Great Construction

Conform to Principle of the Way

     Simply put, the essence of faith could be termed conforming to principle of the way. In the two-ideogram compound written to express the concept of “principle of the way,” first comes the ideogram for “way” followed by that for “principle.” In particular, no more profounder in significance is there than the ideogram for “way.” In terms of the spirit of language, the Japanese pronunciation of “way,” michi, can be divided into mi and chi. Mi represents “water,” “body,” and chi is “blood,” “spirit.” In addition, mi is feminine and chi is masculine, to wit, negative and positive. The physical shape of the ideogram, “way” is composed of the ideogram for “neck” to which is attached the “advancing” radical. The neck is the most essential part of the human body. One can live without arms or legs, but when the neck is severed, life is no more. It is interesting that the expression, “neck was cut” is used to describe salaried workers who lose their jobs. Because the “advancing” radical is added to the important ideogram of “neck,” there cannot be any more profoundly meaningful ideogram than that for “way.”
     Furthermore, “way” connects to all. Transportation systems, electrical waves, light waves, the comings and goings of human beings all depend upon “way.” The movement of the heavenly bodies as well all have their orbit, that is, their “way.” As such, “way” is the fundamental of everything. Therefore, how mistaken it would be to depart from the “way” can be readily understood.
     The pronunciation of the ideogram for “principle” is ri which, in the spirit of language, belongs to the ra row of the phonetic alphabet. The ra row of sounds stands for “screw” or “spiral,” and in physical shape is represented by the vortex. A vortex has a center from which, expanding and contracting, activity is generated. In other words, when it moves clockwise, it becomes centripetal, and when it moves counter clockwise, centrifugal. For example, the center of our activities is Gora in Hakone. The pronunciation of Go represents “five,” or “fire.” The sound of the ra in Gora is the vortex, so it means that the dot of five will spread out centrifugally. Since antiquity, there has been a certain swirling tomoe pattern that has a shape which means “left-moving that turns into right-moving,” indeed, most mysterious. The spirit of language of the ra row of sounds, that is, ra, ri, ru, re, ro, stand for the activity of the dragon. The ideogram for “dragon” is pronounced ryû. When the dragon is not moving, it takes the shape of a vortex. Of great interest is that many persons who have one of the ra row sounds in their name are dragon-type people, which will be apparent if you test this and look about at different individuals. This explanation could go on forever, so I will stop here.
     Now, to interpret the shape of the ideogram for “principle” which is composed of the “jewel” radical accompanied by the “village” ideogram, first, the “jewel” radical connects vertically the three levels of heaven, the middle, earth, that is fire, water, soil. Next, the attached ideogram for “village” is formed by writing the ideogram for “rice paddy” on top of the ideogram for “earth.” The ideogram for “rice paddy” is a circle with the ideogram for “ten” inside. The ideogram for “”earth” is formed by writing the ideogram for “ten” on top of the ideogram for “one,” that is, unification. Thus, the meaning of the ideogram for “principle” is fundamental activity of all in the universe, which signifies completeness. The name of the Tenrikyo religion as it written in ideograms, “Heaven-Principle-Teaching,” is a good name. One of the several words that stand for the concept of law is a compound of two ideograms composed of the ideogram for “principle” followed by the “law” ideogram, so here I will take the opportunity to explain the ideogram for “law.” In the spirit of language of the pronunciation of the “law” ideogram, which is hô, ho is “five” and the long vowel of the o is “water.” In terms of the spirit of the language, o, “water,” is included within hô, “fire.” It means that fire continues to burn by means of water. The ideogram for “law” is formed by writing the “water” radical with the ideogram for “remove,” and because water flows horizontally, there is a concern about disorder. Therefore, when the activity of water is removed, the remaining activity becomes vertical, which signifies strict immovability, meaning that the law should not be broken.
     When the various meanings mentioned above are considered as a whole, the meaning of “principle of the way” becomes clear. Because these are ideograms with great and profound significance, to them human beings should act in accordance. It would, therefore, be fair to say that “principle of the way” means God. Obeying “principle of the way” is to obey God. Those who are human beings, no matter what their situation may be, must respect, conform to, and not depart from “principle of the way.”

A Guide to World Messianity, November 20, 1950
translated by cynndd

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In the 1955 English translation of Sekai Meshiya Kyô Hayawakari published as Guide to World Messianity, the sixth chapter “Dôri ni Shitagau” was substituted by a translation of the essay “Kôun no Hiketsu” from Eikô, Issue 246, February 3, 1954, and was titled “Way to Happiness.” The title of a previously published translation of “Dôri ni Shitagau” is given below for reference. 

“Obey Dori, Law of Truth,” Foundation of Paradise, 1984, page 433.