Teachings
MAKOTO èª
MAKOTO èª
The key to solving every problem — in the world, in the nation, and in the life of the
individual — lies in the single word: Makoto¹.
The poverty of politics arises from a poverty of Makoto.
The shortage of material goods stems from a shortage of Makoto.
The decay of morality is due to the absence of Makoto.
The disruption of order emerges where Makoto is lacking.
Every loathsome problem has its root in the deficiency of Makoto.
Religion, scholarship, and art alike are but empty shells if sincerity does not stand at
their core.
Ah! Makoto it is! Makoto it is!
O humanity, the key to solving your problems is none other than Makoto alone.
Date of Presentation: January 25, 1949
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¹ Makoto: Divine Love shown by humans in thoughts, words and actions. Makoto is a very important concept in our organization. Meishu-sama‘s initial teaching is about Makoto. The dictionary definition of Makoto is “sincerity”, but its true meaning is much more than that. Makoto also means to make a sincere effort by the will of God.
Whether One Has MAKOTO or Not
Whether One Has MAKOTO or Not
Let me describe the simplest way to know whether a person has Makoto or not. A person who possesses Makoto values promises above all else and keeps them faithfully. People may not think much about whether one keeps a promise or not. Yet in truth, it is by no means a trivial matter. To break a promise is to deceive the other person, and thus it amounts to committing a type of sin. Of all kinds of promises, people tend to value time the most lightly. Please reflect carefully about what it means to agree on a time and then fail to honor it. The other person shows up on time and waits, but the person they’re waiting for still doesn’t come. That boredom and frustration for them is quite painful. As the Japanese proverb says so well, “Even if you become the one who is waited for, do not become the one who waits.” Accordingly, one ought to comprehend the feelings of the person who is kept waiting. If sympathy does not arise, it is because one lacks Makoto. If that is the case, then no matter how admirable a person’s deeds may be, without Makoto, every other virtue loses its worth. Therefore, a believer of God should keep strictly to one’s promise and should not make light of punctuality. Should one be unable to put this into practice, one is a failure in faith. A believer must engrave this upon their heart and never forget.
Date of Presentation: January 28, 1950