The scriptures have been sealed

 I said I'd turn to Christianity next, but I have something to say before that.

The quotes from the scriptures and saints on this site are always arbitrary. They don't clearly state the exact source, saying which scripture and which chapter it is from. They just write things like, "I think it said something like this."

I intend to continue this style as ever.

I think I wrote about this in an earlier post, but it's because I've decided to stop quoting certain passages from the scriptures and praise about them. To be honest, I did a lot of praises by quoting scripture and clearly stating the exact source over 20 years ago. When I looked at the scriptures, I could see the light of mercy and the light of love, and I couldn't help but stick sticky notes on those passages. I ended up with several sticky notes on one page, and my wife even told me I was stupid. There was a time when I would blog about every single one of these.

So even now, the scriptures are still within reach. I have the Bible, Buddhist scriptures, the Quran, hadith, and the Gospel of Ramakrishna. I also had quite a few works by saints, but for some reason, I sent most of my religious books to a second-hand bookstore in Kanda that specializes in religious books. The Buddhist scriptures are vast, so I only have the core works left. I slightly regret not keeping some, like the Mahayana Nirvana Sutra and the Avatamsaka Sutra. Aside from Buddhist scriptures, the only things I just couldn't throw away are the collected works of Shinran and Nichiren, one each. They're lined up side by side, perfect for each other. As for Christianity, I also got rid of Augustine and Luther's works, and the only one left is "The Little Flower of St. Francis." I just couldn't bring myself to throw it away. I said before that when it comes to Christianity, Luther is the only choice, but it's "The Little Flower of St. Francis." Why?

Still, I couldn't bear to part with the basic scriptures, so I still have them, and I can open them up and look them up to identify the sources.

So why don't you do it?

It feels like I've been sealed away. By God. By Buddha.

It's like I'm being told not to read anymore. To look up from the book.

That's why, for the past 20 years or so, I haven't opened the scriptures once, ever. Part of it is because I became an "online game addict." But even since I started writing this blog, or rather my diary, I haven't opened any of them. Not the Buddhist scriptures, the Bible, the Quran, the hadith, or the Gospels of Ramakrishna.

But why are they sealed away?

I think it's probably this.

The scriptures are love letters from God, from Buddha, to humanity. I think I've said this before. But love letters are written for people who are far away and can't be met, right? If your lover was right in front of you, wouldn't it be strange to keep reading love letters? Why are you still reading love letters when the person you are interested in is right in front of you? Once you're with the one you love, you no longer need love letters, right? But I can't bear to throw them away. I'd like to keep them as a memento, though.

So, what do I do now?

So, all that's left is to follow my usual path of "following the guidance of love and mercy."

That said, I don't want to suddenly make grand claims like "saving humanity." I want to start with the smallest, most individual things I can do, and move forward, little by little. Otherwise, you'll quickly give up.

Well, once the scriptures are sealed, it's inevitable that you'll gradually forget their words. That's true. What happened next? I'll save that for next time. That's all for today.

Following the guidance of love and mercy

←　→