All human bodies are things lent by God. With what thought are you using them?

Ofudesaki III : 41

All human bodies are things lent by God. Do you not know the free and unlimited workings of God?

Ofudesaki III : 126

We are born into this world by the grace of God the Parent and live each day sufficiently provided for, because we are in the embrace of heaven and earth, constantly nurtured in the very bosom of God the Parent. That we are able to use the body each day without the slightest hindrance is due to the complete providence of God the Parent, beginning with warmth and moisture and extending to encompass our every need.

If, on the other hand, we become ill, no matter how much we might call upon our strength and wisdom, we shall still suffer from the fever and chills of our condition. One's sickbed will become the whole world and one will not be able to move so much as a single limb freely. If we ponder over this well, the truth that the body is a thing lent by God will settle into our hearts.

So long as you remain unknowing that the body is a thing borrowed, you can understand nothing at all.

Ofudesaki III : 137

Since the body is a thing borrowed from God the Parent, it is important that we use it in accord with the will of God. But we do not see this truth clearly and, relying on human thinking, we attempt to use the body for our own willful ends. Thus, we cloud the truth by which we receive divine providence and, sooner or later, we invite suffering upon ourselves.

Concerning this we are taught:

With human beings: the body is a thing lent by God, a thing borrowed. The mind alone is yours.

Osashizu, June 1, 1889

With human beings: the body is a thing borrowed. The mind alone is yours. From just one mind, any kind of truth will appear daily. I accept any kind of truth. You must understand the truth of free and unlimited workings.

Osashizu, February 14, 1889

Do not wonder where My free and unlimited workings are. In each of your minds, you will find them wherever sincerity abides.

Osashizu, December 7, 1888

Whether we can enjoy the free functioning of the body or mourn its impairment or loss of function is determined solely by the way we use our minds. This is what is meant by the teaching "the mind alone is yours."

However, we find it difficult to settle this truth in our minds and, from the shallowness of human thought, tend to think that we can accomplish anything according to our own plans. We are swayed into pursuing our own pleasures and profits and use our minds in ways contrary to the will of God the Parent, who desires the joyous harmony of all humankind. Thus, God the Parent warns us against such ways, comparing them to dust.

Essentially, particles of dust are so light and minute that they can be blown away by a single puff of breath. If the cleaning is done promptly, dust can be cleared away easily. But dust accumulates quickly and, if we are negligent, the dust will in time pile up so high that the cleaning will be very difficult no matter how hard we attempt to sweep or wipe it away.

Looking all over the world and through all ages, I find no one who is evil.

Among all humankind, there is no one who is evil. It is only a bit of dust stuck on.

Ofudesaki I : 52-53

We are allowed to use our minds as we please, since they are ours. But when our use of mind is not in accord with the will of God the Parent, our minds will become clouded, as though covered with an accumulation of dust. In time, our minds will lose their original brightness, until finally we are unable to manage. This is why God the Parent teaches us against such use of the mind through the metaphor of dust. We are advised to reflect constantly and sweep this dust away, for the dust of one person has a harmful effect on others and may even lead to the disruption of peace in the world.

As a means to help us reflect on the dusts of the mind, God the Parent cited eight: miserliness, covetousness, hatred, self-love, grudge-bearing, anger, greed, and arrogance. In addition, God warns us that Tsukihi "dislikes falsehood and flattery."

God the Parent pities us for such misuses of the mind and gives us signs in the form of illness or other troubles so as to afford us opportunities to sweep the dust from our minds. In this way, God the Parent leads us to the Joyous Life.

Throughout the world, God is the broom for the sweeping of the innermost heart. Watch carefully.

Ofudesaki III : 52

None of you needs self-centered concern. God will distinguish between each of you.

Ofudesaki V : 4

I shall make everything in the mind of each of you clearly manifest on your body.

Whoever you may be, when this is seen, the cleansing of the heart will be truly accomplished of itself.

Ofudesaki XII : 171-172

Thus, we must come to the realization that the appearance of all illness and troubles is due to the deep love of God the Parent, who, as the broom, desires to sweep each of our hearts clean. If we ponder deeply, seeking the reasons for these appearances, the dusts of the mind will be swept away as a matter of course. Thus, if only the dusts are cleanly swept away, we shall bathe in marvelous salvation, receiving the blessings that will keep our bodies in good health, free of illness and weakening.

If only the dusts are cleanly swept away, then I shall work marvelous salvation.

Ofudesaki III : 98

However, because of the immaturity of our minds, most of us must return the body before we have lived out our full term of life. This returning of the body is called "passing away for rebirth" and is much like taking off our old clothes to put on new ones. The mind alone having been taught as ours, we borrow new bodies and return to this world.

If you wish to know and will come to Me, I shall teach you the original cause of all things.

Ofudesaki I : 6

Inherent in us human beings is the desire of God the Parent that we live the Joyous Life. This is our original cause. However, as we conduct our lives with the free use of mind that has been allowed to us, we sow both good seeds and bad seeds. When our deeds are good, the truth of good will appear. Conversely, when our deeds are bad, the truth of bad will appear.

There is every kind of causation in this world. There is good causation as well as bad causation.

Osashizu, July 22, 1895

Needless to say, seeds do not always sprout soon after they have been sown. So it is with causality. In some cases the seed sprouts in one's lifetime. In other cases the seed sprouts only after many generations have passed. One can, upon quiet reflection, discern the reasons for the appearance of causality if it is a result of one's own conduct. In the case of causality from a previous life or lives, however, one must first reflect on one's own past and then on the lives of one's forebears. If we continue to seek answers in this way, we shall come to an understanding of our causality. This understanding is called "the self-awareness of one's causality."

The reason God the Parent shows us our causality in various ways is to have us replace our minds and become spirited so that we can live the Joyous Life. This is from God's parental love. Even when we are shown a causality which is disagreeable to ourselves, it is never from any intention to torment us or to cause us suffering. So if we trust entirely in the love of God the Parent, who is leading us to a better way of life, and keep our minds settled, then everything will be restored to the original cause of the Joyous Life. We shall receive the unlimited blessings of God the Parent in full, our minds becoming brighter and our spirits ever higher.

Our happiness does not depend upon our circumstances nor are the joys and sorrows of life determined by outward appearances. Everything in life is determined by the way one handles the mind. The path of faith is to correct the way one handles the mind and to live each day joyfully in high spirits.

We must thoroughly ponder the truth that the body is a thing lent by God, a thing borrowed. We must always be aware that the mind alone is ours and never neglect sweeping the mind clear of dust constantly each day. We must remain devoted to the Divine Model of Oyasama in all circumstances, trust in God the Parent in all matters, and be committed to the salvation of others. Then nothing will cast a gloom over our minds or the minds of others. There will only be the joy of living in accord with the will of God the Parent and of being led through life by divine benevolence.

Everything in this universe is all by Tsukihi. All human bodies are things lent by Tsukihi.

Ofudesaki VI : 120

(This article was excerpted from The Doctrine of Tenrikyo, 50-57.)