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This is a term used in the Divine Directions to metaphorically describe states of mind that stand in contrast with the "mind like clear skies." Referring to states of mind that exert a negative influence, the term may be applied at the level of an individual or of a group of people. Cloudiness can be caused by perfectly ordinary, everyday actions and happenings.What you say could be one cause, and what you hear could be another cause. Any such thing could be the beginning of cloudiness. Osashizu, March 18, 1895 In particular, feelings of dissatisfaction and words that express them in the course of daily life are regarded as often clouding the mind. Examples of these include: "After all this effort, why? If this problem could be settled, if only this would settle--" (Osashizu, August 3, 1888). The Divine Directions contain a number of references to cloudiness in contexts that relate to the teaching of "the Mirror Residence." Examples include:A mind that is made clear by the clear path is the Mirror Residence. The Residence is to be completely clear. It will not reflect the world if it is cloudy, will it? Osashizu, March 18, 1895 The presence of cloudiness in the Mirror Residence will make it impossible to save people. Osashizu, July 31, 1889 Some examples of references to cloudiness in more general contexts follow:A state of mind that thinks, "This is someone else's problem, so what does it matter?" can cause serious cloudiness. Osashizu, January 11, 1897 You often talk about people behind their backs but avoid speaking the truth. You think things about people behind their backs but avoid teaching them the truth. Such is the primary cause of cloudiness, I say. Osashizu, July 14, 1898 Jiba is a mirror, just as the world is a mirror. As the world reflects the states of mind of the world's people, so does Jiba reflect all its cloudiness. The world is clouded by the principle of human reasoning. . . . Many instances of cloudiness come from this one principle. Osashizu, February 1, 1897 I had you talk things over together by giving you a direction on one thing. Again, I had you talk things over together through a direction on something else. If you get together to talk things over one by one while exchanging ideas and if the reasoning that realizes your misunderstanding settles in your minds, then there will be no cloudiness, no cloudiness at all. Osashizu, September 14, 1900 True sincerity refers to reality of sincerity. Sincerity relates to the world; it also relates to the path, I say. If sincerity is real, no attempt to cast cloudiness over it will be successful. The real truth is the truth of heaven. The truth of heaven will remain unaffected by any cloudiness. Osashizu, August 22, 1896 To clear away cloudiness, it is necessary to discover its cause. We find pointers in such passages as these:There is no turbidity or cloudiness in single-heartedness with God. Yet cloudiness may arise depending on how it is taken and how it is conveyed. Osashizu, May 19, 1895 Saying that this is no good or that that is no good will damage the path, I say. Because cloudiness arises here and there, things can become time-consuming. Osashizu, December 14, 1904 If one lives each day in accordance with the message of the Divine Direction that says, "No cloudiness will arise if you focus on finding delight and happiness in everything" (Osashizu, August 9, 1895), then one can maintain a mind like clear skies and live free from cloudiness. (This article was first published in the March 2008 issue of TENRIKYO.) |
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