NEWPATH TENRIKYO - BRIEFLY PONDERING RECOLLECTIONS OF THE TEACHING

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

"When it comes to the detail of the contents, you might find that some of the things you believe to be essential receive slight attention. ...[T]he basis for our plan of the Doctrine is the conviction that the spirit of Tenrikyo and the mission of Oyasama consist in single-hearted salvation. I should like you to take this point to heart."

Single-hearted Salvation, "Kami-Ichijo", awakened as one once again, with the knowledge and intention of the original parental mind of all equally, the "mind like clear water". It is perhaps often the case that we find our self to be prone to being preoccupied with other matters. This is of course a matter of prioritizing our work or service. What can be done quickly, in a single evening, can also be sought after and put off for a lifetime.
 
Then again sometimes our sincere efforts lead us to engage in sincerely mixing in already established truths of the world that seem real and true, but when "tested" in the totally calm and settled "mind like clear water", are found to rely upon and only exist when our self-centered imagination is actively engaged.

This single hearted salvation then freely gives us the great gift of being able to clearly distinguish the creations and intention of our original self, from the creations and intentions of our imagined self. The human self-centered imagination is a marvelous tool but by using it in unwise ways that lead to suffering and a lack of joy in life, we may find our self looking for relief and a way out of our suffering and dissatisfactions. It is for that reason that we are taught the way of single-hearted salvation as relief from all fears, worries and troubles and dissatisfactions. That relief is freely offered but because of the intended free play of the human mind, it up to each individual to give their consent to take it or not.