Tenrikyo-Ofudesaki - Free and Unlimited Workings of the Original Parental Mind -
In
the language that these poems were written in, this phrase is expressed in a
single word. It refers to the understanding or lack of understanding of the
entire process of creation and encompasses what we think of as the origin of
the universe as well as all of our ideas concerning our past, our present and our
future.
To get a feel for the intended meaning of this we can use, as the mind of our parent does, the example of plagues, earthquakes and tsunamis to illustrate the two sides of the conversation between understanding the free and unlimited workings of our original parental consciousness and the lack of understanding that up until now, because we had never been taught the true origin of our mind, has been our natural standpoint.
In Miki's time truths of the world included the use of community dances and prayers, as well as ritual magic to ward off the evils of plague, earthquakes and tsunamis. Of course there were long standing common truths of the world, teachings and stories that supported those views. For instance; for some the cause of earthquakes was the stirring of a giant Ray at the bottom of the sea. A modification of those truths of the world and a perpetuation of that kind of interpretation might include the expectation that in the future world of joyous life that is promised by our original parent the perceived evils of plagues, earthquakes and tsunamis would no longer exist.
On the other hand the various "stories of creation" appearing in the Poems attempt to guide us to the meaning of "free and unlimited workings" as derived from a single original consciousness setting in motion fundamental instruments, drawn from within itself, that will combine and change in every possible way. Constantly changing in that way, freely and without limitation, manifesting as the ever mutating appearance of the universe that human minds, which are also a result of free combinations and mutations, experience as our world. From that point of view we are able to freely use our imaginations to better understand the causes and processes of change and find ways to mitigate their impact on our intended experience of a joyous life.
to know the free and unlimited workings of Moonsun.
Through the mind of Moonsun sincerely hastens
to have you know this one truth quickly.
No matter how much Moonsun pleads with you close to me,
no one understands. Oh, how I regret.