Moon, Mappo and the Young Men’s Division

by James C. Stephens

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Tuesday, November 16, 1976

Last night I was appointed Young Men’s Division Senior leader of Marina Chapter. How happy I am! Such an opportunity to grow! Excuse me losing my train of thought, but I just caught wind of an interview of the “Moon” movement on the radio. It sickens me! Such a movement is evidence of Mappo. It is based on the charismatic leadership of a Korean named Sun Myung Moon, who is a self-proclaimed modern Messiah. He is an adamant anti-communist and such a Christian.* His goal is to rule the world. Revelation 12.* “To rule the world and be brought to the throne of God.”  People are grasping for a new renaissance in these dark ages. I can see slightly why we are off the street. Moon and everyone else is there. NSA has changed gears. My God you can’t even compare these movements as NSA is so advanced, it is the law of the universe. I have a great mission, I must develop. I must make our Chapter #1 in YMD. We must grasp Mr. Williams and President Ikeda’s spirit.

The world is calling for us. This only means it is time for me to challenge my life to its depths. Shibucho scolded me severely, said he was ashamed I was being appointed a Senior leader. He had nothing to do with it he explained. Someone thought you were sincere. I must become his right hand man. I must challenge my life to the depths. I have some ideas for a YMD campaign to really stretch, to change our lives. President Ikeda says youth need to be buffeted by the waves. Maybe we need to run, to climb, to learn Buddhism with our lives and spirit. Even on YMD to stand up. I am no GMW*, I can only try at my position. I’m realizing I must challenge myself. I have to realize my mission.

What will encourage young men? A football game! A hike! An outing. Let us climb the highest peak to see our city. To see how many people need the Gohonzon. To raise all of these YMD to send waves throughout L.A., nay throughout the world. Let’s spread our ways, stretch our limbs. Now is the time fight ourselves. To climb high is to fight the limits of our own bodies. This is the first step to broaden our horizons, to fight the complacency of our own lives.

I determine from the approval of Shibucho to start a visitation campaign to encourage every Young Men’s Division in Marina Chapter by January 1st.

First, I must learn Mr. William’s spirit.

Mr. Curtis is my new General Chapter Chief. This is indeed a great benefit. He has always known me so well. I am determined to become very close to him from this moment. I can no longer hide, or go away for two days or even one hour. I must advance within the principal of Honmatsu kukyo-to.* Only then will my members develop. From now I will chant 2 hours a day without fail.

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• Sun Myung Moon, the founder of the Unification Church would not be considered a Christian in the truest sense of the word, but a leader of a syncretistic cult which mixes other religious components drawn from Confucianism, Buddhism, Korean shamanism, and Christianity.  http://howwelldoyouknowyourmoon.tumblr.com/post/100032400653/moon-the-korean-shaman-king
• Revelation 12. 
  

  The Woman, the Child, and the Dragon

  12 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. ² Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.

  ³ And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. ⁴ His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. ⁵ She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. ⁶ Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

  Satan Thrown Out of Heaven

  ⁷ And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, ⁸ but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them^[a] in heaven any longer. ⁹ So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

  ¹⁰ Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. ¹¹ And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. ¹² Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

  The Woman Persecuted

  ¹³ Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. ¹⁴ But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. ¹⁵ So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. ¹⁶ But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. ¹⁷ And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.^[b]

• Honmatsu kukyo-to: Everything is consistant from beginning to end.

Crossroads~”I Live, but to Create”

by James C. Stephens

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Saturday, October 16, 1976

At this time I look to the past. I look to the present. But as a youth I must look towards the future. I am in a time of struggle presently. In search of a companion. In search of a way I can create.

Oh stranger! Where are you? Where do you hide? I seek the way to happiness. Gohonzon what is in store for me? I continually find myself at a loss in the world of companionship. What is it you wish to show me? I have seen the women my life has attracted only make me unhappy. I find happiness in helping my members. I find happiness in being alone. Am I destined only to a life at present of a celibate, devoting my life to business and to helping my YMD develop? Please make this clear to me. I’m getting colder as time advances. You know if I had a women who loved me maybe I could rest more at ease. Or do you wish that I struggle by myself, not seeking happiness outside myself, but rather engaging in a solemn solitary campaign? If only I had a sign for the future. I feel much emptiness inside. Gohonzon I am confused and at times frustrated. Am I one of those freaks of society who don’t match with one? Honestly, I’m beginning to lose confidence in myself and in the Gohonzon.

I look at my father. So many women, but he’s not happy. Have I slandered the Gohonzon so badly? Something has to come about in the near future. Tonight I didn’t go to the discussion meeting. I don’t expect you to zap me with a benefit. I know it’s something inside of me. I’m no different than anyone else.

I don’t really know where I fit in the scheme of things. I don’t feel I have done anything special so I don’t deserve anything.

All I am at the moment is seven people’s link to the Gohonzon. Possibly many more. People I know in society. How do I develop so I can get people to join? No. How do I develop so I will chant daimoku more?

Flow of thought. I live but to create. Why do I practice? To be happy but not 🙂 happy, but to create value to sing out. Last night I went out with an old “girl” friend of mine. Once a year I see her. This disturbed me as I always have a bad time or a distorted feeling after I leave her, it is so strange why I see her is of interest to me. I feel bad inside sick last night I ached. asked for a good true companion one I can share with. Please this is something I want Gohonzon. Tears. I’m sick of looking around. People tell me don’t look around it will happen when you’re not looking. Why is this so much on my mind? From a weak Ichinen*. I’m in the lower worlds no doubt, lack of a rhythmical life, but why do I descend into this condition? Is it from not communicating with my leaders? What then causes this? Is it in the end a battle against oneself? I believe it is.

Without fighting oneself. How do I fight myself? I’m finding it very hard at present. Sleeping many hours not being on time not terribly bothering me, but terribly bothering me. Tonight, today I slept a lot stayed out late last night. Somehow have to change my rhythm. Maybe into a day rhythm.  Early to bed makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. Ben Franklin maybe I should adopt his maxim. Its hard sometimes to relate to President Ikeda’s guidance, but many more times easy. My arms tired from writing so fast. Rest. Sports, playing clarinet, doing what I need to do to stretch my life. I feel unhealthy. I need new clothes. I need newness in my life. Now I feel like an old man. Shit I hate it. Boy do I hat it. Someday this has to change. Why can’t I get it into me to change soon. Last night I saw Paul, he married Choey. She’s from Mexico, he’s from Cuba. Tonight I met a girl from Argentina. Beautiful. Where do I want to go? I don’t know. Is this a stupid exercise just letting your pen flow with your brain, my arms falling asleep. My Gongyo’s during this phase have been pretty terrible, irregular. Low daimoku. no study hardly. I’m bored with practicing. I bored with listening to music but that is slowing losing its enjoyment. Maybe I’m dying. No hope. No future. Up and down no consistency. No one to talk to. Russ just onshitsu’s some of my leaders, I’ve even lost confidence in him. Jim Jay’s a nice guy. Shibucho call back in 10 minutes. Call back. Call back in 3 minutes. Call back later. Forget it. I don’t want it. I’m just about ready to titan. Just work. A room closed in on me. No phone. Haven’t paid rent. Had a good job Quit. Why? To enter a business with my Dad. Struggle. I can’t back out. If Gohonzon doesn’t work really let it END HERE. My dad is getting old must change fortune. Me lose hope easily. NSA club just like rest of society. Not Mr. Williams though. Too bad I don’t have the guts to get close to him. Probably never will. Lonely winter I’m entering. I hope dad is happy. I can’t die it would make him unhappy. Although I feel death many times.

Time is strange. We receive training in stranger ways. Tonight I went to a ski show. Saw some old acquaintances. Did not interest me in the slightest.  Saw people chasing illusions of happiness. Skiing many people’s identity. Sickens me. Maybe because I was so close to this. People like Jim Evans Business only. Not like a human being as far as I am concerned a sickening example of a dehumanized individual. Dorothy with her “escort” started talking to me. I interrupted and introduced myself to her escort. No courtesy, no human courtesy in society today. I hope I’m going in the right direction. Don’t people realize what’s going on in the Big World of ours? Revolution in the world! Red China now Mao is dead widespread chaos over who’s the new leader. Thailand’s bazooka’s, grenades, machine gunned armed soldiers gunning down students in university. Mappo. And yet here I am. What am I doing to change this? Raising YMD. No patience. Ski Show what a joke. Commercialism has taken a beautiful thing and truly ruined it. Why it was like a three ring circus.

I’m glad I’m getting involved in landscaping. Here is a field which can really make people feel refreshed…Environment is very important. That why I am so often depressed living in this place. If it wasn’t for Mr. Justus’ encouragement I think I would go bananas. Struggling pioneer. Hope from him.

Reflections by Candlelight

by James C. Stephens

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June 24, 1972

 

This evening of youth

a time to think

a time to plan.

Sitting by candlelight reflecting on my

past week’s struggle.

Oh evening, there is something

about you that means something deep to me.

Candlelight and a battery powered

radio, they sound so incompatiable, but

in Mappo.

in my life,

Myoho, each moment of the evening brings

some memory to me,

some dream of tommorrow,

some happiness or struggle

of this moment.

 

The past weeks after the convention have been so beautiful. they have brought the greatest realizations I have had yet in my practice. For days I struggled to get a job. Waking up late, but getting out and beating the bush for a job. Many days I felt like hell physically and mentally and the smog in the valley did not help, but I kept looking. Finally I got a job at 1.95 an hour working in a factory machine shop from 12 midnight to 7:30 in the morning. That lasted for one night. I just could not handle the night rhythm. Then I lookied for another job at the Employment office and ran into Jay Bingham or he ran into me. He is a member who went titan before the convention. He really is lonely.

Well I got a job, and worked all week for $18 a day clear.

I really need the money, so I’m happy I got the job. We clean apartments and lay and clean carpets, so the day is constantly busy and passes quite quickly until about 5:30. I have been getting up at 6:00 every day. Very difficult, but very rewarding.