appeal directly to the central Government.
They are suffering from injustice and unjust transactions by local authorities in tie-ups with gangsters.
Their farm lands have been abused, contaminated, or confiscated illegally; a budget of a village or a local town is being usurped; and their human rights are being suppressed by violence.
But, more significantly, 70% of those petitioners to the central Government is beaten and violated as retaliation by local officers when they have returned home, according to a special survey.
+ + +
Even when they are waiting for a chance to file a petition to a concerned public office, it usually takes several months; and some of them become homeless in Beijing.
Now, there are several thousands of such farmers in Beijing, though the number would increase to tens of thousands, when a big conference is held in the capital.
Anyway, the world should more carefully examine reports from China which is going to host the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.
* * *
China was traditionally a country of Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. But, since the Chinese Communist Party won the civil war after WWII, Marxism has been adopted and applied, wiping out some important traditions.
Though Chinese people can individually rely on its long history and traditions, especially nowadays in the era of market-oriented economy, the social system is still based on the philosophy which was devised in the European Christian Civilization.
(Marxism is regarded as anti-religion, but it is in fact anti-Christian-Civilization. Karl Marx was born in an Israelite family; and thus though he later converted to Protestantism and atheism, he might have wanted to challenge the Christian civilization, which was then not beneficial to poor Europeans, no matter if consciously or unconsciously.
Adolf Hitler must have taken Marxism as anti-Christian-Civilization philosophy. Hitler must have partly believed that he was doing a right thing by attacking Israelites, one of whom had come up with the philosophy, so as to defend the Christian Civilization in Germany.
Hitler's attacks on Israelites and the Soviet Union were carried out from the same motivation no matter if it was just a veneer one to mobilize German citizens: defending the Christian Civilization in Germany from Marxism, the anti-Christian-Civilization philosophy, and from Israelites, one of whom thought up the philosophy [probably according to Hitler's interpretation, with a dangerous intention deeply hidden inside against Christian society].
In any kind of way, I do not defend Adolf Hitler, who distressed Japan even after WWII due to its coalition with Germany during the war, at all. I love to see "The Great Dictator" Charles Chaplin produced.
But, as Hitler had hit the crucial point, "Defense of European Christian Civilization," even ordinary and sensible German people were tragically induced to follow him; consequently they attacked Israelites with religious justification internally for which each Christian system in Europe should be liable, at least, to a certain degree.
Finally and most importantly, Chinese ministers and high-ranking officers of their Party and Government should not, in any circumstances, blame a Japanese Prime Minister as being "another Hitler" in this era of peace in the Far East.)
* * *
In extreme argument, Chinese are apt to pursue materialism, while Japanese adore spiritualism.
Of course, God is spirit as well known in the Christian Civilization.
(A human relationship should be also spiritual. Spirit can send message beyond time and space. But, a human body cannot)
"THAT IS WHY WE ALWAYS PRAY FOR YOU"
I got a piece of information on poor people in China.
A large number of poor farmers and workers in local areas have come to, and are staying in, the capital of China, Beijing, to appeal directly to the central Government.
They are suffering from injustice and unjust transactions by local authorities in tie-ups with gangsters.
Their farm lands have been abused, contaminated, or confiscated illegally; a budget of a village or a local town is being usurped; and their human rights are being suppressed by violence.
But, more significantly, 70% of those petitioners to the central Government is beaten and violated as retaliation by local officers when they have returned home, according to a special survey.
+ + +
Even when they are waiting for a chance to file a petition to a concerned public office, it usually takes several months; and some of them become homeless in Beijing.
Now, there are several thousands of such farmers in Beijing, though the number would increase to tens of thousands, when a big conference is held in the capital.
Anyway, the world should more carefully examine reports from China which is going to host the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.
* * *
China was traditionally a country of Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. But, since the Chinese Communist Party won the civil war after WWII, Marxism has been adopted and applied, wiping out some important traditions.
Though Chinese people can individually rely on its long history and traditions, especially nowadays in the era of market-oriented economy, the social system is still based on the philosophy which was devised in the European Christian Civilization.
(Marxism is regarded as anti-religion, but it is in fact anti-Christian-Civilization. Karl Marx was born in an Israelite family; and thus though he later converted to Protestantism and atheism, he might have wanted to challenge the Christian civilization, which was then not beneficial to poor Europeans, no matter if consciously or unconsciously.
Adolf Hitler must have taken Marxism as anti-Christian-Civilization philosophy. Hitler must have partly believed that he was doing a right thing by attacking Israelites, one of whom had come up with the philosophy, so as to defend the Christian Civilization in Germany.
Hitler's attacks on Israelites and the Soviet Union were carried out from the same motivation no matter if it was just a veneer one to mobilize German citizens: defending the Christian Civilization in Germany from Marxism, the anti-Christian-Civilization philosophy, and from Israelites, one of whom thought up the philosophy [probably according to Hitler's interpretation, with a dangerous intention deeply hidden inside against Christian society].
In any kind of way, I do not defend Adolf Hitler, who distressed Japan even after WWII due to its coalition with Germany during the war, at all. I love to see "The Great Dictator" Charles Chaplin produced.
But, as Hitler had hit the crucial point, "Defense of European Christian Civilization," even ordinary and sensible German people were tragically induced to follow him; consequently they attacked Israelites with religious justification internally for which each Christian system in Europe should be liable, at least, to a certain degree.
Finally and most importantly, Chinese ministers and high-ranking officers of their Party and Government should not, in any circumstances, blame a Japanese Prime Minister as being "another Hitler" in this era of peace in the Far East.)
* * *
In extreme argument, Chinese are apt to pursue materialism, while Japanese adore spiritualism.
Of course, God is spirit as well known in the Christian Civilization.
(A human relationship should be also spiritual. Spirit can send message beyond time and space. But, a human body cannot)
"THAT IS WHY WE ALWAYS PRAY FOR YOU"
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Buddhist Temple in Summer Rain
(Samurais especially loved Zen Buddhism. The above temple has 1400 year-history though the main building was rebuilt 300 years ago.)Japanese Buddhism Enlightened against Mongol Invasion
Japanese Buddhism Enlightened against Mongol Invasion
Probably I have to add some explanation to a certain incident in the following presentation:
"Development of Underlying Spiritual Events of Mankind:
GOD
/
/
/
Abraham (around 1900 B.C.)
/
/
/
Moses (around 1200 B.C.)
/
/
/
JUDAISM (around 500 B.C.)
Brahmanism Enlightened (around 500 B.C.)
Buddha (around 500 B.C.)
Confucius (around 500 B.C.)
/
/
/
CHRISTIANITY (around A.D. 100)
/
/
/
ISLAM (around 700)
/
/
/
Japanese Buddhism Enlightened (around 1300)
/
/
/
American Denominations Expanded (around 1900)
/
/
/
The 21st Century: The Present Day"
+ + +
Among the above stated incidents, the least known one must be "Japanese Buddhism Enlightened (around 1300)."
Today, there is one specific political party in Japan which has joined and formed a coalition cabinet with the Liberal Democratic Party.
The party is called "New Komeito" which is often regarded as a religious party and thus considered by many to be controversial or unconstitutional in the worst sense.
The supporters of this party mostly belong to a quasi-religious body called "Soka Gakkai." Most members of Soka Gakkai believe in teaching of one of prominent Buddhist priests who emerged around 1300 or the 13th or 14th century in Japan.
Nonetheless, "Japanese Buddhism Enlightened (around 1300)" was not carried out by a single prominent monk; there were some other great Buddhist monks in the era when the first samurai regime was established in Japan.
+ + +
The advents of those enlightened monks had really changed the state and practices of Buddhism in Japan. The religion had truly come to become Japanese.
The era is also remembered today for Mongol invasion attempts against Japan, specifically in 1274 and 1281.
The Mongol Empire or the Yuan dynasty (so called as they also occupied China), which conquered almost all the nations in Asia from Korea to China, North India, Persia, the Arab land, Russia, and Turk while invading East Europe, failed in invading Japan and got defeated by samurais who were luckily helped by a typhoon or a mighty summer tempest each time Mongolian fleets attacked Japanese coast lines.
(This summer tempest or typhoon is later called "Kamikaze," literally meaning the God Wind.
Additionally, Marco Polo visited the Yuan dynasty and later wrote about Japan as a kind of miracle countries full of gold in his travel record which eventually drove Christopher Columbus to the famous adventurous voyage heading for Japan but actually leading to the discovery of America. In this context, if samurais physically and Buddhist monks spiritually had not defeated Mongolian invasion and aroused special interest in Marco Polo, Columbus might not have discovered the new world America.)
Facing a national crisis brought by the mightiest bellicose empire in the human history, the Mongol Empire, Japanese needed spiritual leaders. And spiritual work among people as well as monks got activated. It led to emergence of new denominations and reinforcement of conventional denominations of Japanese Buddhism.
It changed the Japanese spiritual world. Just like samurais who defeated the world-strongest invading troops and got confidence, the Buddhism monks achieved the world-class and historic enlightenment.
+ + +
Though I do not belong to any religious denomination or sect or political party, I respect freedom of people to use such organizations.
But, my advice is that you should not let anyone interfere with your direct relation with God.
The issue is rather whether we are now facing the strongest enemy, such as the Mongol Empire in the 13th century, and what faith we need to stand fast against it.
"The Stone Which the Builders Rejected as Worthless Turned out to be the Most Important of All"
Probably I have to add some explanation to a certain incident in the following presentation:
"Development of Underlying Spiritual Events of Mankind:
GOD
/
/
/
Abraham (around 1900 B.C.)
/
/
/
Moses (around 1200 B.C.)
/
/
/
JUDAISM (around 500 B.C.)
Brahmanism Enlightened (around 500 B.C.)
Buddha (around 500 B.C.)
Confucius (around 500 B.C.)
/
/
/
CHRISTIANITY (around A.D. 100)
/
/
/
ISLAM (around 700)
/
/
/
Japanese Buddhism Enlightened (around 1300)
/
/
/
American Denominations Expanded (around 1900)
/
/
/
The 21st Century: The Present Day"
+ + +
Among the above stated incidents, the least known one must be "Japanese Buddhism Enlightened (around 1300)."
Today, there is one specific political party in Japan which has joined and formed a coalition cabinet with the Liberal Democratic Party.
The party is called "New Komeito" which is often regarded as a religious party and thus considered by many to be controversial or unconstitutional in the worst sense.
The supporters of this party mostly belong to a quasi-religious body called "Soka Gakkai." Most members of Soka Gakkai believe in teaching of one of prominent Buddhist priests who emerged around 1300 or the 13th or 14th century in Japan.
Nonetheless, "Japanese Buddhism Enlightened (around 1300)" was not carried out by a single prominent monk; there were some other great Buddhist monks in the era when the first samurai regime was established in Japan.
+ + +
The advents of those enlightened monks had really changed the state and practices of Buddhism in Japan. The religion had truly come to become Japanese.
The era is also remembered today for Mongol invasion attempts against Japan, specifically in 1274 and 1281.
The Mongol Empire or the Yuan dynasty (so called as they also occupied China), which conquered almost all the nations in Asia from Korea to China, North India, Persia, the Arab land, Russia, and Turk while invading East Europe, failed in invading Japan and got defeated by samurais who were luckily helped by a typhoon or a mighty summer tempest each time Mongolian fleets attacked Japanese coast lines.
(This summer tempest or typhoon is later called "Kamikaze," literally meaning the God Wind.
Additionally, Marco Polo visited the Yuan dynasty and later wrote about Japan as a kind of miracle countries full of gold in his travel record which eventually drove Christopher Columbus to the famous adventurous voyage heading for Japan but actually leading to the discovery of America. In this context, if samurais physically and Buddhist monks spiritually had not defeated Mongolian invasion and aroused special interest in Marco Polo, Columbus might not have discovered the new world America.)
Facing a national crisis brought by the mightiest bellicose empire in the human history, the Mongol Empire, Japanese needed spiritual leaders. And spiritual work among people as well as monks got activated. It led to emergence of new denominations and reinforcement of conventional denominations of Japanese Buddhism.
It changed the Japanese spiritual world. Just like samurais who defeated the world-strongest invading troops and got confidence, the Buddhism monks achieved the world-class and historic enlightenment.
+ + +
Though I do not belong to any religious denomination or sect or political party, I respect freedom of people to use such organizations.
But, my advice is that you should not let anyone interfere with your direct relation with God.
The issue is rather whether we are now facing the strongest enemy, such as the Mongol Empire in the 13th century, and what faith we need to stand fast against it.
"The Stone Which the Builders Rejected as Worthless Turned out to be the Most Important of All"
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
History of Mankind Highlighted
History of Mankind Highlighted
Development of Underlying Spiritual Events of Mankind:
GOD
/
/
/
Abraham (around 1900 B.C.)
/
/
/
Moses (around 1200 B.C.)
/
/
/
JUDAISM (around 500 B.C.)
Brahmanism Enlightened (around 500 B.C.)
Buddha (around 500 B.C.)
Confucius (around 500 B.C.)
/
/
/
CHRISTIANITY (around A.D. 100)
/
/
/
ISLAM (around 700)
/
/
/
Japanese Buddhism Enlightened (around 1300)
/
/
/
American Denominations Expanded (around 1900)
/
/
/
The 21st Century: The Present Day
+ + +
Every 600 years or 700 years, God has interfered with mankind to develop its spiritual world for driving the history.
The above noted is the sequence of emergence of underlying spiritual conditions that have formed present-day world major forces.
Whether you believe or not, this sequence can be expanded and detailed to describe the whole human history and the present-day world situations.
For example, all the major players today, Europe/Russia, the U.S., Japan, Islamic countries, China, India, and Israel, are all covered in this sequence.
But, the issue is how much you can praise the God or Allah, observing the all elements "objectively."
(It would be very difficult, unless you are Japanese or you belong to a race which has nothing to do with the above historic elements, to praise glory of mankind, given by the God through the history, adequately.
In any humble way, personal and friendly association with Japanese may be of help to you for understanding the Divine Will, depending upon your vocation.)
"LET NONE OF THEM LOOK DOWN ON YOU"
Development of Underlying Spiritual Events of Mankind:
GOD
/
/
/
Abraham (around 1900 B.C.)
/
/
/
Moses (around 1200 B.C.)
/
/
/
JUDAISM (around 500 B.C.)
Brahmanism Enlightened (around 500 B.C.)
Buddha (around 500 B.C.)
Confucius (around 500 B.C.)
/
/
/
CHRISTIANITY (around A.D. 100)
/
/
/
ISLAM (around 700)
/
/
/
Japanese Buddhism Enlightened (around 1300)
/
/
/
American Denominations Expanded (around 1900)
/
/
/
The 21st Century: The Present Day
+ + +
Every 600 years or 700 years, God has interfered with mankind to develop its spiritual world for driving the history.
The above noted is the sequence of emergence of underlying spiritual conditions that have formed present-day world major forces.
Whether you believe or not, this sequence can be expanded and detailed to describe the whole human history and the present-day world situations.
For example, all the major players today, Europe/Russia, the U.S., Japan, Islamic countries, China, India, and Israel, are all covered in this sequence.
But, the issue is how much you can praise the God or Allah, observing the all elements "objectively."
(It would be very difficult, unless you are Japanese or you belong to a race which has nothing to do with the above historic elements, to praise glory of mankind, given by the God through the history, adequately.
In any humble way, personal and friendly association with Japanese may be of help to you for understanding the Divine Will, depending upon your vocation.)
"LET NONE OF THEM LOOK DOWN ON YOU"
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Earthquakes near The Sea of Japan
Earthquakes near The Sea of Japan
We enjoyed sports programs last Saturday in Japan.
Then, on Sunday morning, a big earthquake hit a prefecture, north of Tokyo, facing the Sea of Japan as even foreign media reported.
Though human casualties were minimal, it might have some significant implication.
* * *
The present Japan's Prime Minister has actually belonged to a faction from which three prime ministers have consecutively appeared, Mr. Yoshiro Mori, Mr. Junichirou Koizumi, and Mr. Shinzo Abe, which is very rare in Japanese politics.
The big boss is former Prime Minister Mr. Mori who looks still most influential to the present regime. And, he is from the prefecture just hit by the earthquake on Sunday.
And, on Monday morning, an accident happened on a commuter railroad passing through the center of Tokyo, which forced thousands of commuters to get out of train cars and walk on a railroad to nearby stations, while much more commuters around the line were affected.
* * *
These might look discrete and non-significant incidents or just haphazard; but it might give a certain warning to Japan.
Or it might mean that we have been lucky as these things happened in place of potentially more disastrous accidents, such as a Tokyo earthquake or an eruption of Mt. Fuji, which would heavily disrupt traffics and communications in Tokyo in a large scale.
Prime Minister Mr. Abe must feel something alarming (on his schedule to see the Chinese Prime Minister and the US President, or on his nationalistic comments).
* * *
Or should I feel something alarming?
Are holy spirits giving me a warning against any of my behaviors?
I am the one living with awe in God, for I have seen so many miracles near and far.
Anyway, we had better be careful in enjoying a sports program while so many people are suffering all over the world, even at this moment, to the degree comparable with the tragedies during WWII.
(One earthquake that happened in October 2004 in another prefecture facing the Sea of Japan was the first issue I took up in this EEE-Report in May 2005.
If you live in a quake-free capital or megalopolis, such as New York, you are really lucky; accordingly, you may feel God's alarming in other way.)
"YOU ARE NOT FAR FROM THE KINGDOM OF GOD"
We enjoyed sports programs last Saturday in Japan.
Then, on Sunday morning, a big earthquake hit a prefecture, north of Tokyo, facing the Sea of Japan as even foreign media reported.
Though human casualties were minimal, it might have some significant implication.
* * *
The present Japan's Prime Minister has actually belonged to a faction from which three prime ministers have consecutively appeared, Mr. Yoshiro Mori, Mr. Junichirou Koizumi, and Mr. Shinzo Abe, which is very rare in Japanese politics.
The big boss is former Prime Minister Mr. Mori who looks still most influential to the present regime. And, he is from the prefecture just hit by the earthquake on Sunday.
And, on Monday morning, an accident happened on a commuter railroad passing through the center of Tokyo, which forced thousands of commuters to get out of train cars and walk on a railroad to nearby stations, while much more commuters around the line were affected.
* * *
These might look discrete and non-significant incidents or just haphazard; but it might give a certain warning to Japan.
Or it might mean that we have been lucky as these things happened in place of potentially more disastrous accidents, such as a Tokyo earthquake or an eruption of Mt. Fuji, which would heavily disrupt traffics and communications in Tokyo in a large scale.
Prime Minister Mr. Abe must feel something alarming (on his schedule to see the Chinese Prime Minister and the US President, or on his nationalistic comments).
* * *
Or should I feel something alarming?
Are holy spirits giving me a warning against any of my behaviors?
I am the one living with awe in God, for I have seen so many miracles near and far.
Anyway, we had better be careful in enjoying a sports program while so many people are suffering all over the world, even at this moment, to the degree comparable with the tragedies during WWII.
(One earthquake that happened in October 2004 in another prefecture facing the Sea of Japan was the first issue I took up in this EEE-Report in May 2005.
If you live in a quake-free capital or megalopolis, such as New York, you are really lucky; accordingly, you may feel God's alarming in other way.)
"YOU ARE NOT FAR FROM THE KINGDOM OF GOD"
Monday, March 26, 2007
After Summer Tempest (flowing to Tokyo Bay)
"The Kingdom of heaven is like this: A woman takes some yeast and mixes it with a bushel of flour until the whole batch of dough rises."
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Significance of Japan to Asians and World Religions
My point of view is that there are specific reasons for each emergence of the three great religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Understanding the holy reasons is the key to devising a solution to contemporary issues, such as the War on Terror and the highly biased supremacy of the dollar as the key currency in the world economy.
* * *
First of all, you have to understand why Japanese can fairly discuss this issue, while 99% of Japan's population has nothing to do with the three great religions; and Japan alone, based on its 2000-year national history, could cope with invasive power of the American/European Civilization, the central player of the modern history.
To understand the above assertion, you have to fairly understand Japan. You may regard Japan as a Britain in Asia. "Britain owes almost everything to the Roman/Greek Civilization; therefore Japan must owe almost everything to the Chinese Civilization," you may think, for example. But, there is a big difference. Japan is more unique against China than Britain is against the Roman Empire and the Greek Civilization.
English and Latin belong to one language group; however, Japanese and Chinese belong to different language groups. Troops of the Roman Empire once advanced into the Great Britain, then Celtic, up to the border to Scotland, but no Chinese troops have ever landed on the Japanese Islands. Romans built many cities in contemporary England and France or in regions of south of the Rhine river; but Chinese have never built any cities in the Japanese Islands.
From 2000 years ago to 1500 years ago, Japanese ancient chiefs tried to be acknowledged as a king by the Emperor of Chinese dynasties, though it was just a nominal title to show off to people in a chief's territory. Anyway, the war in 663 between Japan and China over a territory in the Korean Peninsula put an end to the rather equivocal relationship between the two countries.
(It is just like the establishment of Islam in the same era, putting an end to the rather equivocal relationship between Arabs and Israelites and Europeans; also in the same era the AngloSaxons invaded the Great Britain, separating themselves from other Germanic tribes still suffering from damage given by Roman troops centuries ago.)
Those Japanese chiefs had never sent their people as mercenary soldiers to China unlike chiefs in the north of the Alps did for the Roman Empire.
However, as with Britain who virtually imported culture form the Roman Empire and ancient Greece through their successors, Japan imported various cultural products from China.
More precisely, the ancient Chinese Civilization was relayed to, and preserved well in, Japan, while China undergoing various upheaval, including occupation by Mongols and Manchurians as well as the communist revolution, lost various ancient works and spirits as well as people who fled to Japan.
Actually, a lot of groups of refugees from war-torn China and Korea had fled to the Japanese Islands with culture and skills since the era when the Chinese First Emperor (BC259-BC210) occupied and unified the then whole mainland China for the first time through severe wars and battles and stern application of laws.
Even today, it is estimated, through gene analysis, that 30% or one third of the Japanese is of Chinese origin; also another 30% or one third is of Korean origin (immigration to Japan seems to have occurred over centuries dozens times, each in a reasonable size, around 2000 years ago to assimilate into indigenous Japanese). From a racial point of view, people unique to the Japanese Main Island, in more than a 10,000-year time span, account for only around 10% of the present population, who might have been moving around the Far East when ancestors of American indigenous people were moving to the new continent, America.
Japanese have loved literature, philosophies, and arts of ancient China as well as Chinese letters in addition to Buddhism introduced through China.
Though, all through its history, Japan imported valuable cultural works from each Chinese dynasty, it is the "eighth century" that the Japanese Imperial Court authorized a collection of original poems, called "Man-yo-shu," containing 4500 poems all expressed in Japanese language but written with Chinese characters whose sounds were applied to Japanese words.
(But, soon after the completion of Manyoshu, Japanese invented new letter systems as phonograms by adapting Chinese letters, which called "Kana.")
In other words, since the eighth century, Japan has developed its unique literature, which is one of big differences with the history of Anglo-Saxon culture in the Great Britain.
In addition, Japan had gold, silver, and other natural resources enough to buy and import various foreign products from China and Europe. Japan had mostly obtained those works and products through fair trade, not through invasion and wars, from the seventh century up to the 20th century.
But, when the Imperial Navy, with a fleet consisting of six aircraft carriers and other 14 world-class fighting ships as well as the then world-best zero fighter planes, attacked the US Navy in Pearl Harbor in 1941 (while the US Government, even knowing not performance of the zero fighter, was waiting for Japan's attacks on US bases in the Philippines), its history got into a fatal course and a strong grip of the God's hand, the result of which you can even see today in the EEE-Report.
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I am not so sure if you now consent to my conviction of significance of Japan's 2000 year history which has developed without arousing the world's interest, since it is situated at the End of the East from Jerusalem so far away (beyond the Arab land, Persia, India, and China).
If not, I hope you will change your view, someday, which you conceived and formed without systematically learning about Japan in an unbiased manner and with a right sense of purpose.
Now, I think I will be allowed by the God or Allah to discuss specific reasons for each emergence of the three great religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
(A certain US professor grouped the world into eight civilizations, one of which includes Japan and Japan alone. He is right in this regard, but we cannot expect him to advance his theory more profoundly, for even a professor in the Harvard University cannot comprehend Japanese culture and history, through adequate comparison with other Civilizations, as well as its significance to other Asians.
You had better listen to me, in this context, rather than learned men in the Harvard University or the Vatican who cannot become humble enough to gain a meaningful and valuable insight into Japan.
[In the worst case, they try hard to hinder other Asians in learning about and respecting Japan.]
Anyhow please do not misread my good wish to you, even at any unusual moment.)
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Wooden Pagoda Horyuji Temple built in 607, one of the oldest wooden buildings existing in the world:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C5%8Dry%C5%AB-ji
Buddhism is one of the main spiritual bases of the Japanese people.
"A REMINDER OF WHAT I, THE LORD, HAVE DONE"