God tells us that illness should not exist in the world. Many people are hesitant to believe this because illness and suffering are present today. In the following verses, God is telling us that God will step by step guide us in eliminating illness by weeding and fertilizing. You may ask what is weeding and fertilizing? From the Ofudesaki, weeding and fertilizing both involve the purification of our minds of the dusts of regret, covetousness, self-love, arrogance, and greed. God will help us do this step by step. God tells us this is like what doctors and medicine do. Both doctors and medicine help eliminate illness. God is telling us that the purification of the mind eliminates illness like doctors and medicine. The following is from the Ofudesaki.
In human beings, illness to say is nonexistent, but
since the beginning of the world, there is no person who knows. 9-10
This matter, to let you know. Step by step
I will weed and fertilize, like doctors and medicines will do. 9-11
You will notice that the translation is different from Tenrikyo Church Headquarters. The following is from their translation:
Though there should be nothing called illness in human beings,
no one knows the beginning of the world. 9-10
Because of My desire to have you know this,
I began doctors and medicine for weeding and fertilizing. 9-11
The original Japanese verse is below, that you may compare the above verses. The Church headquarter’s translation does not appear to make sense.
Ningen ni yamai to yute nai keredo
Kono yo hajimari shirita mono nashi 9-10
kono koto o shirashitai kara dandan to
shuri ya koi ni isha kusuri o 9-11
My hope is that everyone will someday read the Ofudesaki, and seek the true meaning of each verse!
Heaven's Truths, in Healing the Body 