What we must spread to the world.
We need to spread Tenrikyo to the world. What do we spread?
It is not the Yorozuyo and the 12 dances of the Mikagura-uta —— although it is a good summary of the Ofudesaki
It is not about appeasing God by offering donations or sacrifices.
It is not about a prayer asking God to save ourselves.
We must first understand the story of the Origin of human beings. God created human beings to live the “Joyous life”. From the ancient muddy ocean God selected the instruments (sea creatures) to make the perfect body to live the Joyous life. From heaven, God’s pure mind was placed into the first couple to begin human beings. Through evolution, the perfect body was created to live the Joyous life. But unfortunately, negative thoughts have attached to our minds, resulting not in joy, but suffering. These two, the perfect body and negative thoughts are not compatible, resulting in suffering.
The solution if we want to live the joyous life is to remove our negative thoughts. How do we do this, and how do we spread the truth to the world. All the answers are contained in the Ofudesaki.!
For our religion to impact the world, we must understand the Ofudesaki, and follow God’s instructions.
私たちは天理教を世界に広めなければなりません。では、何を広めるのでしょうか?
それは、ヨロズヨや『みかぐらうた』の十二の手振りではありません —— それらは『おふでさき』の良い要約ではありますが。
それは、神様をなだめるための御供えや献金のことではありません。
それは、自分を救ってほしいと神様に祈ることでもありません。
まず、人間創造の元始の話を理解することが必要です。
神様は人間を「陽気ぐらし」をするためにお創りになりました。
太古の泥海から、神様は「道具」(海の生き物)を選び、「陽気ぐらし」をするための完全な体を造るために用いました。天から、神様の澄みきったkokoro (mind) を最初の夫婦に授け、人間が始まりました。進化を通じて、「陽気ぐらし」をするための完全な体が完成しました。しかし残念ながら、私たちのkokoro (mind) には負の思いがくっつき、喜びではなく苦しみを生み出すようになってしまいました。この二つ、すなわち「完全な体」と「負の思い」は両立せず、その結果として苦しみが生じます。
もし私たちが「陽気ぐらし」を望むなら、負の思いを取り除かなければなりません。では、どうやってこれを行い、そしてどうやってこの真実を世界に広めるのでしょうか?
そのすべての答えは、『おふでさき』の中にあります!
What is the message God wants to spread to the world
What is the main message God wants to spread to the world?
- It is about our own soul (mune). God tells us in the first verse of the Ofudesaki that we do not understand the soul (mune).
- When the mind is pure, one is saved. Only joy will appear from one’s own soul.
- God will help us spread these teachings to the world.
What is the soul (mune)?
How do we purify our own minds?
How do we spread the teachings to others?
These answers are all in the Ofudesaki.
神様が世界に広めたいと望まれている主なメッセージは何でしょうか?
1. それは、私たち自身の魂(むね)についてです。
神様は『おふでさき』の第一節で、私たちは自分の魂(むね)を理解していないとおっしゃっています。
2. kokoro (mind) が澄めば、人は救われます。自らの魂からは、ただ喜びだけが現れてきます。
3. 神様は、この教えを世界に広めるお手伝いをしてくださいます。
魂(むね)とは何でしょうか?
どのようにして自分の心を澄ますのでしょうか?
どのようにして他の人々に教えを広めればよいのでしょうか?
これらの答えはすべて『おふでさき』の中にあります。
What If
What Will Happen If We Truly Follow the Instructions in the Ofudesaki?
What if we:
- Purify our own minds by understanding the soul (mune),
- Spread the teachings of the pure mind, the soul, and God’s guidance to others,
- Perform the Youki-tsutome, asking God to place guidance on the people we have shared the teachings with—so they may come to understand their own soul and purify their minds,
- Perform the Osazuke on those who come to our places of worship, healing the illness given as guidance from God.
If we carry out these steps sincerely, will we receive the promised “harvest” of new members to be saved—just as God assured the early followers in the Ofudesaki?
hayabaya to narimono nari to dashikake yo
tsutome bakari o seete iru kara (15:90)Quickly, the harvest(of new members) resulting in, to begin!
The Service only, because hastening to exist.
This verse shows that when we focus on performing the Service and following the teachings, the blessings—including a harvest of people to be saved—will naturally appear.
Could this be the key to Tenrikyo becoming a major religion in the world? More importantly, could it be how we save the world from the sufferings we see today?
The Core Teaching We Must Spread:
- Understand the soul. The soul (mune) is what monitors our behavior. We reap what we have sowed.
- Eliminate negative thoughts. These are the root of negative emotions. When acted upon, they create negative fates stored in the soul—eventually manifesting as suffering.
- Purify the mind. When the mind is pure, one is saved. Only joy will come from one’s own soul.
御筆先の教えを本当に実行したら、何が起こるのか?
もし私たちが、
- 魂(胸 mune)を理解することで自分のkokoro (mind)を澄まし、
- 純粋なkokoro (mind)、魂、そして神のご守護の教えを他人に伝え、
- **ようきづとめ(陽気づとめ)**を勤め、教えを伝えた人々に神様がご守護(病や障り)を与えてくださるよう願い、その人々が自らの魂を悟り、kokoro (mind)を澄ますよう導き、
- 神のご守護(病や障り)を受けた人々が礼拝所へ来た際に、おさづけを取り次ぎ、病を癒す。
これらを誠実に実行すれば、御筆先において神様が初期の信者に約束されたように、救われるべき人々の「成り物(収穫)」が現れるのでしょうか?
hayabaya to narimono nari to dashikake yo
tsutome bakari o seete iru kara(15-90)Quickly, the harvest resulting in, to begin!
The Service only, because hastening to exist.
この御歌が示しているのは、つとめを勤め、その教えを実行すれば、神様のお働きにより、成り物(人々の収穫=信仰者)が現れるということです。
これこそが、天理教が世界の主要な宗教の一つになる鍵ではないでしょうか?
もっと重要なことは、現代社会にある苦しみから世界を救う道なのかもしれません。
私たちが広めるべき核心の教え:
WHY IS OUR RELIGION SO COMPLICATED
Why our religion is so complicated:
1 + 1 = 2
1 + 1 + 9 +9 -18 + 7 – 10 + 2 +1 = 2
Although the 2nd equations appears more difficult to accomplish, both result in the answer 2.
What am I trying to prove? We are making our religion too difficult. For example our teachings are basic and simple:
Understanding the soul + Pure mind = Joyous life
But the trivial or not as important aspect of our religion is added to this simple teaching:
Understanding the soul + rituals + donations + returning to Ojiba + Pure mind = Joyous life.
Then we begin to place more importance on these trivial matters than over the main message.
This is why our religion is not increasing in membership.
Summary of the Ofudesaki:
- Understand the soul to purify the mind.
- spread the truth of the soul, pure mind, and God’s guidance to others.
- perform the youki-tsutome to bring upon God’s guidance to the people you have spread the teachings.
- 5. Perform the Osazuke to the people who comes to your place of worship to heal God’s guidance, and further explain the teachings to save them.
Instruct to them, when the mind is pure, one is saved. Only joy will come from your soul.
なぜ私たちの宗教はこんなにも複雑になってしまったのか:
1 + 1 = 2
1 + 1 + 9 + 9 − 18 + 7 − 10 + 2 + 1 = 2
二番目の式は複雑に見えますが、**結果は同じ「2」**になります。
何を伝えたいのかというと――
私たちは、宗教をあまりにも難しくしてしまっているのです。
たとえば、私たちの教えの本質はとてもシンプルです:
魂の理解 + kokoro (mind) の浄化 = 陽気ぐらし
しかし、あまり重要ではない要素をこのシンプルな教えに加えてしまいます:
魂の理解 + 儀式 + 献金 + おぢばがえり + kokoro (mind) の浄化 = 陽気ぐらし
そして、次第にこれらの副次的な要素に重きを置きすぎてしまい、本来の教えを見失ってしまいます。
これこそが、私たちの信者数が増えない理由なのです。
おふでさきの要点:
- 魂を理解して心を浄化すること。
- 魂とkokoro (mind) の浄化、そして神のたすけ(お導き)の真実を人々に伝えること。
- 「よふきづとめ」を行い、神のたすけを、教えを伝えた人々にもたらすこと。
- 神のお導きを受けて、礼拝場所に来た人々に「おさづけ」を取り次ぎ、病を癒し、さらに教えを伝えて救うこと。
そして彼らに教えるのです:
OFUDESAKI 3-43
What is the Purpose of our Religion
Is the goal of Tenrikyo to perform the Yorozuyo and Twelve Songs perfectly in Japanese, without making a single mistake?
Is it to make frequent pilgrimages to the Ojiba to offer prayers?
Is it to give monthly donations to our upper churches?
Are these things absolutely necessary for salvation?
These are important questions. But perhaps even more important is this: Why is Tenrikyo not growing?
In fact, the number of followers is declining. In 1980, Tenrikyo claimed around 2.5 million members. Today, estimates suggest fewer than 2 million worldwide.
Why is this happening?
It may be because we’ve lost sight of the true purpose of our faith.
The True Purpose of Tenrikyo
The purpose of Tenrikyo is simple: To spread God’s truth as revealed in the Ofudesaki.
How do we do this?
The Ofudesaki gives us step-by-step instructions:
Summary of the Ofudesaki:
- Understand Your Own Soul (Mune):
Your soul observes your behavior and thoughts. It gives out justice—not by judgment, but by returning the effects of your own actions. “You reap what you sow.” - Purify the Mind:
When the mind is pure (shinjitsu no kokoro), one is saved. Only joy will emerge from the soul. - Identify and Remove Negative Thoughts:
God identifies five negative thoughts (“dusts”) that we must remove:- Regret (oshii)
- Covetousness (hoshii)
- Self-love (kawaii)
- Greed (yoku)
- Arrogance (kouman)
These thoughts produce negative emotions like anger, sadness, or anxiety. When such emotions arise, it’s a sign these thoughts are present.
- What Do We Do When Negative Emotions Arise?
God teaches:- Do not act on them.
- Calm the mind.
- Reflect on what negative thought brought about the emotion.
This reflection and restraint is how we purify our minds.
For some, this may be a slow process—especially if we’ve accumulated many “dusts.” But God assures us: when the mind is pure, only joy will come from our own soul.
Sharing God’s Teachings with Others
Once we begin to purify our own minds, we may want to help others do the same. However, it is often difficult to convince people with words alone. That is why God has given us a special prayer: the Youki-Tsutome.
This is not a prayer to save ourselves—we already have the knowledge to do that.
It is a prayer asking God to help save others.
When performed with sincerity and a pure mind, God will place illness or difficulty as guidance on those we have taught. These are not punishments, but messages—revealing the fate their own soul will eventually produce if they do not remove their negative thoughts.
What Happens Next?
Those who understand God’s guidance (the ones God calls nihon) will come to our places of worship. They may ask for healing.
We then perform the Osazuke, and continue to teach them about the soul and the pure mind.
This is the only proper time for the Osazuke to be effective—not to cure just any illness, but to guide and heal those who are already awakening to God’s truth.
Oyasama and the early followers did not go around healing random illnesses. Rather, people came to them after receiving God’s guidance.
This process—purifying our minds, spreading the teachings, performing the Youki-Tsutome, and administering the Osazuke—is the Honmichi, the main path. This is how God’s teachings are meant to spread throughout the world.
Ritual vs. Purpose
If you find spiritual meaning in performing the Yorozuyo, making pilgrimages, or donating—please continue. But do not mistake these rituals for the core purpose of Tenrikyo.
God has already given us the roadmap:
- How to purify our own minds
- How to save others
- How to spread these teachings to the world
It’s all in the Ofudesaki.
We don’t need to look anywhere else.
When the mind is pure, one is saved. Only joy will come from the soul.
This is the message we must carry to the world.






