God’s intention is to save the world. It is to help people understand and attain the Original pure mind.
EVIL THOUGHTS AND THEIR FATES
In this world, each of our minds are different. Each of us have evil thoughts or dusts of disappointment, covetousness, self-love, greed, and arrogance. It is the amount of these dusts we individually have that makes us different. God tells us even between husband and wife, or beween siblings we have different amounts of dusts. No individual is alike. God tells us to remove these dusts.
Why does God want us to remove these evil thoughts in our mind? It is because we tend to act upon them. What happens when we act upon our evil thoughts? Does God punish us? Does it matter? Is there a consequence to our actions? God tells us that our actions, either good or bad creates merits and demerits in our souls, which eventually are released as our fates. We reap what we have sowed.
When our physical body stops functioning, the soul leaves our bodies. It collect our evil thoughts and their associated fates, and continue to our next lives. Our memories are erased, but the two basic elements, the one that make each of us different, and the one that will affect our future, are carried on to the next life. God does not interfere with our thoughts or on their associated fates. We carry them to our next lives.
So it is not God that rewards or punishes us. It is our own souls that monitors our behaviors, and metes out justice. We do not know what fates are around the corner to surprise us in this life time. So what can we do if fate brings upon suffering, or what can we do to prevent our fates from manifesting? We can not go back to the past to change our behavior, but we can ponder our own minds to eliminate any existing evil thoughts that are associated with the present suffering, or future sufferings (fates). How do we do this? It is extremely difficult to just remove the evil thoughts, as these thoughts may be ingrained in the mind. God tells us when fate brings upon suffering, one should ponder their own minds to see what evil thought or thoughts may be associated with the appearance of the present fate. When we do not act upon these thoughts, we can eliminate these evil thoughts from our minds. Sometimes as people have accumulated much dust in their minds, it may take time to eliminate the evil thoughts in the mind. With a pure mind, only positive fates will come from our hearts.
The message is to attain the Original pure mind to live a happy life. But to understand why this occurs, like the information in this post, it is all is in the Ofudesaki, the most sacred scripture in the world.
Where is God’s truths
In the Traditional English translation of the Ofudesaki God tells us that the truth will be told. Like an exciting mystery novel, the reader waits for the final answer to the mystery. But the truth is never given in the traditional English translation. What is the truth that God wants us to know? The following is from the Tenrikyo Headquarter’s English translation:
From now on, however high their position may be,
to show them the truth quickly is my desire. 7-62
Even until now, I have often taught about My single intent to
save you, but you have not known the real truth. 8-22
This time, I shall teach the truth of all matters
and hasten to save you. 10-15
Even until now, though I have given you My teachings in
various talks, the real truth has not been told. 11-9
From this time I began this world until today,
I have not yet told the real truth. 15-48
What is the truth that God wants to teach us. Why does not God give us the truth?
The answer comes by translating the Japanese word shinjitsu. In the previous Church Headquarter’s translations, the word is mistranslated as the truth. The real translation for shinjitsu is the “Original pure mind”. This is a mind without regret, covetousness, self-love, greed, and arrogance. It is ironic that I was looking for God’s truth, when the truth was right there in front of me. The truth is the Original pure mind that God wants us to understand and attain. The following are the previous verses, followed by the corrected verses.
From now on, however high their position may be,
to show them the truth quickly is my desire. 7-62
From now on, however high place,
this Original pure mind quickly to want to show. 7-62 corrected
Even until now, I have often taught about My single intent to
save you, but you have not known the real truth. 8-22
Even until now, single salvation occasionally was explained.
The true Original pure mind you have not known. 8-22 corrected
This time, I shall teach the truth of all matters
and hasten to save you. 10-15
This time, what kind of things, the Original pure mind,
I shall say and inform you, I am hastenig the salvation. 10-15 corrected
Even until now, though I have given you My teachings in
various talks, the real truth has not been told. 11-9
Even until now, various of talks I have explained.
The real Original pure mind, although I have not seen. 11-9 corrected
From this time I began this world until today,
I have not yet told the real truth. 15-48
These workings since I began until now,
the real Original pure mind to talk about was nonexistent. 15-48 corrected
In summary, it the Original pure mind that God wants us to understand and attain. This is a mind without regret, covetousness, self-love, greed, and arrogance. When one attains the pure mind, only joy will come from our hearts. In the Ofudesaki, God tells us how to attain the Original pure mind, and also tells us how to spread God’s teachings. The truth or the Original mind will set you free, free from sufferings and illnesses.
OFUDESAKI 13-72
Interpretation:
The fertilizer is the Joyous Service. This Service performed, will bring new members to our places of worship to be saved. But we must ponder our minds first, to make it pure. Our prayer is only effective when our minds are pure.
Our Special Prayer
When we spread God’s truth to other people, what do we convey? What would make people likely to be more receptive? Do we talk about our prayers (Services), Oyasama, or the five dusts or evil thoughts. These are all topics one would want to teach eventually. What do you think God would want us to teach first?
The answer may lie in our Service that is performed daily, especially in the 2nd part of this Service. God has granted us this special Service to save the world. In the 2nd part of the Service, God is telling us what to say to others. The following is the 2nd part of the Joyous Service.
Just a word to you, what God is saying listen please.
Evil things, spoken not.
These working of (creation), earth and heaven representing,
wife/husband created and brought forth.
This is this world’s beginning.
Why is the Origin of human beings so important to convey? In the Ofudesaki, God tells us God created human beings to live the “Joyous life”. From earth or from the ancient muddy ocean, God selected a fish and sea serpent to become the first couple. To the first couple, God added the good qualities of the other sea creatures in the muddy ancient ocean. God wanted to create the perfect body to attain the joyous life. From heaven, the pure mind of God was added to the first couple. This initiated the beginning of human beings.
The importance of God adding the pure mind cannot be overlooked in the story of the creation. The subject of the Original pure mind is what God wants us to convey to others. This is supported in the fact that in parts 1 and 3 of the Service, we are asking God to help sweep the evil thoughts of others, for them to attain the Original pure mind.
Evil thought sweeping, save them please (part 1)
Evil thought sweeping, save them quickly (part 2)
In summary, the Joyous Service is a very special Service, intended to help the world attain the Original pure mind. God tells us that when we attain the Original pure mind, only joy will come from our hearts/souls.
THE PRAYER TO SAVE THE WORLD
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.
OFUDESAKI 13-71
Interpretation:
If we have the Original pure mind, God will accept our prayer to help us save others.
The Truth that Will Save You
In the Ofudesaki, God tells us to remove the dusts of regret, covetousness, self-love, greed, and arrogance. We acknowledge these dusts, and often say how important it is to remove these evil thoughts from our minds, but that is not sufficient, unless we settle our own minds. It is like observing a picture, and saying how beautiful it is, but God tells us that this is not sufficient. We must purify our own minds.
God tells us that when our minds are pure, only joy will come from our own hearts/souls. There will be no fear, sufferings or worries. God also tells us that any blessings will be provided by God. Some will be doubtful that such a simple solution will bring upon joy to our lives. Other religions will tell you that one needs to follow a certain protocol, like giving donations, performing certain rituals, pilgrimages, and attaining certain beliefs or faith before one can be saved. But like the air we breath, the Joyous life is assessible to any one in the world for free.Am I saying religion is not necessary? For those who want to share their happiness with others, religion does play a role. It is this spreading of God’s truths that we need God’s assistance to save the world from sufferings. Many times it is difficult to convince people of a new concept, or belief. This is why we need God to help us do this. We have a special prayer, the Joyous Service that we perform with a pure mind that ask God to help people who we have spread God’s truth, to sweep their evil thoughts to purify their minds. Remember the spreading of God’s truth precedes our prayers with a pure mind. We must not put the cart before the horse.
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.
OFUDESAKI 13-70
Interpretation:
God will withdraw or not accept our prayers when the mind is not pure. The Original pure mind is what God wants everyone to have. The pure mind is the most important truth in the Ofudesaki!
Posted in Heaven's Truth Church, heaven's truth church, Ofudesaki, Tenrikyo
Tagged Heaven, heaven's truth church, Ofudesaki, TENRIKYO
Leave a comment
OFUDESAKI-GOD'S TEACHINGS 