Dusts of the Mind
Throughout the world, God is the broom for the sweeping of the innermost heart. Watch carefully.
Ofudesaki III:52
If only the dusts are cleanly swept away, then I shall work marvelous salvation.
Ofudesaki III:98
Whatever pains, sufferings, tumors, fevers, or looseness of the bowels: all are from dust.
Ofudesaki IV:110
*The Ofudesaki, The Tip of the Writing Brush, was written by Oyasama Herself and contains 1,711 verses in seventeen parts.
- What are the dusts of the mind?
Through the metaphor of dust, God the Parent teaches us about the misuse of the mind, which is to say, the selfish use of the mind not in accord with God’s intention. Particles of dust are so light and minute that they can be blown away by a single puff of breath. However, dust accumulates quickly and, if we are negligent, it can pile up so high that the cleaning will become very difficult. Our minds will likewise become clouded if we use them in a selfish way, which does not accord with the intention of God the Parent. In due course, we will be unable to receive God’s blessings. If we leave the dusts unswept, they will manifest themselves as illness and other troubles.
- What kind of use of the mind is taught as dust?
The selfish use of the mind is dust. God the Parent cited eight dusts: miserliness, covetousness, hatred, self-love, grudge-bearing, anger, greed, and arrogance. In addition, God the Parent warns us that God “dislikes falsehood and flattery.”
- What can we do to sweep dust away?
Oyasama taught us that we should always try to clean our mind with God’s teachings as the broom. This means that we should reflect on the use of our mind in light of the teaching of the eight dusts of the mind and try to use our mind in accordance with the intention of God the Parent. Also, by performing the service taught by Oyasama, we will be able to sweep dust from and purify our mind.