A member of every club on campus

10/26

After eikaiwa (English class), we've been talking with a student who's been a 

gem, and who seems interested in finding the truth. She asked what the

difference was between spirit mediums and feeling the Holy Ghost, and 

something clicked that I had realized since coming here, but had never 

really thought about :

The way of Japanese Buddhism is a little like being agnostic.
Everything's true. It doesn't matter what you believe. People believe
things that make them happy, and so long as it makes you happy and
doesn't conflict with those around you and establishes your inner
peace, then not only is it worthy of a pat on the back, it's true.
Your truth is true. My truth is true. Mediums see spirits. Joseph
Smith saw God and Christ. Buddha saw his past lives. In that mindset,
it's all true. But believing in every religion is like being a member
of every club on campus. It really just means that you're not a member
of any of them. Certainly, they love blood types and Horoscopes and
spirit mediums and zodiac signs and whatnot, but "religion" is really
just a set of traditions that you do on New Years and Obon. Unless
they're super intense in their sect, no two Buddhists look the same.

Because of that mindset, an actual, sole "truth" is something that is
foreign to a lot of people. In a way, it's nice, because there are not
any conflicts about religion and whatnot, but when someone is looking
for truth, there is nothing to grab on to. No handhold, no ledge, no
help. It's hard to tell which way is up.

Japan needs missionaries. Not to force all the Buddhists into the
font, but to catch the hands of those who are looking for
something--anything--to hold. It's given me a new perspective on
missionary work, and a new appreciation for my role.

I love my mission, and I love the people here. The Gospel's true, prayer
works, God loves His children. In the name
of Jesus Christ, amen!