Tenrikyo Dynamic Mission QUICKLY DO IT NOW

There are very few key words or instructions that appear in all seventeen books of Ofudesaki poems. One of them is the instruction, "quickly". 

The instruction that some service, work or task is meant to be done "quickly" is then a very important step of the recipe for awakening single-hearted salvation in one's mind. As is the case in following the steps or instructions for any recipe the reason for this is instruction is crucial for the successful completion of the art and sincere way of awakening.

The hastening to "do it now" is concerned with the performance of the service or work to calm and settle our imagination and to view the world directly as it exists without the overlay or superimposition of our self-centered imagination coloring and distorting it.

In most cases the self-centered imagination is experienced as our "mental voice" or "mental pictures" and depending upon the individual our self-centered imagination might run either from time to time or continuously in our waking hours. Whatever the case we all tend to believe two things. First that the mental voice or pictures of our mind represents our identity and second that it only says true things as it speaks to itself about itself, what it likes and doesn't like about the world.

The Tenrikyo Teaching claims that our "real" and "original" identity exists deeper than the self-centered imagination and is in fact the consciousness that the self-centered imagination is reflected within. To test whether this claim is true or not we are instructed to quickly turn our imagination off and see what remains. That is simple enough and only takes our undivided attention for a moment in order for it to be accomplished.

Unfortunately, early attempts at opening this rather quick and easy recipe encountered opposition and conflicting claims that engaged self-centered imaginations in ways that drew them away from performing this work or service. Ways, "services" were however found to attract some self-centered imaginations that were able to complete the work and prove the truth of the recipe of single hearted salvation of all kinds by returning the self-centered imagination to its original pristine condition.

                                                                                                   January 13, 1887 Words of Oyasama

That said, if not now then when? Do it now! Stop, do the pondering, be aware of the voice of your mind and watch it until it falls silent. What remains is original consciousness. Its nature is Joy in life.

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