Practicing the Truth Beyond Comparison

nyma.office
May 9
3 min read

Dear Spiritual Friends,

Seicho-No-Ie is a place to learn and live by the truth. Have you ever asked yourself the fundamental question: What is truth?

According to the Holy Sutra Nectarean Shower of Holy Doctrines, truth is one of God’s divine attributes. In Japanese, the word “truth” is expressed using two Chinese characters: Makoto (true) and Ri (reason or principle).

The only thing that holds true value is God. In this Holy Sutra, it is stated:

God the Creator

Is beyond the five senses,

Even beyond the sixth sense,

Holy,

Supreme,

Infinite,

Mind that penetrates the universe,

Life that permeates the universe,

Law that governs the universe,

Truth,

Light,

Wisdom,

Absolute love—

These are the very nature of the Grand Life—

The Divine attributes of God, the Absolute.

(Holy Sutra Nectarean Shower of Holy Doctrines, pp. 8-9)

Truth is part of God. When we learn the truth and live by it, we find real meaning in life and move toward the purpose we were born to fulfill. This truth does not change. But the world around us—the phenomenal world—changes all the time. In this world, value is judged by comparison and can shift depending on time and situation.

In today’s world, we face many complicated issues. To deal with them, people often decide what is right or wrong based on what most others think or what society says is normal. For example, something that helps the majority is often called “good,” but those who are not part of the majority might see it as unfair or harmful. God’s world, however, is different. It goes beyond ideas of right and wrong based on opinions or comparisons. In that higher realm, truth is not decided by popularity.

Consider the economic disparity between the rich and the poor. Some propose that wealthier individuals should pay more taxes to support those in need. While this may be welcomed by the poor, it could be rejected by the wealthy, who might respond by leaving the country. Similarly, on issues like abortion, war, affirmative action, or same-sex marriage, opposing views are rooted in different perspectives and positions. Each side believes it is right, and their arguments stem from their relative stance.

These problems come from living in a world of comparison. They can’t be solved by majority vote, because opinions and values change over time. What most people support today might not be popular tomorrow. That’s why we must learn the truth—so we can rise above comparison and find what is truly right and unchanging.

Earth Day, which takes place in April, reminds us that the global environment affects all of humanity. Our old ways of thinking may no longer work. To protect our future, we must look beyond changing opinions and discover values that come from the absolute world—God’s world. Without knowing the truth, we cannot find lasting happiness.

At Seicho-No-Ie, we learn the truth, apply it in daily life, and go beyond the judgments of right and wrong based on comparison. Instead, we try to see what is truly good and right from the view of the True-Image World. When we live this way, we begin to experience what Jesus said in the Bible: “The truth will make you free” (John 8:32).

Let’s keep learning the truth and living it every day.