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(Summary)

April is the month of Oyasama’s birthday. Let us pass each day feeling the everliving Oyasama’s Parental love.

On the latest April 15th edition of Tenri Jiho newsletter published in Japanese, there was an article about new missionaries who were about to be dispatched to their missionary houses receiving words from the Shinbashira.

The Shibashira said, “When someone engages in missionary and salvation work, that is what brings the most joy to Oyasama.”

However, there are many who don’t feel confident about doing salvation work. I would like to share with you a portion of Rev. Yoshizumi Nakayama’s December Church Headquarters monthly service sermon, so that you don't feel pressure about it.

There is someone close to me who did salvation work in a way that I shall now share with you. He is a 25-year-old man whom I will call Mr. A.

Mr. A’s grandmother was hospitalized in the Ikoi-no-Ie Hospital. A short while after that, Mr. A decided to enter the Spiritual Development Course.

One day, finding a little bit of time, Mr. A went to see his grandmother in the hospital. His grandmother was delighted exclaiming, “You came to see me!” She took this opportunity to spill all the difficulties of being hospitalized, the things she didn’t like, and so on to her grandson. A whole hour went by.

Mr. A listened to her intently, and finally it was time to go back. After administering the Sazuke, just as they were about to part, he said, “Grandmother, you are going through so much every day. However, before you go to sleep, please find something from that day that made you happy, joyous, maybe something was tasty, you must be able to find something. It can be anything, so please find one thing to give thanks to God before you go to sleep.” With these words, he left.

The grandmother reflected on her conversation with her grandson. “Oh, I just talked about myself. I didn’t even ask one thing about my grandson. I feel bad that I made him listen to my complaints. Come to think of it, he did say something in the end. He said, think of one happy thing, one thing I enjoyed today. I wonder what that can be.” She recalled, “I had melon for dessert after lunch. It was cut into small pieces and was so delicious.” She gave thanks to God for the melon and went to sleep.

After performing this action of giving thanks to God for about a week, she had a few tests the next day. Upon seeing the results, the doctor said, “Your health has greatly improved.” This made the grandmother happy. She wondered whether it was the result of her keeping her promise to her grandson. She thought she wanted to let her grandson know. However, her grandson did not come.

However, she wanted to tell someone of this happy news. There was another elderly lady who shared the room with her. She called upon this person. “This! When I started to give thanks to God before sleeping, my health improved. Would you also like to try this?” The woman replied, “Is that so? Well, I’ll try, too!” She started that very night. The next day, both said, “What should I give thanks for today?” and “I have so many things to give thanks, I’m at a loss to decide!” Up until then, their conversations were full of dissatisfaction, but due to this happening, their conversations had transformed to enjoyable things.

One week later, she had another examination. The doctor saw the results and said, smiling, “What happened with the two of you in this room! Your results look great! At this rate, you will be discharged soon!” The hospital room was filled with laughter.

Mr. A’s little story of “Gratitude to God.” I believe this small talk led to the two elderly women to receive the divine protection that accelerated the recovery. This does not mean that this story being told will grant blessings to whomever speaks it. The blessings are also due to Mr. A patiently listening for an hour to his grandmother that when they were given directions, they immediately put it into action. Regardless, it is fact that the story Mr. A’s small talk led to the fragrance being spread and it was also the seed for salvation.

Did Mr. A convey something difficult? It is a nice and simple something that anyone can tell. But it was an important thing that led to salvation. Don’t you think you can do it, too? In the second half of the service begins with,

A single word can be Hinokishin.
I simply sprinkle My fragrance around.
(Song 7 Verse 1)

We often think too much. What we are aiming is the Joyous Life. While being conscious of the teachings of Oyasama and always remember things like “joyous acceptance” and “sowing the seeds of sincerity,” and let us find something that made you happy and express our gratitude to God. We hope to engage in such salvation work.

(Summary)

We have just completed April monthly service joyously together with the grand church head minister as the core.

Today I would like to talk about “making efforts.”

As one of the grand church duties, there is upper church visit. The church visit takes place on the 23rd of every month by a representative to attend the monthly service at Koshinokuni Grand Church in Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture, and also to visit Kawaramachi Grand Church in Kyoto City. They were Honjima’s upper churches before Honjima was still a branch church.

I perform this duty every year, but I would like to share a story when I visited Koshinokuni Grand Church in August two years ago.

Until then, I was never assigned for the upper church visit in summer so when I looked at the duty roster, I was thinking “Oh my gosh, it is going to be really hot...” In the past several summers, the severe heat was very intense and the heat on the day of my duty was much more severe than I had expected.

Needless to say, as it is an official visit to the upper church, I wore suits and a tie. I tend to perspire a lot. People tell me I perspire abnormally. I perspired so much that my under shirt and dress shirt were drenched with sweat, and it is spreading to my suit. Although I brought two hand towels but they were completely useless already.

On my way to Tsuruga City, I hardly see anyone who was wearing suits. You may think that I should have taken my suit off but because of my physique, the bottom of my shirt comes out of my pants easily. Imagine a man with his sweat-drenched shirt untucked... I feel miserable and I never wanted to look like that and I persevered the heat. Along the way, I kept complaining, “why do I have to wear a suit under thisis blazing summer heat?” However, after arriving at Koshinokuni Grand Church, I casted away such feelings and attended the monthly service with spirited mind.

Toward the end of the second half of the Hand Dance, about 10 young men, they seem to be Young Men’s Association members, entered the worship hall and lined up in front, just behind the partition bar. They all wear comfortable clothing.

While I was wondering what was happening, as soon as the second half of the Hand Dance completed, all reverends, including the grand church head minister, turned around toward the worshipping area. Then the leader of the group said to the grand church head minister, “We shall now depart for Jiba on foot,” which was followed by words of encouragement by the grand church head minister. Then, the grand church head minister escorted the group to the main entrance to see them off. All ministers saw them off until the group of young men disappears from their sight.

Since my friend from high school happened to be there, I asked him about the pilgrimage group. He told me that this pilgrimage on foot is an annual tradition that has been going on for over 50 years. They depart from Tsuruga City on August 23 and walk approximately 150 kilometers (about 93 miles) over four days, sleeping outside at night along the way, so they can arrive in time for the Kagura Service at the Church Headquarters on the 26th.

I was overwhelmed for a while as I witnessed this scene, but I felt that the grand church head minister and the congregation were wholeheartedly seeing off the group of young men setting out on the pilgrimage, as if they were sending off their own children. It felt as if I had touched the profound and warm faith of the parent, and I was filled with gratitude and deeply moved.

After seeing them off, the sermon was delivered, but as I listened to the sermon, I thought about the group that had just departed. I was sure that they were walking in high spirits even in this intense heat that made me complain just by walking for a while. Also, I imagined that when they complete the 150-kilometer journey and offer their greetings to God the Parent and Oyasama, their hearts will surely be overflowing with gratitude, joy, and deep emotion.

Compared to them, what kind of mind did I have when I came to Koshinokuni Grand Church today? I felt ashamed, as I believe I was complaining about the heat and I was probably not spirited at all. But this experience made me want to think once again about “making effort.”

When I hear the word “making effort,” the first thing that comes up in my mind is this story from the Anecdotes of Oyasama, titled “The Child’s Concern for the Parent.” You may be surprised to hear this, but of all the two hundred stories in the Anecdotes, the word “hakobu (to visit, to dedicate oneself, to make effort)” appears only in this story. Allow me to read the whole story.

（Refer to the Anecdotes of Oyasama, the Foundress of Tenrikyo 16. The Child’s Concern for the Parent.)

Isaburo was 15 years old. A 15 year-old boy walked roughly five kilometers (about 3 miles) to the Residence three times a day. It must have been one hour walk one way. So I think he walked nearly six hours in one day. Further, his third trip was at night.

If you only think of walking that much in one day, it must have been challenging. However, such trips to the Residence on foot might have not been that hard for Isaburo, who was desperately wishing for his mother’s condition to improve. Then, Oyasama, Who see everything, accepted Isaburo’s sincere mind for his parent by saying, “If sincere, God will accept.” It was Isaburo’s sincere mind to have his mother be saved instead of the fact that he had walked roughly five kilometers six times.

In general, “visiting,” is not only moving from one place to another but also making effort to make a trip with specific purpose. For us, the followers of this faith, the place we must visit is the Jiba, where God the Parent and Oyasama reside, or local churches. The purpose is to bring your sincerity to God the Parent and Oyasama. Sincerity is the mind of single-hearted salvation, which brings about the desire to help a person be saved at any cost.

Currently, I am granted the privilege of returning to Jiba each month to perform a duty. However, I have come to realize that performance of the duty itself is my purpose, and the return to Jiba is merely incidental to that duty.

Whenever I return to Jiba, my wife tells me, “Please go and worship on behalf of our church.” Each time she says this, I take it to heart that the return is not for me alone. Yet, I find myself regretfully pondering whether I am truly praying in earnest for the well-being and salvation of those connected to our church, or if my return to Jiba has simply become a routine that I don’t fully put my heart into.

In these modern times, everything has become so convenient that it may not be possible to experience the same physical hardships as our predecessors. However, hardships, such as financial ones, still exist today. This is especially true for those in churches far from Honjima or those overseas. By comparison, my church is in Marugame City—I can return to the Grand Church for just the cost of a ferry ticket. It also takes very little time. While I feel bad towards those far away, I cannot change the location of my church. All I can do is change my heart and my attitude when taking action.

Four years ago, in a pamphlet for the 50th anniversary of the Koshinokuni Grand Church pilgrimage on foot, it was written: “While embracing the hardships and thoughts of our predecessors who traveled to Jiba with utmost joy, longing for the Parent...” When I saw these words, I felt they taught me the attitude I should strive for.

As we learn of the hardships of our predecessors, I wish to bring my own heart closer to theirs

by embodying their mindset and first aim to “make effort” with a heart full of joy. I will strive so that I am deserving of the words from Oyasama: “If it is sincerity, God will accept it.”

(Summary)

On March 16, my eldest daughter, Kayoko, got married to Mr. Tensei Matsumura at Oyasama’s Sanctuary. After the wedding, when I was talking to Rev. Yoshiji Matsumura, Tensei’s father, a reverend from the Church Headquarters gave us a word of congratulations, and asked us, “What kind of relationship will you two be now?”

Hmm... What would you call the relationship between the parents of a bride and groom? To this question, Rev. Matsumura said, “We are brothers!” It was just a casual conversation, but later, the fact that he called me a “brother” brought so much joy to me from the bottom of my heart. I asked myself why I felt that way, and came to a conclusion that it was because Rev. Matsumura has a round mind. He is truly a person with a round mind.

In the Anecdotes of Oyasama, the Foundress of Tenrikyo, there is a story called, “135. With Round Minds.” In this story, Oyasama says, “Here are some grapes for you. Like these, in the world, everybody is to relate to each other with round minds. This is a path to be followed joyfully by looking forward to the delight in the future.”

I used “round minds” for an AI search prompt and it was defined as follows:

“Having the emotional state of being without the sharp angles of greed, prejudice, or anger, without thorns, and being kind, gentle and thoughtful toward others.”

I thought it was pretty spot on.

Rev. Matsumura seemed to me as someone who is selfless. He always thinks of others over himself and is thoughtful.

At our churches which are referred to as the place of the Joyous Life, starting with the head minister and their spouse, then those that gather as well, we can all strive to have round minds and support each other in our efforts.

In the Instruction Four, the Shinbashira states, “Today, our society is awash with self-assertion that lacks consideration for others and with indulgence in ephemeral pleasures. People are overconfident in their capabilities and tend to be swayed by self-centered human thoughts as they wander about on the mind’s dark paths.”

I think such minds are opposite of the round minds.

Let us start with ourselves and strive toward becoming of round minds as we walk this path toward the Joyous Life.

(Summary)

We have just spiritedly conducted the March monthly service at Honjima Grand Church. I sincerely thank you very much.

I have been appointed to give today’s sermon, and I will do my utmost in delivering it. I ask for your kind attention.

Today, I would like to share my thoughts on “Causality” and “Joyous Acceptance.”

First of all, how is “Causality” used in the teachings of Tenrikyo?

In the Ofudesaki, it is written,

If you wish to know and will come to Me,
I shall teach you the original cause of all things.
Ofudesaki I:6

God the Parent created human beings out of the desire to have all children live joyously, and together share in that joy. This means that for every person in the world, there is the intention of God the Parent to have them live a joyous life. This is the original causality of humankind.

However, during countless cycles of rebirth since the world began, we have used our minds, the only thing that we are allowed to use freely, in a selfish way. Whether good or bad, such way of using of the mind is manifested as individuals’ causality.

In the Divine Directions, we are taught:

There is every kind of causation in this world. There is good causation as well as bad causation.
Osashizu: July 22, 1895

I have told you before that what you call “causality” is the path of the mind. It is the path of the mind, I say.
Osashizu: April 8, 1907

Whatever you see is causality; whatever you hear is causality. Whoever you are with is also causality.
Osashizu, September 27, 1890

Although it is not easy to be aware of your own causality, in the Doctrine of Tenrikyo, it says,

The reason God the Parent shows us our innen in various ways is to have us replace our minds and to become spirited so that we can live joyous lives. This is from God’s parental love. Even when we are shown an innen which is disagreeable to ourselves, it is never from any intention to torment us or to cause us suffering.
Doctrine of Tenrikyo: Page 56

However, people’s hearts are fickle. There are times when we cannot rejoice, become spirited, and feel our spirit about to break in the face of everyday events. This is true for everyone but even amidst these circumstances, we must always reflect on how we use our hearts, understand that everything is God’s parental love urging us to spiritually mature, and live brightly without losing heart. This way of governing the heart is called “tanno (joyous acceptance).”

In the Divine Directions, we are taught,

Reflect on everything in your lifetime and tanno it. Tanno whatever you see. Tanno whatever you hear. This is how you should live.
Osashizu: June 21, 1890

Now, I would like to talk about a knot that I experienced recently.

In July 2023, the very first year of the “three years, one thousand days” leading toward the 140th Anniversary of Oyasama, I was diagnosed with B-cell lymphoma, a type of cancer that develops when B cells—a type of lymphocyte—become malignant. After six cycles of chemotherapy, I was able to beat the cancer. However, in November, I was diagnosed with a bleeding ulcer and had to have 80% of my stomach surgically removed.

When one is suffering from illness, it is very difficult to practice the mind of tanno. Nevertheless, no matter what circumstance I am in, believe that they are all expressions of God the Parent’s love, and that I can be saved through leaning on God the Parent.

As an aside, for this stomach resection surgery, starting the day before the surgery I wasn’t allowed to drink water, let alone to eat food. Even after the surgery, I was unable to drink water for some time. So, when I was finally permitted to drink water again, I realized anew just how delicious water really is. Never before had I felt such a deep gratitude for Oyasama’s words, “When we drink water, it tastes of water.”

“Buds Sprout from Knots.”

What I realized through this “knot” is that everything that comes to be, including illnesses, is God the Parent’s arrangements to guide us toward spiritual maturity. From now on, no matter the kind of knot it may be, I want to accept it with a heart of joy.

Lastly, I have heard many people, even from far away, performed prayer services for me. Also, I received countless Sazuke administrations from many people. I am truly grateful.

Although I am of limited ability, I will continue to do my very best, even if only in some small ways, to bring joy to the everliving Oyasama, who continues to work for us. I humbly ask for your continued support and guidance.

Thank you for your kind attention.

(Summary)

My mother served for many years at the Foundress’ Sanctuary at the Church Headquarters. Perhaps because of that, whenever I happened to obtain sweets or something delicious that I liked and left it for a moment in the dining room of the head minister’s residence, it would often disappear. More often than not, the one responsible was my mother.

Whenever my mother found something that looked delicious, she would immediately say, “Let’s take this to Oyasama.” Without even asking me, she would carry it off. At first, I would think, “Why?” However, when I realized that it was out of her earnest intent to bring joy to Oyasama, my feelings would naturally settle, and my heart would become calm. This is something that has happened again and again.

In the Instruction Four, the Shinbashira states, “Oyasama began the path of the Divine Model by plunging into the depths of poverty.” So, if you say, plunging into the depths of poverty was the objective, I do not believe so. I believe that plunging into the depths of poverty was not the goal. Rather, it was an important means for salvation work.

In Tenpo era (1830–1844), there was a major knot, “Great Tenpo Famine.” There were series of crop failure caused by floods and severe weather between 1833 and 1837. People had nothing to eat, causing many farmers fall into poverty and starved to death.

Oyasama started giving away things to the people in hunger and those in need. Oyasama gave away the possessions of the Nakayama family without hesitation to save all people.

Needless to say, there is an important aspect—to learn the minds of others by falling to the depths of poverty, but I think Oyasama also had the mind of “engaging in salvation work without hesitation” as the Shinbashira mentioned.

After observing the Oyasama’s anniversary, as we are embarking on a new beginning, let us, as Yoboku, walk the path of single-hearted salvation by striving to extend our helping hands to people without hesitation.

(Summary)

We have just performed the February monthly service with the head minister, Rev. Katayama, as the core. Thank you very much.

As I was appointed to deliver the sermon, I would like to fulfill my duty.

On January 26, the 140th Anniversary of Oyasama was observed at the Church Headquarters. I sat on the bench in the Inner Courtyard throughout the entire Anniversary service, including the reading of the prayer, the Kagura Service, the Hand Dance, the Shinbashira’s address, and the reading of the prayer at Oyasama’s Sanctuary. As it snowed the day before, it was very cold, but I was able to reflect on the hardships Oyasama went through for us, and felt the deep parental love that is contained in the day of the origin of the Oyasama anniversaries. I expressed my heartfelt gratitude for being guided and nurtured through many blessings given during the “three years, one thousand days.” I felt that every word Shinbashira said in his address was the guidepost for our path of spiritual maturity from now on. I would like to read a part of his address.

Because Tsukihi exists, the world exists. Because the world exists, things exist. Because things exist, your bodies exist. Because your bodies exist, law exists. Although the law exists, to resolve your minds is primary.
(Osashizu, January 13, 1887)

In the beginning, Tsukihi, God the Parent, created the world and human beings. Laws are what human beings created. You are saying that you cannot perform the Service due to laws, but settling the mind in ways that fully accord with God the Parent’s intention is of primary importance. Oyasama thus taught the early followers about the frame of mind they ought to maintain to move forward toward the Joyous Life, a frame of mind that entails placing the settling of the mind before laws. This instruction was not simply intended for those who were at Oyasama’s bedside at the time; it is a cornerstone of our faith that we, as followers today, should also bear in mind.

Today marks the closing of one chapter, but there is still a long way to go on the path to the Joyous Life. As a guidepost on our long journey, we have designated a special anniversary period every ten years to set a goal for the entire Tenrikyo community and thereby sought to advance both spiritual and material construction by directing our minds toward our shared goal. This is how the path has become what it is today.

The special activity period leading up to the anniversary has now come to an end. We are now going back to ordinary times, but it will not do to go back to how things were three years ago. I feel that we must continue to walk the path by building upon the efforts we have made over the past three years.

Today marks the beginning of a new chapter of our journey. I would now like to conclude my remarks by asking all of you to continue to walk the path in high spirits. Thank you for your kind attention.

Looking back four years ago when the Instruction Four was announced, we started the “three years, one thousand days” period with the goal of each and every Yoboku raising the awareness of being the instruments of Oyasama and, with decisive resolve, to advance toward spiritual maturity .

I started doing salvation work from January of the first year. However, that person passed away in February. Then, on February 22, in other words, three years ago today, in the middle of our (Grand Church’s) monthly service, I learned that my mother had passed away. I realized that she must have passed away while partaking in the Grand Church’s monthly service. I said to her in my heart, “Thank you, Mother. What a blessing it has been till today.”

Further, this year, two former head ministers of subordinate churches and my church board member also passed away. With the passing of predecessors who had served for many years at my church, dedicating their sincerity, I felt a destabilizing loneliness as though the foundation had fallen out from under me. However, I couldn’t just be sad. This being the beginning of the pre-anniversary activities, I pledged that I must pull myself together and also become the foundation like them and forged forward.

When the “three years, one thousand days” initially began, the 140th Anniversary of Oyasama seemed very far away, but in reality, it went by very quickly. Honestly speaking, there were days when I was not able to persevere steadily, and I have many things to reflect on. But I also experienced a lot of things to rejoice about.

In the third year, the Shidokai Besseki group pilgrimage was held in May and November. It is always appreciated when we receive an invitation like this by our spiritual parents. Even people who would normally be difficult to invite, participated in the Besseki group pilgrimage and listened to the Besseki lecture. Furthermore, in early November, it seemed as though the mother of one of those participants had to be rushed to the hospital with a brain hemorrhage, but fortunately she received the blessings of no after-effects. A series of miraculous events occurred, and we discussed how God protected her turning a major misfortune into minor ones, and a minor misfortune into no misfortune at all. What made me the happiest was when the daughter said she wanted to return to Jiba during the second Besseki group pilgrimage at the end of November to express her gratitude for the protection of her mother’s life.

As someone in charge of a church, it is important to connect with the followers not only when something happens, but also by calling them regularly and visiting their homes to ensure we stay connected. This is something I am lacking. I sometimes worry too much, asking myself things like, “is it okay if I call now?”

We are taught in the Divine Directions,

Reserve and constraint give rise to dust.
(Osashizu: June 14, 1901)

In light of this teaching, I am challenging myself to be more proactive in my duties.

Well, I’d like to change a topic now. There was a calligraphy exhibition at a gallery in the Tenri Hondori shopping arcade, and I went to see it with my friend.

“Keep fighting! Those who never fight will laugh at the song of you who fights.”

This is a line from singer Miyuki Nakajima’s song. Seeing “Keep fighting!” written on a large piece of paper made me feel energized.

For instance, if someone, who has a problem and cannot talk to anyone, sees this word and feels even a little brighter, thinking, “All right. I will do my best,” and becomes more positive, couldn’t it also be salvation work? I believe that as long as a Yoboku has a mind of compassion to reach out, anything could lead to salvation work.

The words, “A gentle heart—God’s desire,” written on the postcard made a strong impression in my heart as well. To have a gentle heart, taking God the Parent as a broom, one needs to sweep away the dust of the mind, harsh and cold heart toward others. I wish to have a warm and kind heart that God desires.

I would like to read from the Anecdotes of Oyasama, the Foundress of Tenrikyo.

135. WITH ROUND MINDS

Around the year 1883 or 1884, Kosaburo Kubo, grateful for the cure of his son Narajiro's eye disease, returned to Jiba with his wife and son. Oyasama, wearing Her red garments, was sitting calmly in Her room. Kosaburo, his wife, and son, who had been led into the room by an intermediary on duty, knelt before Oyasama. They were awestruck by Her reverent manner and were so overwhelmed with gratitude that they could not raise their heads.

However, Narajiro, being only a child of seven or eight, began to look around without restraint. Soon the grapes placed beside Oyasama caught his eyes. As he was staring at them, Oyasama quietly picked up a bunch and gave it to Narajiro, saying:

"It is nice of you to return. Here are some grapes for you. Like these, in the world, everybody is to relate to each other with round minds. This is a path to be followed joyfully by looking forward to the delight in the future."

If everyone relate to each other with round minds, there is no damage even if one bumps into another. If all of us communicate with one another by respecting others’ positions or feelings, we may be able to learn a different point of view from others. Further, stems of a bunch of grapes are in the middle, connecting each fruit. If the stems are the head minister and his/her spouse of a church, attractive and delicious fruits are a reflection of the church and its members helping one another in high spirits, which is the state of the Joyous Life church.

Also, a “path to be followed joyfully by looking forward to the delight in the future” means that the teachings are passed along to the next generation, and it would truly be wonderful if the Joyous Life becomes the natural state for everyone involved in the process.

Recently, the Church Headquarters distributed a calligraphy by the Shinbashira to each church with the words “Single-hearted Salvation, Single-hearted Performance of the Service.”

In his address, the Shinbashira told us to “continue to walk the path by building upon the efforts we have made over the past three years.” Let us walk with the spirit of these words and strive to give the Shinbashira a peace of mind.

Thank you for your kind attention.