This term refers to all the workings of God the Parent. We may, if we wish, look at God the Parent's workings from three perspectives.

God the Parent created all things, including humankind. Creating all out of nothing involves unimaginable workings far beyond human thought and cannot possibly be compared with any other action we can conceive of. Such are God the Parent's workings as viewed from our first perspective.

Second, ever since creation, God the Parent has been enabling all things to come into being and exist in accord with the Truth of Heaven, which refers to the order established through the workings involved in creation. This, we may say, indicates God the Parent's workings as viewed from our second perspective.

Third, God the Parent, who became openly revealed to humanity by fulfilling the promise made during creation, disclosed the truth of origin and is manifesting divine workings as Savior. From this perspective, God the Parent's workings are frequently indicated by the verb "to save." Such may be said to be God the Parent's workings as viewed from our third perspective.

In terms of theological discussion, one could argue that there is a need for different concepts under which to classify the various workings of God. This issue, however, has not yet ripened sufficiently.

In the Scriptures (and consequently in Japanese followers' phraseology), "shugo" [translated variously as "providence," "protection," and "workings"] is an umbrella term for all the workings of God the Parent. Though the Chinese characters applied to the term may simply indicate the meaning "protection," this term as used in Tenrikyo stands for a range of meanings such as "grace" and "providence" as well as "protection." Says the Ofudesaki:

Then, after holding counsel, God came to the firm decision to begin this world.

Since that time, the providence [shugo] of God has been by no means an easy matter.

Ofudesaki VI: 39-40

These verses refer to God the Parent's act of creation. The Scripture also says:

The true Parent of this universe is Tsukihi. It is I who protect [shugo] you in everything.

Ofudesaki VI:102

This verse, on the other hand, indicates God the Parent's workings that sustain all things and enable them to function properly. Consider another verse:

When Tsukihi has ascertained your mind's sincerity, know that I shall grant you every kind of protection [shugo].

Ofudesaki VI:109

The verse tells us that God the Parent will manifest free and unlimited workings to save us in accord with the true sincerity of our mind.

As suggested by the foregoing, all workings of God the Parent are seen as God the Parent's shugo, or "providence." This is because everything, according to the teachings, exists within God the Parent's workings. All things come into being, manifest themselves, exist, and fulfill their functions entirely in the protective embrace of God the Parent's workings. In their daily parlance, therefore, followers often speak of the "providence that created humanity," the "providence that saves us," "God's daily providence," etc., thus using the term "providence" to refer to a variety of workings of God the Parent.

The teaching of "the ten aspects of God's providence" indicates and explains a number of concrete workings of God the Parent that typify "the ten aspects" in order to help us clearly recognize and understand God the Parent's complete providence--which, as has been seen above, enables all things to exist. A sacred name is applied to each aspect.