What is real Fortune with Blessings? Some people think that to have a lot of money is, indeed, real fortune. Others believe that to have good health is real fortune. Still others think that a long life is, indeed, the greatest blessing. Tso-T'eng-Shun-I-Lang (Sato Shunichiro) in his book, The Way of Fortune with Blessings, has tried to correct the many misunderstandings that ordinary people have concerning this matter. It was his purpose to enable them to understand easily and thus achieve true happiness and harmony.

Suppose, he suggests, we believe, like ordinary people do, that riches and health are, in fact, the best things in life. He uses the example of five people who all live in one family. All of them have good health. Even though they are not as rich as the Rockefeller family, they are what some people might call "well-off." Unfortunately, they also have very bad tempers. The husband and wife are always quarreling with each other. The children are constantly fighting with and being jealous of one another. Sometimes, at the dinner table, the whole family joins in one gigantic free-for-all, that leaves everyone feeling bitter and unable to eat his meal in peace. There are many families like this. So how can we say that riches and health are "The Way of Fortune with Blessings"?

If people, according to Tso-T'eng-Shun-I-Lang (Sato Shunichiro), really want to follow The Way of Fortune with Blessings, then they must have some other conditions besides riches and good health. People, he says, should try to reduce their desires and be content with what they already have. Furthermore, they must not always be seeking after more and more material things with which to enjoy themselves. They should strive to live in harmony with their families. Relatives and friends should be respectful and kindly to each other. People should learn to forgive themselves as well as each other. Finally, he says, they should not give in to the rising heat of anger or jealousy. These are the conditions that lead to The Way of Fortune with Blessings.

There is a short way that leads directly to The Way of Fortune with Blessings. If one really wants to attain Fortune with Blessings quickly, he or she should strive to do the following three things:

1.  For one whole day do not have any anger.
2.  For one whole day do not speak any evil words.
3.  For one whole day harmonize with your family.

If one practices in this way, then one can experience Fortune with Blessings right away. Just do not have any anger for one whole day; do not speak any evil word for one whole day; and harmonize with your family for one whole day.

If you continue in this way, you can influence other members of your family to follow this same path. Pretty soon it may just happen that all the family members do not bear any anger for, nor speak any evil words about and are harmonious with each other for one whole day. They are, thus, already experiencing Fortune with Blessings. If the whole family can live in this way, then they too can influence the whole neighborhood in a positive way. If the whole neighborhood can live in this way, gradually, then maybe the whole society will begin to experience The Way of Fortune with Blessings. Finally, if the whole society acts in this way, then maybe the whole country will inevitably come to understand the Way of Fortune with Blessings. And, if the whole country can feel this way--not have any anger for one whole day; not speak any evil words for one whole day; and harmonize with family for one whole day--then the whole world may come to have Fortune with Blessings. Wouldn't this then be a wonderful place in which to live? How wonderful and nice the world would be, if it could experience this Way of Fortune with Blessings!

If any of you would like to experience Fortune with Blessings in your family, Fortune with Blessings in society, Fortune with Blessings in the country and Fortune with Blessings in the whole world, then you must start with yourself first. Just do not have any anger all day; do not speak any evil words all day; harmonize with your family and always have loving-kindness toward others all day every day.

This is the main point of Tso-T'eng-Shun-I-Lang's (Sato Shunichiro's) book. His purpose was to spread the Way of Fortune with Blessings so all could follow the true way. I urge all my friends to think deeply about this Way of Fortune with Blessings. It is my hope and fervent desire that everybody will come to understand this Way of Fortune with Blessings.

However, please remember that if one wants Fortune with Blessings, then he or she must start and establish this way in his or her own mind first. The foundation of this way is to have peace of mind. Gradually reducing desire in your mind will bring contentment and happiness. Also, to be kindly and to harmonize other with people is a great blessing. Without peace in the mind, how can one not create defilement? Without contentment in the mind, one is always making trouble for oneself and others. Without harmony in the mind, how can we prevent hatred from arising? My friends, if you really desire Fortune with Blessings, then you must attend to and be careful of your own mind.

In order to easily attain this Way of Fortune with Blessings, there is still one more thing that you need to understand. If you already have a good thought in your mind, try to keep it growing. If you do not already have a good thought in your mind, then try letting one arise. If you do have an evil thought in your mind, then let the evil thought go. If you do not yet have an evil thought in your mind, then try not to let it arise. If you can always observe your own mind like this, then you will be able to go beyond just the mere comprehension of this Way of Fortune with Blessings. May all my friends throughout the world come to know the inexhaustible joy and wonder of Fortune with Blessings!

Rev. Lok To