“The Significance of Seeing God in the Modern Age (In Memory of Tsunashima Ryōsen-Kun [綱島梁川君] as a Seer of God) by Nakagiri Kakutarō [中桐確太郎]” by Andrew James Brown
Citation
Brown, Andrew James. “The Significance of Seeing God in the Modern Age (In Memory of Tsunashima Ryōsen-Kun [綱島梁川君] as a Seer of God) by Nakagiri Kakutarō [中桐確太郎].” Blogspot. Caute, 27 Mar. 2026, https://andrewjbrown.blogspot.com/2026/03/the-significance-of-seeing-god-in.html.
Quotes
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Collations
Literature notes
On what religious work should be
One thread of thought that the piece is leading me to is an evaluation of my current work and whether it is religious and in what intensity. The subject of the essay is Tsunashima Ryōsen. The writer is Nakagiri Kakutaro. One thing that strikes me is the ability of Kakutaro to summarize in a few words the core of Ryōsen's life work: "experiment of singing God." How about me? Could I summarize in just a few words what I am doing right now? My jiyū shūkyō. But this name is too personal and inward-directed.
The second thing that strikes me concerning this subject is the two-part nature of a religious life: spiritual joy and mission. After "seeing God" and experiencing spiritual joy from it, Ryōsen was then moved to engage with the world of suffering and help his countrymen. The first labor is building my jiyū shūkyō. The second labor is helping others do the same.
I want to stop experimenting with writing per se. Rather, I want to focus on using writing as a way to help others returning to jiyū shūkyōl.
It is important to seek and maintain the daily "joy" of being with God while also engaged in "working" with God.
The third thing I found useful from the essay is its examples of how mission could be accomplished. Kakutaro divides these methods into two categories:
- Stand on one's spiritual ground and lead others to one's standpoint
- preaching or writing (words)
- Zen (no words)
This is Ryōsen's chosen method aimed at guiding others.
- Respond to people's physical or material needs in-person
- curinc sickness.
- saving the poor
- selfless service
Fourth, per the essay, economic growth and the rise of science had a profound effect on religious work. First, religions began compromising with science and neglecting mysticism and intuition. Second, religion became corporatized to save the masses. These two changes led to the neglect of individual problems of the spirit that are best addressed by personal guidance. In my understanding, this affects "spiritual joy" or the more inward part of religiosity.
A religious life must balance addressing spiritual problems and addressing economic or material needs.
I need to think more about this, but a few lead thoughts:
-  How can I avoid making too much a compromise with writing and literary life? How can I still focus on the building of my jiyū shūkyō, specifically my inner "spiritual joy"?
- Are my current efforts of outward service with Nilay, etc., and my newsletter enough? How can I strengthen my mission? Do I need to introduce material components?