Tenrikyo - The Reason of Heaven

     

This universe is the body of God.

Ponder this in all matters.


 

Book II: 25-30

Before we begin with the next set of verses let us briefly take stock of our progress into Book II. By now it is abundantly clear that God is hastening the opening of a broad path to make the minds of the whole world spirited. However, it is also abundantly clear that there is an obstacle to God's intention and that that obstacle must first be removed in order for the path to quickly go forward. That obstacle, we have been taught, is none other than our own misunderstanding of God's true heart. To remove this obstacle and realized single-heartedness with God, God has shown us the way of the Service that purifies the mind. The way to remove the obstacles of misunderstanding, doubt and rejection.

To further help us to understand, God has asked us to ponder God's point of view. That is the point of view of God's heart, the point of view of the origin, the point of view of single-heartedness with God. From that point of view we were taught that illness and pain do not exist. If from our self centered point of view they do exist then we are taught that we should take that as sign or guidance to return to the origin and single-heartedness with God where they do not exist.

We are taught that this misunderstanding, doubt and rejection that has brought us to a world without joy is dust and that when this dust is completely swept away nothing will remain but universal salvation. We might ask or for that matter forget to ask. What does completely swept away mean?

Now on to verses 25-30.

Though it is springwater that fills the pond in the high mountains,
yet at its spout, it is mixed with mud.

First let's look at the metaphors. The spring water is the origin, God's mind, it is clear and pure. The pond is the human mind; originally it is also clean and pure. The high mountains are human bodies and the mud is of course human thought.

[ human thoughts- illness and pain ]----[God's mind, clear and pure]---[ human thoughts - illness and pain]

When you calm down your mind step by step and ponder,
it will change into clear water.

Through pondering deeply and sincerely and the perfection of the Service our human mind step by step returns to its original condition. The emphasis here is on the condition of the mind. The words "clear water" do not suggest content. As none is intended.

[purified mind - clear and pure] ---[God's mind, clear and pure, high spirited joy]--[ world of joy]

I shall go into the mountains and make it clear,
whatever kind of water it may be.

Three important points here. First: God has made the commitment to enter into our human thoughts. Two: God's intention is to make our mind clear of human thoughts. Three: God does not make any judgement about the condition or content of our human thoughts. The goal is to quickly make our mind clear not to sort out or endorse one kind of content over another. Human thoughts here are not pure or impure, they are just in the way.

You who are devoting yourselves day by day, settle the heart.
Then a promising future will be yours.

Staying with the allegory we can easily imagine agitated mud in water as opposed to settled clear water. As for a promising future: no illness, no pain. That sounds plenty promising.

From now on I shall plunge into the pond in the high mountains and clear it of mud,
whatever kind it may be.

Again God's intention, commitment and perhaps most importantly for our understanding, "whatever kind it may be." One could say that this means that God treats all minds equally and perhaps so should we. Human thoughts are in the way of single-heartedness with God. It seems clear that the intention is to clear the mind and replace it with God's mind. Our ordinary way of thinking usually assumes that one set of ideas is meant to replace another. This teaching is not worldly common.

If I only remove the mud from it completely,
the remaining water will be clear.

Notice that God teaches that the mud (human thought) be removed completely in order that the original be revealed. This is a big step for the self-centered imagination. If we sincerely and honestly ponder this then I think that we will be able to understand why God's words, though plain and simple are so easily misunderstood. Our self-centered imaginations are conditioned to seek understanding through the accumulation of thoughts and ideas. God's teaching like God's mind is completely different from our ordinary worldly way of understanding.. To become single-hearted with God we awaken to understanding by the removal of misunderstanding. Whatever thoughts we may have, noble and base equally are just in the way of single-heartedness with God

It is here in the mind like clear water that the truth of any and everything is known. It is here in the mind like clear water that that the heart of God is known. It is here in the mind like clear water that illness and pain do not exist. It is here in the mind like clear water that single-heartedness with God is realized.

Watch how the self-centered imagination responds to this teaching. If it recoils do not be concerned. It cannot imagine its own origin and often gets defensive about this most powerful metaphor. If on the other hand the way is prepared and this truth honestly embraced, smile and be aware of the settling. What a marvelous truth it is.

You must crawl out. As long as you continue your human thoughts, I cannot help you…If you try to crawl out of the muddy water in this direction and in that direction you will find a path. Osashizu April 21,1896

Indeed, after thirty years had passed, God the Parent for the first time identified the core of universal salvation not only in terms of person and place, but also through reason that was understandable to anyone. It is true that people had spiritually grown enough to be taught these, but Oyasama warned them of wrong thoughts, which people at their stage of spiritual growth were likely to entertain. "Wrong thoughts" are human thoughts. To call these wrong thoughts may sound too harsh, but surely they are thoughts that cannot be said to be appropriate in the eyes of God.

Sermon at the Spring Grand Service January 26,1990