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This term is generally used as an abusive word to say that one thinks that someone lacks intelligence or behaves in a way that lacks intelligence or good judgment. In the teachings of Tenrikyo, however, the term often indicates freedom from the shallow shrewdness of human thinking. Symbolically, it implies a humble mind from which the "dust" of arrogance has been swept away; it refers to a mind that is non-self-assertive, simple, and open and even a mind that has become completely pure and clear. What seems clever in the eyes of a human being is not necessarily so in the eyes of God. Again, if we live in full accord with God's intention, we may be derided by others as being foolish. The term in question was one way in which Oyasama expressed living in complete accord with God's intention. Oral tradition says that Oyasama told Rin Masui, "Fools are desired by God." Also relevant is the Divine Model itself, which Oyasama demonstrated by walking the path of single-heartedness with God--which is beyond human common sense--while being laughed at and derided by others as a fool. We read in the Mikagura-uta and the Divine Directions:
Always ridiculed and slandered, Mikagura-uta III:5 People of the world called Her the worst fool. They said, "What will She do after giving everything away?" You have no idea how many days She spent being ridiculed like that. Osashizu, February 2, 1899 (This article was first published in the October 2004 issue of TENRIKYO.) |
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