Tenrikyo: Return to the Origin

The panel discussion on Tenrikyo Spirituality was intended, I think, to provide an opportunity for English speaking followers to talk about "how to talk about the Reason of Heaven in English". At least I got that very strong impression when speaking with many of the attendees. I was one of three panelists on the topic "Tenrikyo Spirituality" and found the exercise to be both fun and educational. 

The panel discussion on Tenrikyo Spirituality had, like I think all of the other panels, four parts. The first part involved meeting with the other panelists and talking over the topic. Though perhaps we were not able to achieve unity of mind I was impressed by the congeniality and fraternal atmosphere of our talk and was particularly impressed with the fact that at that time there were probably few if any other such meetings going on, in the English language, with goal of advancing single-hearted salvation any where in the world. It is my view that all human differences and questions concerning the truth of things can be subjected to the test of the mind like clear water. And tested either actually as in settling the self-centered imagination or reasonably as in sincerely and honestly reasoning the outcome of such a test. This of course is the action of distinguishing between the unchanging and one truth of origin and the multitude of temporary worldly common truths that make up our day to day experience. 

The second part of the Panel was the delivery of the various papers and positions. It seemed to me to be a widely used but rather academic format. I wonder if we can find a way of meeting and exchanging views that would be more inclusive of both the core teaching and the less academically inclined followers like my self and apparently Kay's husband, Reverend Jiro Morishita. For my part I am inclined to "wing it" and work without much written preparation. Instead relying on a few basic fundamentals like: This universe is the body of God, ponder this in all matters, Be enlightened by the words "clear" and "muddy." and Listen closely! I teach all things to everyone. I do not discriminate among any of you ever. It is my position that any and every question regarding the truth of origin, the truth of self and the path of single-hearted salvation can be easily answered by settling the truth of just these three poems as the foundation of one's thinking.

The third part of the Panel was the question and answer period. The question that made the biggest impression on me was concerned with the effort to save one's self by saving others. Let me try out an explanation using Genetic Engineering as an example. Human beings have genetically engineered their environment for tens of thousands of years. Virtually all of the widely consumed grain crops that we depend upon are genetically engineered grasses and all domestic animals that we use have also been bred for certain desirable characteristics. Over thousands of years this process has largely been a process of trial and error. Over time the ability of some individuals to achieve a particular result was developed as a skill or art. In the latter part of the twentieth century human beings learned how to purposely and consciously engineer genes to produce a specific outcome. It was then no longer necessary to use the time consuming and costly trial and error method.

Let me point your attention to the Timely Directive given on the evening of January 13, 1890. This Timely Directive outlines a similar situation to the example given above. Prior to and even after God the Parent's modeling of the way to realize the truth of origin it was possible to receive that truth, unwanted and through random trial and error. After the establishment of that model however, trial and error (a long path of hardships with rare positive results) was no longer an efficient means for realizing single-heartedness with God, the truth of origin, the truth of self and all things. With the availability of the Model it is possible to consciously and deliberately select the fast sure way to the realization of the truth of origin and the joyous life.

Now, to rapidly, deliberately and consciously realize single-heartedness with God, the truth of origin in our own mind it is necessary to know and carefully, honestly and sincerely follow any of the instructions shown in the Model. As a goal then we will want to know and understand the truth that this universe is the body of God and make that knowledge and understanding the foundation of all of our shallower self-centered thoughts. So, for anyone who wishes to hear and who sincerely knows, understands and settles the truth of origin their reward is the free and unlimited use of the body which comes from realizing the power of the origin. Nice, except that for most of us there is a misunderstanding of the intention and means of realizing single-hearted salvation and we can no more settle our minds than we can, without proper mental preparation, do deliberate Genetic Engineering. 

What to do then? How can we prepare our mind to know and understand the truth of origin, the truth that any and everything of this universe is the body of God? Well one way is to try and explain the truth to someone else and when they don't get it try and find a way to calm their mind so it is capable of settling with the truth of origin. This then is a very powerful method of calming our own mind particularly since it involves reconciling what we teach with the truth that this universe is the body of God, that that truth is known through the mind like clear water and that all human beings have an equal access and affinity to the truth of origin as characterized by the Model of Parental Love. Teachings that cannot be reconciled with at least those three aspects of the Reason of Heaven are some other model and do not constitute the deliberate and conscious effort to bring about universal single-hearted salvation. They can however arrive at single-heartedness with God through trial and error.

Some years ago the 3rd Shinbashira advised us to "begin again from one".  That, from my view, remains good advise. We are the folks who understand causality. We too should have a goal just as the Model has a goal. To achieve that goal the Model shows specific causal steps that are appropriate for a particular time, place and varying levels of spiritual maturity. We too should be aware of the causal steps that will lead to the realization of our goal in a particular time, place and for varying levels of spiritual maturity. It is my feeling that those of us who speak the English language should figure this our for ourselves entirely in the English language. We have already been given a great deal of training and support. As much as can be expected. It is presumptuous to expect someone else to do this for us. By focusing on how to make the core teaching available in this time and place we can create new paths of single hearted salvation even now and in this place.

The fourth part is the "what are we going to do now" part. The truth of origin does not change but everything else does. Our path can be a vehicle of deliberate change leading to free and unlimited single-hearted salvation or a worldly common vehicle that has settled into a limited system of shared beliefs.