Contribution and Dedication"

"Contribution" and "dedication" mean to "contribute our utmost sincerity" and "dedicate our energies" in working for God the Parent's universal salvation. ContributionandDedication Whatdo"contribution"and"dedication"meaninconcreteterms? "Contribution"and"dedication"meanto"contributeourutmostsincerity"and"dedicateourenergies"inworkingforGodtheParent'suniversalsalvation.Forexample,wemayvisitourchurchtoperformtheservice,makeadailyvisittothechurchtoprayforthesalvationofotherswhoaresufferingfromillness,ordonatewhatwecanwithasinceremindsothatwecanhelpothersbesaved. Inorderforustosavortruehappiness--theJoyousLife--GodtheParentlendsuseverythingweneedincludingourlifeitself.TheessenceoftheTenrikyofaithistomakerepaymentfortheseblessingseveryday.WeshoulduseourmindandbodytoexpressourgratitudeforGodtheParent'sblessingsinsuchawayastobringthemostjoytoGod.Thisistheoriginalandprimarymeaningof"otsukushi,"theJapanesewordthatistranslatedas"contribution."Whatisembodiedinsuchanactisnothingshortofoursincerity. WhatbringsthegreatestjoytoGodtheParentisthatwe,God'schildren,helpeachotheranddedicateourselvesinsavingthosewhoaresufferingfromillnessandothertroubles.Thereforethehighestformofcontributionistodedicateourselvestothesalvationofothers.Therehavebeenmanyfollowersofthepathwhoevengaveuptheiroccupationstoengageinhelpingothersbesaved. Forvariousreasons,however,noteveryoneisinapositiontoworkforthesalvationofothersinsuchaway.Therefore,somestartedtoexpresstheirsinceritybyofferingmoneyandotherthingstobeusedforuniversalsalvation.Thispracticespreadamongfollowersandeventuallybecameoneoftherepresentativeformsofcontribution. Inordertopromoteworldsalvation,itisimportantandevennecessaryforallofustocontributeourutmostsincerityinavarietyofareas.Wesometimesneedtocontributeourenergies,ideas,andpossessions,andwemaydiscussourindividualrolesinthisendeavor.Sucheffortscanalsobecalled"contribution"becausewhatisembodiedinthemisoursincerity. Therearethosewhoseexcessiveattachmenttomoneyandmaterialgoodsisinvitingmisfortuneandtakingthemtoadeadendinlife.Suchpeoplemaysometimesbeadvisedtocontributemoneyorotherpossessionstowardthecauseofworldsalvation,inorderforthemtobecomefreefromattachmentandrelyonGodtheParent. Oyasamataughtustheimportanceofthe"mindofsavingothers,"asrecordedintheScripturesaswellasinAnecdotesofOyasama,theFoundressofTenrikyo.HowtomakerepaymentforGod'sblessingsseemstobeuptotheindividualtodecidebasedontruesincerity."Contribution"isonewayofexpressingourtruesincerityandisasworthyaneffortassalvationwork. Eachofyoushoulddedicateyourselftoservingtheworldandthepathwithoutentertainingsuchthoughtsas"Thispersonmightsaythis"and"Thatpersonmightsaythat."Thetruthofyourdecisivenesswillendureforalifetimeandforeternity.ThisonetruthIhavenowtoldyou. Osashizu,January12,1899,supp.vol. Youmightthink,"WhatifIloseeverythingasaresultofcarryingoutcontribution,whichmayentailgoingthroughhardshipsanddifficulties?"However,thetruthofyourcontributionwillendureforalifetimeandforeternity.ThetruthofdelightinyourmindwillbeacceptedbyHeaven.Listenandunderstandwell.Ahumanbeinglivesonlyforalifetimeandcannotbesaidtoliveforever.However,youcantakedelightifItellyouthatthemindiseternal.Thetruthofyourcontributioncannotbeallowedtogounnoticedorbeabandoned--suchisthetruth.Thetruthforeternitycannotbeallowedtogounnoticedorbeabandoned,becauseitseffectivenessbuildsgraduallyyearafteryear. Osashizu,February12,1900,supp.vol. *     *     * Does"contribution"primarilymean"offeringmoneytoGod"? Whatwethinkinourmindswillonlybecomeapparentwhenitisgiventangibleexpression.ItisimportanttoexpressourfeelingofgratitudetoGodtheParentinatangiblemannerinordertoensurethatGodwillacceptourgratitude. WeshouldcontributeourutmostsinceritytowardGodtheParent'sworkofworldsalvationwithasenseofgratitudeforGod'sboundlessblessings.Oneofthesimplestwaystoshowoursinceritycanbemonetarydonation. Moneyisindeedconsideredimportantinourdailylife.GodtheParentwillacceptourtruesincerityindonatingmoneytoGod'ssalvationwork--thetruesinceritywithwhichweletgoofourgreedandmiserliness.ThissinceritywillensurethatwecanreceiveGod'ssalvationevermorevividly.ThepointistoridourmindsofthelastvestigesofgreedandrelytotallyonGodtheParent.Itisarequirementwemustfulfillif,forexample,wearetoreceiveGod'swondrousblessingthatwillsaveaperson'slifethatisabouttoend. OfferingsthatexpressourgratitudeforGod'sprovidence,includingmonetaryofferings,willhelpconnectustoGod.Sincereofferingsthatwemakeforthesakeofworldsalvationevenbycuttingdownonourspendingcancertainlybeaworthyformofcontribution. (ThisarticlewasexcerptedfromQuestionsandAnswersaboutTenrikyo,153-156.)