Tenrikyo Dynamic Mission - EXPANDING THE PATH

It is or at least should be clear by now that the work "Services" of this Path are intended to show ways to quickly purify the mind and reveal the origin. That is easily enough read and  said but what exactly does it all mean? Further why should anyone care and supping that one does care how does one go about learning what is being taught?

Some questions and definitions of terms might be reasonable at this point. For instance:

• What does the word "teach" mean in this context?

  • When we ordinarily speak about teaching, being taught and learning, the idea of accumulating new information or ideas is commonly understood. This path differs totally from that common understanding and instead what is taught are  ways to remove, at least temporarily, the deepest ideas of self that have over time accumulated in our mind and which form our self image and the truths of the world that rise up from those ideas of self.

• What does the word "origin" used here refer to?

  • When the mind, the mind's voice and images has been purified, settled, made clear (like clear water) what remains is the original consciousness that the self-centered imagination rises up and appears reflected within. That original consciousness is the true origin of the mind.  It is by the light of that original consciousness that any and everything is known. Without it nothing has ever been known by anybody at any time or place.

• What does it mean to purify the mind?

  • Many people have found settling their mind, turning off their self centered imagination to be extremely difficult and for some it is even imagained to be impossible to do. It can however be done and quickly done at that. The necessary attitude in approaching the work (Service) of doing so is the truly sincere desire to do so. There are two general categories of means of purification of the mind. They are "surrendering to a higher power" (leaning on God) and pondering deeply from the inner most heart.

• What does the phrase "by all means mean"?

  • The claim is that this teaching comes from the single source of everyone and everything. And that the one original single source exists at and can be exposed and revealed as the core of all human minds equally. It is further claimed that the one original single source loves all that rise up and are reflected in it equally, without discrimination. Because of that love for all equally, the one original source at the "heart" and "core" of our mind is willing to do what ever it takes to show us the true origin of our mind. Since no two human minds are exactly the same the one parental consciousness accepts that whatever works for us, by all means, whatever quickly purifies the mind is the right path for awakening to the true origin of our mind, the real truth of self. When we look at the Model Story "Hinagata" we see numerous examples of this effort to employ all means. The earliest followers were ultimatly shown a model path that included proper names (changing names for the one original diety for instance), a place (the Jiba), and an object (the Kanrodai) as focal points for devotion. In the earliest years procedures that employed the most common objects, a fan, water, rice and candy show the way of  instantateous single-hearted devotion. From the point of view of our original conscious parent it doesn't even make any difference whether we intend to awaken or intend something else what works is the sincerity to let go of our own thoughts and lean entirely on God.

• What does the phrase "clearly understood by the whole world" mean in this context?

  • Since no two human minds are exactly the same the only "place" where total accord will be found is at the original consciousness that is one and the same for all. The clear understanding is the functional replacement of the unstable and shifting foundation of the self-centered imagination as the source of our knowledge and understanding of the world  with the knowledge and understanding of the world based upon the solid and unshifting foundation of our single, immortal, original consciousness.

• What does the word "salvation" mean in this context?

  • Currently many people are finding that their experience of life is lacking in joy. There are as many causes of that dissatifaction as there are disatisfied minds. In response to that dissatisfaction, regardless of the cause, this teaching shows the way true satisfaction in all matters. That true satisfaction in all matters is called "single-hearted salvation". Single hearted salvation is a slogan that represents the state of a mind that has returned to, knows and understands its origin. Something of the flavor of this can be seen in the promise of freedom from all illness, trouble and even death. Obviously this promise refers to the salvation of the mind and not of the body. 

  This universe is the body of God.
  Ponder this in all matters.
  At this time, as God is openly revealed,
  I shall teach you any and all things.
  so long as you remain unknowing that the body is
  a thing borrowed, you can understand nothing at all.
  
  

• What is the significance of the word "quickly" as used in this matter?

  • Anyone reading this is conscious and also has a self-image that is made up of self-centered imaginings. Add  sincerity and all of the ingredients necessary for awakening are at immediately and intimately at hand. It is only a matter of priority then. We might ask ourself, will  I awaken right now or will I put it off for some later time? The word quickly appears in all of the collections of poems that comprise the "Tip of the Writing Brush". It is not a trivial comment. Though our self-centered imaginations do not process at the speed of light they none the less process very quickly and constantly move from one topic to the next. When the work of settling the imagination is put off until some later time, years and even a lifetime can go by before we get back to the work. To catch our imagination and hold a thought in our attention so that it can be settled and  its imaginary nature revealed in the light of its origin, we have to move quickly,with sincere determination.

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