Verse 1

一ツ　ひとのこゝろといふものハ　うたがひぶかいものなるぞ

一つ　人の心と言うものは　 疑い深いものなるぞ

Hitotsu / Hito no kokoro to yū mono wa / utagai bukai mono naru zo

One / People’s heart-minds / doubts are deep

My take on this verse is that it is merely describing a characteristic of human beings. There is nothing here that suggests there is anything wrong to harbor doubts. However, the example of Yuki Shimizu when she first received the Grant of Safe Childbirth does suggest there can be consequences when we do not fully entrust ourselves to Oyagami.

Verse 2

二ツ　ふしぎなたすけをするからに　いかなることをもみさだめる

二つ　不思議な救けをするからに　如何なる事を見定める

Futatsu / Fushigi na tasuke o / suru kara ni / ika naru koto o misadameru

Two / wondrous salvation / [Kami] will do / every kind of matter / [Kami] discerns

The key word in the verse is “misadameru” (discern). In the Ofudesaki are the following verses:

When I have discerned your mind of sincerity, know that I shall provide any protection.

4:52

When [Cosmic Space-Time] has ascertained your mind’s sincerity, know that I shall grant you every kind of protection.

6:109

…I shall discern your mind, whoever you are, and begin to work at once.

15:15¹

Verse 3

三ツ      みなせかいのむねのうち　かゞみのごとくにうつるなり

三つ　皆世界の胸の内　鏡の如くに映るなり

Mittsu / Mina sekai no mune no uchi / kagami no / gotoku ni / utsuru nari

Three / All the world’s innermost hearts / mirror / like / reflect

In the Ofudesaki are the following verses:

Since it is [Cosmic Space-Time] who began this world, there is nothing unknown to Me.

The innermost heart of everyone in the world is reflected to [Cosmic Space-Time].

8:11–2²

Hereafter, I shall not indicate anyone in particular. I am watching the innermost heart of each of you.

16:59

Verse 4–5

四ツ　ようこそつとめについてきた　これがたすけのもとだてや

四つ　ようこそつとめに随いて来た　これが救けの本立や

Yottsu / Yōkoso / Tsutome ni tsuite kita / kore ga tasuke no motodate ya

Four / [I] commend [you] / Service stick to / this is / salvation / basis of

 

五ツ　いつもかぐらやてをどりや　すゑではめづらしたすけする

五つ　何時も神楽や手踊りや　末では珍しい救けする

Itsutsu / Itsu mo Kagura ya Teodori ya / sue de wa / mezurashi tasuke suru

Five / Always / the Kagura and Teodori / in the future / [Kami] will grant extraordinary salvation

I consider verses 4 and 5 as an inseparable pair. Verse 4 offer words of commendation to those who continue to perform the Service whereas verse 5 reveals that extraordinary forms of salvation are possible when performing the Service, namely both the Kagura and Teodori sections of the Service.

Verse 6

六ツ　むしやうやたらにねがひでる　うけとるすぢもせんすぢや

六つ　無性やたらに願い出る　受け取る筋も千筋や

Muttsu / Mushō yatara ni negai deru / uketoru suji mo sen-suji ya

Six / Thoughtlessly / [you] make wishes / receive / factors / a thousand factors

This is a verse stating that although we may make various prayers, it is but one factor Kami takes into consideration out of a thousand factors. Our prayers alone cannot bring about want we want. It is often said in Tenrikyo that we are blessed according to our state of heart-mind, not based on what we pray for.

Verse 7

七ツ　なんぼしん／＼゛したとても　こゝろえちがひはならんぞへ

七つ　なんぼ信心したとても　心得違いはならんぞへ

Nanatsu / Nanbo shinjin shitatotemo / kokoro e chigai wa / naran zoe

Seven / No matter how / believe / frame of heart-minds / mistaken / will not do.

No matter how long or how much we believe, a mistaken frame of mind will not do.

Verse 8

八ツ　やつぱりしん／＼゛せにやならん　こゝろえちがひはでなほしや

八つ　やっぱり信心せねばならない　心得違いは出直しや

Yattsu / Yappari shinjin senya naran / kokoro e / chigai wa / denaoshi ya

Eight / After all / believe [you] must do / frame of heart-minds / mistaken / start anew

This verse is deeply connected verse 1, which concerns doubt. In the end, we all must believe or place our faith in something, whether it may be any set of teachings or the scientific method. It possible to doubt the identity our parents or our date of birth, but what really would come of it other than our own suffering?

The second half of the verse here contains the word “denaoshi.” While there are commentators who take it to mean “pass away for rebirth,”³ It is relatively recently that the word “denaoshi” was adopted to mean to “pass away for rebirth,” the meaning of the Twelve Songs predate this usage of the term. I believe this verse merely is a statement of commitment to change our mistaken frame of mind.

Verse 9

九ツ　こゝまでしん／＼゛してからハ　ひとつのかうをもみにやならぬ

九つ　此処迄信心してからは　一つの功（講）をも見なければならぬ

Kokonotsu / Koko made shinjin shite karawa / hitotsu no kō o mo / minya naran

Nine / Until here / believing / even one result / one must see

This verse expresses that there must be tangible positive consequences of our faith, whether it comes in form of a growing confraternity or congregation or harmony settling in our lives.

Verse 10

十ド      このたびみえました　あふぎのうかゞひこれふしぎ

到頭　此の度見えました　扇の伺いこれ不思議

Tōdo / Kono tabi miemashita / ōgi no ukagai kore fushigi

Ten, finally / This time / [I] have seen it / Fan of Invocation / this is wondrous

Verse 10 here may seem outdated because it mentions the Fan of Invocation, a Grant that allowed followers who Oyasama bestowed to inquire the Cosmic Intention. The use of this Grant was revoked circa 1868 due to its misuse by some followers.

One commentator, however, says having the Sazuke bestowed equals the receiving of Kami’s wisdom⁴, thus “ōgi no ukagai” may represent the Sazuke in general in the same way “koe no Sazuke” represents all forms of the Sazuke in Song One. Being devoted in one’s faith and following the messages of Song Six step by step may lead to us being able to gain insight into the Cosmic Intention.

References/notes