What does it mean to be saved? In both the sazuke and the Joyous Service we are asking God to save others, What does it mean to be saved. The following is from the Joyous Service:
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ashiki haraute tasuke tamae Tenri-o-no-Mikoto
Evil thoughts sweeping, save them please, Heaven’s Truth God.
We are asking God to help sweep the evil thoughts of others in the first part of our prayer. These dusts are disappointment (regret), covetousness, self-love, greed, and arrogance. By sweeping these dusts, we are saved.
Does this mean that when we sweep our evil thoughts, we will be saved? God throughout the Ofudesaki tells us to sweep our own evil thoughts from our minds. When our minds are pure, God tells us we will be spirited, have no fear, have no danger, God’s protection given, have future of joy, and free and unlimited blessings given. So being saved also means having happiness.
The removal of disappointment, covetousness,
self love, greed, and arrogance from your
mind will bring you happiness
Our teachings are therefore very clear and simple. The question then becomes, how do we remove our evil thoughts from our minds? These directions are in the Ofudesaki.
The next post: Understanding our own hearts/souls(mune) to purify our minds
OFUDESAKI-GOD'S TEACHINGS 