Interpretation:
The true path is the path of the heart. We are all held responsible for our actions. We reap what we have sowed. This is one of the functions of our own heart.
God’s Prediction
Ju ichi ni ku ga nakunarite shin wasure
Shogatsu niju roku niche o matsu 3-73
In chapter 11, Ku(nisazuchi) passes away, the original mind forgotten.
January 26th day, I await.
Verse 3-75 in the Ofudesaki has always been a puzzle to me. What is ku? It appears to be a number 9 as written in Japanese. But how can a number die or pass away? What is the number eleven referring to? This is my translation, and obscure interpretation of this verse. The number nine is pronounced as ku in Japanese. In the genesis of human beings, Kunisazuchi was one of the instruments used in the creation of human bodies. Can ku be an abbreviation for Kunisazuchi? We presume Kunisazuchi to have the soul of Kokan. So ku is referring to Kokan, who passes away for rebirth. So what does the number 11 stand for? In part 11, or chapter 11 of the Ofudesaki, the passing away for rebirth of Kokan is told; also why God received her soul, are fully explained.
The following verse follows with:
Kono aida shin mo tsukikuri yoku wasure
Ninju sorote Tsutome koshirae 3-74
This interval, the original mind (pure) will have come forth, and greed forgotten.
The performers assembled, perform the Service.
This verse written in 1874, refers to the date of January 26, 1887, when the Service was finally performed with a pure mind.
By these two verses, God is again talking about what will happen in the future. The Ofudesaki is about the future, especially concerning the most important date of January 26, 1887. This is the date that God truly will begin to help us save the world.
The Ofudesaki predicts the future
People translate the Ofudesaki as the Tip of the Writing Brush. But translating fude and saki, we can also translate it as “Writing brush of the future”. Yes, the Ofudesaki predicts the future. The most important prediction is that God will save human beings. This is stated throughout the sacred scripture. Unfortunately, this has yet to come to fruition because of our lack of understanding the teachings. But clearly there are examples that are stated, and have been documented. For example, the following is from verse 1-39 of the Ofudesaki:
Choto hanashi shogatsu misoka to hi o kirite
okuru mo Kami no kokoro kara tote 1-39
Just a word, the last days of the 1st month, by the end of the day.
to take (Oyasama) is from the mind of God.
*note this translation differs from church headquarters
Sono hi kite mietaru naraba soba na mono
Kami no yu koto nanimo chigawan 1-41
When the day arrives and is seen, those close to me,
what God says, there is not any error.
This is true. On January 26, 1887 Oyasama passes away. This prediction is very important in that, it sets the stage where our prayers (Joyous Service) become effective to save the world, and it also proves that what God says, there is no error. This is why we must follow the instructions in the Ofudesaki to save the world.
OFUDESAKI 8-13
Interpretation:
We are not aware of what our hearts do, so we take the path of the world, where our actions do not have any consequences back to us. The path of the heart tells us that what we sow, we reap. The path of the world continues because we have the dusts of regret, covetousness, self-love, greed, and arrogance in our minds. These dusts influences our behaviors, where our own bodies become most important.
Translating Our Sacred Scriptures
People have often told me how difficult it is to translate from Japanese to English, and that sometime we fall prey to interpretation of our sacred scriptures. For example, on the translation of Song 9 of the Mikagura-uta, there is a major difference in meaning of the two translations. Tenrikyo Church Headquarter translation insinuates that God will sweep the hearts of everyone once and twice. It also says that one should depend on God to protect one from any hardships.
My translation is completely different, where it is talking about spreading God’s truth to the world, where we continually need to spread the truths of God. God wants you to make an commitment to go out. But before we go out, we must attain a pure mind, like God’s mind.
Both translations are beneficial, but which is more accurate, and which reflects what God wants us to do?
OFUDESAKI 8-12
Interpretation
God is tellings that God’s guidance (workings) will come to everyone in the world, because God see our negative fates that are in our hearts. God wants to save everyone.
OFUDESAKI 8-11 CORRECTION
Interpretation:
The word you and yo have different meanings. Yo is an abbreviation for yononaka, which translates into world or society. You translates into vision, appearance, task, requirement. All these reflect God’s workings. I believe you in this verse refers to God’s guidance.
The previous verse talks about disorder as God’s guidance. You refers to this. God is telling us these workings are God’s guidance. There is nothing unknown about God’s intentions. When one receives obstacles or illness, one should ponder if it is God’s guidance. Though out the Ofudesaki, God tells us that these workings were unknown before, but now God has been revealed and has appeared to let you know of these workings to save human beings.
OFUDESAKI 8-11
Interpretation:
The word you and yo have different meanings. Yo is an abbreviation for yononaka, which translates into world or society. You translates into vision, appearance, task, requirement. All these reflect God’s workings. I believe you in this verse refers to God’s guidance.
The previous verse talks about disorder as God’s guidance. You refers to this. God is telling us these workings are God’s guidance. There is nothing unknown about God’s intentions. Though out the Ofudesaki, God tells us that these workings were unknown before, but now God has been revealed and has appeared to let you know of these workings to save human beings.
OFUDESAKI 8-10
Interpretation:
How does God help people realize what our own hearts do? These were the thoughts of God. These illness as guidance, comes from the thoughts of God. God is only trying to help save
OFUDESAKI-GOD'S TEACHINGS 