Understanding Our Prayer, the Joyous Service
My mind use to often wander when I use to perform the Service. Thoughts like what would I do for the day, who would win the football game, or more often, counting the number of repetitions I have performed. You all know what I mean. This was because I never knew the significance and importance of the Joyous Service until I understood the contents of the Ofudesaki. Lets review the Service:
Ashiki o haroute tasuke tamae
Tenri O no Mikoto
Evil (thoughts) sweeping, save (them) please
Heaven truth Saving God.
Ashiki are the five evil thoughts mentioned in the Ofudesaki. These thoughts are disappointment, covetousness, self-love, greed, and arrogance. Haroute translates as sweep, or eliminate. Tasuke tamae translates into save them please. We are asking God to sweep the minds of others who we have spread the truths of God. We want them to attain the Original pure mind. Some people persist that we are asking God to sweep their own dust, but God already tells us how to sweep our own minds in the Ofudesaki. Our mind should be pure when we perform the Service. Therefore we are asking God to sweep the evil thoughts in other people to save them. The following is the 2nd part of the Service.
Choto hanashi Kami no yuu koto kiite kure
ashiki no koto wa iwan dena
Kono you no ji to ten to o katadorite
fuufu o koshirae kitaru dena
Kore wa kono yo no hajime dashi
Just a word to you, what God is saying, listen please.
Evil things spoken not.
These workings, earth and heaven representing,
wife/husband created and brought forth.
This is this world’s beginning.
This second part appear to be out of place since the first and 3rd part of the Service is a prayer asking God to save others. In the 2nd part of the Service, God is telling us what to tell people when we spread God’s truth. We must tell them about the Origin of human beings. Why is it important that people know the Origin? Let’s go over the 2nd part:
Just a word to you, what God is saying listen please.
God is telling us what to tell people when we go out to spread the teachings. We must ask people to listen to the teachings.
Evil things spoken not.
Wrong or even evil things God is not speaking about. It is to help people.
These workings, earth and heaven representing,
These workings are blessing of human creation. The earth was represented by the instruments in the muddy ancient ocean. These were the fish (Izanagi), and sea serpent (isanami). From the muddy ocean, others sea creature’s good qualities were placed in the first parents, to begin to create a perfect human body to live the Joyous life. Representing heaven, the mind of God was placed into the first couple.
Wife/husband created and brought forth.
God brought the fish and sea serpent together to begin the creation of human beings. With visions of the perfect body and pure mind, human beings were created to live the joyous life.
This is the world’s beginning
This is how human beings were started. Through evolution, we are who we are now. In summary, God wants everyone to understand the Original pure mind that was given to the first parents. This is the mind that God wants us to return to. This is why understanding the Origin is so important, and why we are asking God to sweep evil thought from others. This request to save others is continued in part 3 of the Service.
Ashiki o haraute tasuke tamae sekikomu
Ichiretsu sumashite Kanrodai
Evil thoughts sweeping, save them quickly.
Everyone purified, the Central Pillar.
Evil thoughts sweeping, save them quickly
Like the first part of the Service, we are asking God to sweep evil thoughts from others.
Everyone purified, the Central Pillar.
God is telling us that when most of the minds of the world are purified, the permanent Central Pillar will be erected. All the instruments used in the creaton will assemble and perform the Service. From Heaven, the heavenly dew will flow on a receptacle placed on top of the Central Pillar. This will bring upon heaven on earth, and there will be complete joy in the world.
What is the significance of the prayer? God has granted us a prayer to save the world. By this prayer, we are asking God to help spread the teaching to the world. What is the truth that God wants us to spread? It is about the Origin, specifically about Original pure mind that was given to the first parents of human beings. When we understand this mind, we can begin to sweep our minds and hearts/souls. The Original pure mind is a mind that God wants us to return to. With the attainment of the Original pure mind, there will be complete joy.
It is with the Service that God tells us to firmly (shikkari) to perform. Not firmly by performing the Service without error, but firmly by having a pure mind, and understanding the purpose of this special prayer.
Pure Mind Results in a Happy Life
The most accurate English translation of the Ofudesaki can be obtained from Amazon. Please search Ofudesaki, 5 Steps to Self-healing.
Heaven's Truths, in Living the Joyous Life 