Tenrikyo Ofudesaki - Point of View of a "Child" -

The use of the word "child" in the Poems is both metaphorically and factually true. As a metaphor the word "child" refers to all of the minds of the world in all times and places. Although all of the minds of the world have the same conscious origin, that is they all rise out of the same parental consciousness, they naturally have no knowledge of the origin of their self-centered imagination and in most cases over the course of a lifetime have never had cause to think about it. Unless of course that self-centered imagination gets frightened or hurt.

Looking all over the world and through all ages,
I find no one who has understood my heart.
So should it be, for I have never taught it to you.
It is natural that you know nothing.


Section I