The course of Oyasama's life during the fifty years between October 26, 1838, when She became the Shrine of God, and January 26, 1887, when She withdrew from physical life, is called "the path of the Divine Model" or simply "the Divine Model." Since a model refers to something that is meant to be copied by other people, we can say that the Divine Model refers to Oyasama's exemplary way of living that we are meant to copy in our own lives.

In Her role as the Shrine of God, Oyasama sought to save humankind by teaching the Parent's intention. Not only did She teach through Her spoken word and Her written word, but She also implemented the teachings in Her daily life out of the profound parental concern to show us how we could apply them to our own lives. Thus demonstrating the path through which we can attain salvation, She beckons us to follow in Her footsteps, telling us to copy what She does and try it out for ourselves. All Her actions during the course of those fifty years beginning in 1838 serve as exemplary models for humankind to copy in their daily lives.

It goes without saying that the factual circumstances contained in the Divine Model are set in a time and place that had a different living environment and customs from our own. Yet, the state of mind consistently shown throughout the Divine Model transcends time, place, and culture and thus has universal application. It is a path that anyone can follow and, when followed, offers the most dependable guide to salvation.

A Divine Direction delivered on November 7, 1889, says: "If you do not follow the path of the hinagata, there is no need for the hinagata. It will not do to change the hinagata." This instruction makes it clear that Oyasama's Divine Model serves no purpose unless we make an honest effort to copy it in our own lives, exactly as it was taught.

The word "model" is also used in other senses; for example, we say that churches are to be "models of the Joyous Life" and Yoboku are to serve as "exemplary models for their communities." The prefix "divine" distinguishes Oyasama's Divine Model from these other uses of the word "model."