Tenrikyo Ofudesaki  THREE INTERPRETATIONS OF THE POEMS

"When we seek an ideal for our own lives from the Divine Model of Oyasama, interpretations that we understand from it differ depending on our individual situations: for instance, an interpretation from a child's point of view; an interpretation from a parent's point of view; and interpretation of someone who is following the path of single-hearted salvation; and so on. However, any such interpretation is not wrong." We can gain understanding of the ideals for which we search by the way we direct our thinking in each of our situations. It can be said in each case, we are looking to Oyasama in adoration with our arms spread wide to receive her saving grace. On the other hand, what would our thoughts be if we stepped into her mind and looked at ourselves from her point of view."

Zenye Nakayama , February 18,1986

When I first read the Tip of The Writing Brush I focused solely on the acquisition of the point of view of single-hearted salvation and disregarded all of the rest as representing the kinds of things that discourse with villagers living in the past would require. That is I saw only two points of view. Having been guided to an appreciation of all three points of view opened the intention of the entire conversation and showed me not only the conversation set in a single time, place and for various levels of maturity but the conversation in all times, places and levels of maturity.

The three interpretations or points of view are modeled in the quotation above. I hope that someone might be fortunate enough to identify them as they exist in their own mind and in so doing savor the knowledge and understanding that flows from grasping them.