This term, which appears in the Scriptures, refers to that which is the Origin--which is to say, the truth we should use as our dependable guide. The word "origin" refers both to the cosmological and historical foundation and to the foundation as it relates to doctrine and principle. Tenrikyo's teachings on the origin are concerned with both these aspects. In the Ofudesaki, the term "truth of origin" is shortened to "origin" and "true origin."

I begin to make the truth known to all humankind from My desire to save this world.

Now that I shall work salvation unknown until now, it is necessary to make the origin known.

To teach you things unknown until now, I shall make the Parent of Origin clearly known.

When you come to know the Parent of Origin clearly, I shall give you My assurance on anything whatever.

Ofudesaki IX:28-31

About single-heartedness at this place: If you listen and settle in your mind the truth of origin coming from fifty years ago, then the truth of convincing insight should also settle.

Osashizu, July 31, 1888

Truth refers to the truth of origin. The truth of origin is the truth God teaches.

Osashizu, August 22, 1896

Another facet of the term "truth of origin" is that because it appears as the heading of chapter 3 of The Doctrine of Tenrikyo, followers often use the term to refer to the story of creation, which constitutes much of that chapter. The reason why the chapter was entitled "The Truth of Origin" is that the story of creation expresses the truth on which the teachings are based--that is, Tenrikyo's fundamental truth. The Ofudesaki says:

Though Tsukihi looks all over the world, there is no one who knows the origin.

Desiring to teach this origin to the world by all means, Tsukihi has become revealed.

XIII:30-31

The "truth of origin" (or the story of creation) is one way in which God the Parent taught the hitherto unrevealed fundamental truth by referring back to the origin of human creation in order to save all humankind. This story is designed to cast light on the foundation of God the Parent's providence. We may regard the story as including all fundamental teachings of Tenrikyo. Among other things, it indicates the truth of the Parent of Origin (cf. Ofudesaki IX:25-32) and the significance of the Service (cf. Ofudesaki VI:5-8, 29-30), as well as "the Causality of the Soul of Oyasama, the Causality of the Residence, and the Truth of the Promised Time" (cf. Ofudesaki VIII:21-50).

We also read:

Everywhere in the world, people are the same: they only have depressed minds.

From now on, firmly replace the mind and become the mind of joyousness.

The reason Tsukihi began human beings was the desire to see you lead a joyous life.

Because the world does not know this truth, everyone sinks only deeper into depression.

Ofudesaki XIV:23-26

These verses teach that a profound understanding of the truth of origin is of great significance to humanity's salvation, whose goal is the attainment of the Joyous Life.