Is Religion too difficult to Understand?

Somethings to Ponder

I hear from so many people that the teaching do not work. I remember reading a Tenrikyo minister’s sermon at dendocho in los Angeles saying that the teachings are too difficult to convey, and was resigned to accept failure. But are the teachings too difficult for the common person to understand? Are there too many loopholes that we have to jump through to be saved? What does it mean to be saved? These are questions to ponder.

I believe that the instructions in the Ofudesaki were intended for the early followers of the religion, including the instruments used in the creation of human beings (the Nakayama family). There are two parts of the Ofudesaki. One part gives the instructions to purify the mind in order to live the Joyous life. The other part is intended for the people who want to spread the teachings to the world, and save the world. Again what doe it mean to save?

I believe we are having problems understanding both parts of the Ofudesaki. First, we do not understand the word shinjitsu, or the Original pure mind. We do not know how to attain this pure mind. God tells us only, when we attain the Original pure mind, only joy will come into our lives. God tells the early followers how to attain this Original pure mind. When the Original mind is attained, then God tells the early followers that the salvation preparation will be taught to help save others.

FOR THE ORIGINAL PURE MIND, THE MIND IS PURIFIED. UPON THAT,

TO SAVE, THE PREPATION QUICKLY WILL BE TAUGHT. 13-113

God is telling the early followers to attain the pure mind first, before they can save others. Again what does it mean to be saved? What are the preparations that are necessary to save others. God tells the early followers that their minds must be pure. God tells the early followers to spread the teachings, especially about the Original pure mind, and how to attain it. Then God tells them to perform the Joyous Service, to ask God to help sweep the minds of the people they have spread the truth to. These instructions are all in the Ofudesaki. As one can see, these procedures are only for people that want to save others after they have attained the Original pure mind.

Where does the confusion come into play? As yobokus or missionaries, we are not spreading the truth about the Original mind, and how to attain this pure mind. Instead we are telling people to perform the Joyous Service, Yorozuyo and 12 songs in Japanese, make donations, and make pilgrimages to Japan to thank God. These are procedures that are done to save others. These procedures are not meant to be performed by most of the world, but by selected individuals that want to save others.

I do not think that besides the early followers, God does not expect everyone to be timbers (yobokus) or missionaries (yougi).

Missionaries (yougi), however a small amount it is not. Because

50 to 60 in number I want. 7-24

These numbers, forever not to decrease. The workings

forever to continue, without and end to the workings. 7-25

As missionaries or yobokus, we first need to tell people about the Original pure mind, and how to attain this mind. This is the most important step in saving the world. Again what does it mean to be saved?

To be saved means to have the Joyous life. When one attains the Original pure mind, only joy or positive fates will come from our own hearts/souls. This is the joy God envisioned when God created human beings. This is what it means to be saved. For those who want to save others, God has given us the instructions in the Ofudesaki. For others, the attainment of the Original pure mind is the desired effect of our prayers. This is the salvation of the world.

The Pure Mind Results in a Happy Life