Interpretation:
People did not know that blessings were provided if one had a purified mind, a mind without regret, covetousness, self-love, arrogance, and greed. When this happens, the mind becomes spirited, as opposed to depressed.
OFUDESAKI 7-41
Interpretation:
The truth of safe birth salvation is the same as all blessings that exist in the world. If our minds are pure, any blessings will be provided. These blessings are provided by our own hearts.
OFUDESAKI 7-40
Interpretation:
The world has gone through the worldly path, where one believes that one can do anything evil as long as one does not get caught, or does not care if one gets caught. The path leads to thousands of manifestations, but all lead to suffering. God wants us to take the path of the heart, where one can purify the mind. In this instance, God guarantees a safe and easy delivery, when the mind is pure. Some say that Tenrikyo began to be known because Oyasama delivered the grant of safe child birth to expectant mothers. I believe that when the mind is pure, every blessings will be provided, whoever you are.
OFUDESAKI 7-39
Interpretation:
I am interpreting dori as an abbreviation for teodori. By the Joyous Service performed with a sincere mind, God will provide the blessings of guidance to the people we have spread God’s truth to.
Illness is from the mind
In the Ofudesaki, God tells us that illness should be nonexistent in this world. But we see much illness and suffering in this world. God also tells us that illness originates from the mind. God tells us that we have dusts or evil thoughts of regret, covetousness, self-love, greed, and arrogance in our minds. These dusts cause us to act upon any inconveniences in our lives, resulting in the accumulation of negative fate, including illnesses. So, if we can remove these dusts, can we eliminate illness from our bodies? The following is from the Ofudesaki:
Hereafter, however serious the illness may be,
all assurance that I will save you. 9-9
How do we tell a person who is dying from cancer, that their illness is from their minds without causing any hostility? If they are convinced that illness comes from the mind, can they be saved? I believe that these are all questions that we all have asked ourselves as yobokus or missionaries.
In the Ofudesaki, verses 9-10 and 9-11 are translated by Tenrikyo Church Headquarters as follows;
Though there should be nothing called illness in human beings,
No one knows the beginning of this world. 9-10
Because of My desire to have you know this,
I began doctors and medicine for weeding and fertilizing. 9-11
I believe that their translation is in error. The following I believe is the correct translation, which may help us, understand the teachings.
In human beings, illness to say is nonexistent but
since the beginning of this world, there is no person who knows. 9-10
This matter, to let you know, step by step
I will weed & fertilize (remove evil from mind), like doctors & medicines do. 9-11
Verse 9-10 is self-explanatory. Verse 9-11 needs a little clarification. This matter refers to illness being nonexistent. Weeding and fertilizing is the process of God removing evil thoughts from our/their minds. When this happens, illness should be eliminated, similar to when using doctors and medicine to cure illness. Actually this verse is advocating in trusting God primarily, then medicine and doctors in the curing of the body. Can we really cure our own illness without doctors and medicine? Something to ponder!
OFUDESAKI 7-38
Interpretation:
Remember God has only been watching human beings since God created human beings. God descended from heaven to save human beings, so they can live the “Joyous life”.
OFUDESAKI 7-37
Interpretation:God’s blessings are guidance to the people we have spread the teachings to. These blessings only occur when we perform the Joyous Service with a purified mind.
OFUDESAKI 7-36
Interpretations:
These blessings of guidance have never occurred because God has been only watching human beings since the creation. God was telling the early followers that God will begin to help save the world, so everyone can live the “Joyous life”.
OFUDESAKI 7-35
Interpretation: God is comparing the work done in creating human beings as the same as God’s working to save human beings. Remember, God has been on the sidelines watching us since the creation. God is telling the early followers, that God will begin the process of helping the world understand the heart (mune).
OFUDESAKI 7-34
Interpretation:
The blessings are God’s guidance to the people who we spread the truth of the heart to. When these people are able to purify their minds by understanding the heart, God will certainly be spirited. Remember God wants everyone to live the “Joyous life”.
OFUDESAKI-GOD'S TEACHINGS 