NEWPATH TENRIKYO - BRIEFLY PONDERING RECOLLECTIONS OF THE TEACHING

           From "Lectures on the Doctrine of Tenrikyo" by Shozen Nakayama the 2nd Shinbashira of Tenrikyo

"Why is it that Oyasama taught the Salvation Service and the Sazuke of Breath and of the Hand Dance? The reason given in chapter 3, entitled ' The Truth of Origin.' This story, among other things, teaches why the truth of the Salvation Service, described in chapter 2, leads to the rebirth of human beings even while they are alive."

In my ponderings, I  will entertain two very general ways of interpreting the phrase, "rebirth of human beings even while they are alive."
The first way is the currently popular worldly common way of replacing one set of negative, self destructive self images, self-centered imaginings, with another more positive and life affirming set of self images or self-centered imaginings. Though admirable, this worldly common way is not the way of Single-hearted Salvation that is taught by the mind of our original parent.

The second way, the way that is taught by Oyasama, is the way of being born again even while alive, by the replacement of the very foundation of one's entire self-image and self-centered imaginings with the direct knowledge and understanding of the true origin and intention of all human minds. This way teaches the way of quickly returning the self-centered imagination to its original condition, so that it can then rise up again, secure in the knowledge and intention of the truth of self and indeed the truth of all things in detail. Awakened then and able to rise up anew, be born again; to play joyously in the free and unlimited workings of God's body.