Teaching of Tenrikyo

God the Parent, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto

God the Parent, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto, is God of Origin, who created humankind and the world in the beginning, and God in Truth, who provides all the blessings such as fire, water, and wind in the world as well as warmth, moisture, and breath in the human body. We adore God and feel a sense of intimacy by addressing God as "God the Parent" since God is the Parent who created and nurtures all human beings.

The complete providence of God the Parent is taught through the ten aspects of God's workings, to which ten sacred names are given. These are called "the ten aspects of the complete providence of God".

The providence of Kunitokotachi-no-Mikoto and that of Omotari-no-Mikoto are the most fundamental. It is taught that they are the providence of water and fire in the world, manifested as the moon and the sun in the heavens.

The Ofudesaki refers to God the Parent variously as "God", "Tsukihi" (Moon-Sun), and "Parent".

In the Mikagura-uta, we red:

Just a word: Listen to what God says,
I never tell you anything wrong,
Representing heaven and earth
I have created husband and wife.
This is the beginning of the world.

The Ofudesaki says:

The earth and heaven of this world is your real
Parent. Out of this, human beings were born.Ofudesaki X:54

We are taught that Kunitokotachi-no-Mikoto corresponds to heaven and father, and Omotari-no-Mikoto earth and mother. In this way, they work as pairs through the principle of oneness in two---moon and sun, water and fire, heaven and earth, and paternal and maternal natures.

The word "Parent" connotes the nature of the Creator who gives life, the Guardian who protects, and the Savior who wants to save all humankind, God's children. It also implies the functions of raising and guiding children.

It is the essence of the teachings that God and human beings are truly Parent and children. People throughout the world are all, therefore, true brothers and sisters. This path is a path of single-hearted salvation that was laid by God the Parent out of the parental desire to save humankind, God's children.

from Yoboku's Guide to Tenrikyo, translated by Tenrikyo Overseas Department