In the previous post, I have discussed the sazuke. Let us talk about the Joyous Service that God has granted to us. What is the Joyous Service? Is it the teodori (hand dance)? Is it a prayer to save oneself, others, or us? The following is the prayer:
Evil thoughts sweeping, save (them) please,
Heaven’s truths Saving God.
Just a word to you, what God is saying, listen please.
Evil things spoken not.
These workings (of human creations), earth and heaven representing,
wife/husband created and brought forth.
This is this world’s beginning.
Evil thoughts sweeping, same (them) quickly.
Everyone purified, Kanrodai.
God throughout the Ofudesaki says that God is preparing the early followers to perform the Joyous Service. How do we prepare for the Joyous Service? First God says to understand one’s own heart to purify the mind. It is the heart/soul in each of us that monitors our behavior. We reap what we sowed because of our own heart/soul. When suffering appears from our hearts/souls, God tells us to ponder our own minds for evil thoughts, and not act upon them. This is how we gradually purify our minds. God call this the path of the heart or the path of the Original pure mind. We must purify our minds first.
When our minds are pure, are we ready to perform the Service? No, God prepares us to spread the teachings to kara (people that don’t understand the teachings). What are the teachings we must spread to others? God tells us in the 2nd part of the Joyous Service.
Just a word to you, what God is saying, listen please.
Evil things spoken not.
These workings (of human creation), earth and heaven representing,
Wife/husband created and brought forth.
This is this world’s beginning.
We must tell them about God’s Original pure mind given from heaven, to the first couple that started human beings. From earth, the instruments (sea creatures) in the muddy ancient ocean was used to create the perfect body to live the joyous life. God wants us to return to this Original pure mind so our bodies can enjoy the joyous life. We must tell people about the Original pure mind without disappointment, covetousness, self-love, greed, and arrogance. We must teach them about their own heart/soul, so they can purify their own minds. Then when we perform the Joyous Service, God will help us save others, and bring these people we have spread the truth, to our places of worship. God also calls this the harvesting (ryuukei) of members.
In summary, when we purify our own minds, spread the teachings, and perform the Joyous Service, God guarantees an abundant harvest. This is how our teachings spread to the world.
God has given us this special prayer of the Joyous Service to propagate the teachings that will save the world. But the world does not know these teachings because we are not following these steps, and placing importance on worldly matters. We must follow the instructions in the Ofudesaki, and place trust in God’s teachings.
In the next post, what does it mean to be saved.
OFUDESAKI-GOD'S TEACHINGS 