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(Summary)

“A reference guide for a tour of the Main Sanctuary” was published by the Church Headquarters’ “Committee for Promoting Salvation Work.” Explanations of the Main Sanctuary, Foundress’ Sanctuary and Memorial Hall are written in a way that is easy to understand. (Note: only in Japanese at this time)

I want to caution you that this is not for handing to the person you are guiding to Jiba. It has been made as a manual for those who are guiding someone around Jiba. In other words, they want you to use it as reference material when you are giving the tour of the sanctuary.

Although it is not written in the “Reference Guide,” I would like to share two tidbits that you might want to share when you are walking along the corridor.

While you are walking the corridor, you may notice the heart-shaped marks that line the reinforcement timber at the joint between the pillar and the beam. This mark is called inome and it is a pattern that has been used in traditional Japanese temple constructions from ancient times. Some people say that it wards off evil spirits.

The way in which the inome reinforcement timber is connected to the pillar and the beam differs in the East and West corridors. That is to say, in the East corridor, a large nail is hammered in. This was done by carpenters who build ships. On the other hand, the ones in the West corridor have no nails and they are held together by wooden joinery. This was done by carpenters who build temples.

Normally, one would think that the client would want to use the same construction method.

This part is my own speculation, but I wonder if they asked the carpenters to use whatever building method they were specialized in. What I mean is that each person has their own inherent virtues and skills. You have it but I don’t. Or, I have it but you don’t. In this way, each of the virtues may differ from one another, but each carpenter may have been asked to contribute to the construction using their own specialized skill for the sake of saving others and for the construction of the Joyous Life world.

Another point is that the corridor at the Main Sanctuary makes a circuit of about 800 meters (a half of a mile). Along the way, the corridor slopes upwards and downwards over gates in the lower level, the side with the Main Sanctuary is higher, while the north side with the Foundress’ Sanctuary and Memorial Hall is lower. It feels like a beautiful rhythm as you walk along. Without fail, young children enjoy the downward sloping sections, treating them as if they were a slide.

This is my own point of view, but walking down the corridors is much like going through life itself, don’t you think? There are high points and low points, and Oyasama waits for us at the very lowest point to return. I think this demonstrates parental love.

I think everyone here may feel something different from one another, but taking these things into consideration, let us bring back as many people as possible to Jiba and introduce the Man Sanctuary.

Next, September is a month of “All Church Missionary Work Drive.”

Five years prior to the 100th Anniversary of Oyasama, the Third Shinbashira issued the Instruction Three. I would like to quote a part of it.

“A single word conveying the teachings change one’s fate. This is because the orientation of one’s mind changes upon hearing the voice of the Parent.”

I think a single word of spreading the teachings that can change one’s fate depends on how you build the foundation, and, the Instruction Four clearly teaches us in detail how to build such foundation each day.

“Let us Yoboku proactively visit our churches, engage in hinokishin on a daily basis, and spread the fragrance of the teachings to others, starting with those around us including our family members and coworkers. If we find people who are suffering from illnesses or other problems, let us reach out to them with love and care and pray for a solution through performing the service. We can administer the Sazuke to those who are ill and let them know that there is a path by which they can truly be saved. God the Parent will accept our true sincerity and provide free and unlimited workings accordingly.”

September is the month to “convey the teachings with a single word.” Let us carry it out with momentum and in high spirits.

Thank you for your kind attention.

(Summary)

We, the members of Tenrikyo, often use a term “Hinokishin." Let me refer to the three Tenrikyo scriptures and the doctrine to find out what this term Hinokishin means, as the term cannot be found in dictionaries in general.

First, in Ofudesaki, the term “Hinokishin” cannot be found. In Mikagura-Uta, there are six verses, and in the Divine Directions, the term appears twice.

In the Doctrine of Tenrikyo, Chapter Eight: On the Way to the Final Goal, we can find a detailed description as following:

“Hinokishin is an action arising from the joy of fervent faith and can take many forms. It is not limited to the carrying of earth. All efforts made joyously and spiritedly, purely from faith and forgetting greed, are hinokishin.

Hinokishin is not something we do just for a time, but is a daily expression of our continuing joy. Furthermore, the joy expressed in the effort does not remain confined to us alone but spreads its influence, inducing others to join in, and thus comes to be joyousness that is shared.

Husband and wife working together in hinokishin;
This is the first seed of everything. (Mikagura-uta XI : 2)

God the Parent says: ‘Husband and wife working together in hinokishin. . . .’ When a husband and wife work spiritedly in hinokishin daily, each helping and encouraging the other, their happiness will overflow and harmony and brightness will fill their home. This is what is taught by the phrase ‘the first seed of everything.’

The joy of one home will spread its influence through the neighborhood. Many others will come to join the activity of hinokishin and the joy of united hearts will pervade the world. This is how the world of the Joyous Life desired by God the Parent will make its appearance.”

Hinokishin is not a one-time deed, but an act of daily gratitude and joy. Through Hinokishin, we share joy with others, and thus the world of the Joyous Life can be realized.

Also, in Song Eleven of the Mikagura-uta, the Songs for the Service, it says,

Third, I behold more and more people coming from the world,
And bearing straw baskets in hinokishin

Fifth, Forever continues the carrying of earth.
If yet it continues, I, too, will go.

Seventh, How remarkable this carrying of earth is,
When it serves as a contribution to God!

In the Divine Directions we are taught,

Speaking of carrying earth, carrying earth. . . . They will return here daily with their hearts full of delight, regardless of their struggles, regardless of the responsibilities where they live. For carrying even one basket of earth, how great their reward! It cannot fathomed!
Osashizu: March 13, 1907

From the Songs for the Service and the Divine Directions, we can understand that God the Parent is watching over people, young and old, men and women alike, gathering from all over the world at Jiba, joyously and spiritedly carrying the straw baskets. The desire to engage in hinokishin in whatever form possible is expressed through the carrying of earth with the straw baskets. I feel the spirited joy and sincerity settled in such dedicated acts are accepted by God the Parent as the truth of the heart, and will be treasured as the truth that will last for all eternity.

This shows us that hinokishin is truly essential for the realization of the Joyous Life world.

The driving force that makes our hearts spirited in hinokishin is the teaching of “a thing lent, a thing borrowed”. This teaching tells us that our bodies are lent to us by God the Parent and, from our standpoint, are borrowed things.

In the Ofudesaki, we are taught,

All human bodies are things lent by God.
With what thought are you using them? (III:41)

All human bodies are things lent by God.
Do you not know the free and unlimited workings of God? (III:126)

So long as you remain unknowing that the body is
a thing borrowed, you can understand nothing at all. (III:137)

In this way, we are taught, when we settle the truth of “a thing lent, a thing borrowed” in our hearts and awaken to the realization that we are being kept alive, we cannot help but be filled with joy. When we come to feel the blessing of the free and unlimited workings of God the Parent, that joy and gratitude naturally find expression in the form of hinokishin.

In the Mikagura-uta, we read:

A single word can be hinokishin.
I simply sprinkle My fragrance around.(Mikagura-uta: Song VII: Verse 1)

When you talk with other people about God the Parent’s teachings, let us talk of the joy of doing hinokishin. That joy, whether through saying a few words of greeting or just from a conversation, inevitably seeps out. And that is where you are able to spread the fragrance of the teachings. You will impress upon others of the world the joy of daily hinokishin efforts.

Presently, there are not any Seinen (live-in young male staff member) who are in service at the grand church. The Honjima Chapter of the Young Men’s Association gathers every month, on the weekend before the monthly service at the grand church, and do hinokishin, in preparation for the monthly service.

Not only the Young Men’s Association members, but they also bring their family and/or friends, or even potential future followers and through their hinokishin efforts at the grand church, this has become a place where the teachings are spread.

Besides the Young Men’s Association members, those of you who have gathered here at the grand church have helped with putting away the lanterns and church banners which were displayed, or raised the tatami mats in the assembly hall in March and September, when we have the memorial services. The tasks that the Seinen have done in the past, you all have done hinokishin. As someone who lives here are the grand church, I am very grateful.

As we look toward the 140th Anniversary of Oyasama, let those of us, who are connected to Honjima Grand Church, start with hinokishin efforts, in unity of mind.

Thank you for your kind attention.

(Summary)

On June 25, an Oyasato Lecture Series was held at the Dining Hall 2, with Rev. Yoshitaro Fukaya as the guest speaker.

During the speech, Rev. Fukaya stated, “The period of pre-anniversary activities is not a time to harvest, but a time to sow seeds of sincerity.” Regarding “sowing seeds of sincerity,” he provided three concrete examples.

The first example was, rather than sowing seeds that come from a place of negativity, we should instead sow seeds of joy. In every knot we may experience in life there is joy to be found.

The second is to sow seeds of salvation. Oyasama demonstrated the path of “single-hearted salvation” through Her Divine Model.

The third example was to sow seeds of sincerity. Seeds of sincerity that are sown will one day sprout, and when they sprout, we continue to sow additional seeds of sincerity.

As we continue through the final six months of pre-anniversary activities, let us continue to sow seeds of joy, seeds of salvation, and seeds of sincerity.

My wife, Kaori, has been working at the Women’s Association Headquarters since September last year. I heard some of the stories that they are discussing at said meetings.

One of the discussions revolved around these words that we received from the Shinbashira two year ago at the Autumn Grand Service.

“Let us strive to guide as many people as possible to this path and patiently and consistently work with them with loving care until they start putting the teachings into practice with an awareness of being Oyasama’s instruments. Further, let us continue to reach out to as many as possible of those who have already become Yoboku but are temporarily inactive, encouraging them to play active roles in the path with an awareness of being Yoboku. Let us make a point of working with these Yoboku, too, so as to help ensure that the pre-anniversary activities gain ever more momentum.”

The core of a church is the head minister, and one of the activities the Women’s Association Headquarters is to unite their minds with each head minister and activate these people who are “taking a break for the moment” so they can be awakened and walk the path with us.

I would like to ask for your cooperation to connect to the Yoboku in your churches, create momentum toward the pre-anniversary activities, and make spirited progress toward the Joyous Life.

(Summary)

The oldest service performer at my church is Ms. Toe Sugiyama who is 97 years old. She is my aunt and it has been 16 years since she started to live at my church. She takes down the food offerings at my church and she also performs all the musical instruments. She goes out for shopping as well. As for the pilgrimage to Jiba, she returns twice a year for Oyasama Birth Celebration Service and Autumn Grand Service. At Jiba, she goes to the Main Sanctuary, Foundress’ Sanctuary, and the Memorial Hall together with everyone else without help of a cane or wheelchair. She then returns to the followers’ dormitory on foot. She has a gentle nature, and she is not nitpicky.

Aunt Toe used to live with my mother-in-law. She was 80 years old when her husband and my mother-in-law passed away. When I asked her to come and live with us at my church in Odawara City, she responded with “yes” immediately. She got used to a church life very quickly and it has been 16 years since then.

In these 16 years, she never had any major illnesses, and she is very energetic every day. Because she is so energetic, she goes out for missionary work. But she doesn’t take any pamphlets. For her to just walking around, it is missionary work itself. Our neighbors say, “that old lady is very healthy” and that is just enough. I wish her well as long as possible.

Mr. and Mrs. Yoshiyasu Komiyama come to the church to cheer up my aunt. They come to worship at my church every single day at 8:00 AM.

Mr. and Mrs. Komiyama are the parents-in-law for my oldest daughter. Mr. Komiyama was planning to work as a gardener after he retires as a bank employee.

We started to get along well, and one day, Mr. Komiyama said, “I would like to visit the grand church one day.”

I told him we will be staying for a week, including traveling time, as I have grand church sanctuary service duty for five days. But he immediately said yes, and his visit was set very quickly.

We left for the grand church with few lemon and orange plants and his garden tools loaded onto Mr. Komiyama’s car.

At the grand church, he swept the worshipping area during the morning sanctuary cleaning hinokishin. He took care of the plants and trees outside during the day. In early evening hours, we took a bath in a huge tub while it was still light out. We also had delicious meals and he attended the services.

He was very happy and fulfilled with receiving sincere care from the grand church head minister and his wife, and all the live-in staff members there.

Oyasama once said: “Whoever comes to this house shall never leave without being filled with joy.” In fact, Mr. Komiyama was very happy and during the boat ride back, we talked about coming back the next year.

My pilgrimage to the grand church with Mr. Komiyama for my sanctuary service duty, continued for the following six years.

However, one night while Mr. Komiyama was resting at home, he suddenly felt a tightness in his chest. His wife called an ambulance, and he was rushed to the municipal hospital. It was a heart attack, but the on-duty doctor was a specialist and was able to respond immediately. I believe he was fortunate. The next day, I performed the prayer service at my church. Once visitation became possible, I was able to administer the Sazuke to him for several days. Then I received another news that he had suffered a stroke as well. I once again performed the prayer service. Thankfully, it was mild, and he was discharged, beginning rehabilitation at home.

The aftereffects included some numbness in his left arm and difficulty speaking smoothly, which seemed to make him afraid to leave the house.

Mr. Komiyama’s home is about a ten-minute walk from my church. When the weather cooled, he was able to start coming to the church, and the three of us, including his wife, would sit and talk together. Coming to the church became part of his rehabilitation, and I was also able to administer the Sazuke to him. Little by little, he began to regain his strength.

A little while after that, the 120th Anniversary of the grand church’s establishment was announced and Mr. Komiyama expressed to me, “I would like to go, too.” For a while, thinking about his health, even though he wanted to go out, there were many days that he couldn’t. However, he boldly took this opportunity. It was as if I had received the voice of God telling me, “You don’t have to worry. Things will be alright,” and I felt very happy.

The day before the commemorative service at the grand church, we made our way from Odawara to Tenri. After staying overnight at the followers’ dormitory, we had planned to go to the grand church and come back the same day. We left in a minivan and arrived in Tenri in the evening, and prayed at the South Worship Hall at the Main Sanctuary. As we made our way to the Foundress’ Sanctuary, Mr. Komiyama told me, “When we were performing the service, I couldn’t stop crying.” I believe he was extremely happy.

On the day of the commemorative service, we arrived at the Honjima Port and with all of the other travelers, we walked to the grand church. There were those who came to the grand church for the first time, and those who received the blessings of cure from his/her illness. I am sure each of us had different feelings.

Mr. Komiyama was born with a heart that was smaller than normal. When he became an adult, he was told by the doctor that his life expectancy would be about 60 years old. After that, he suffered from a heart attack and a stroke. He goes to the municipal hospital for a checkup once a month. Sometimes he would get an x-ray of his heart and he would be told, “Your heart condition has gotten worse.” He had just been told the same thing very recently. His heart had gotten smaller, making it worse. But he was still alive. He had turned 77 years old and was told by the doctor, “I don’t know of anyone else who has a smaller and misshapen heart than you.” He worked at the bank until he was 60 years old. Then he started to come to the church for worship and he has come thus far. I assume it is probably because God has been protecting him, but I don’t think I’m wrong.

Every day he receives the blessings from God, and every day, he comes to the church, holding a small copy of the Mikagura-uta booklet in one hand as he sings.

So that they can get through intense summer heat and for God the Parent to protect them, I pray every day for my aunt who is more energetic than I am; for Mr. Komiyama who is concerned about the lemon trees at the grand church; and for those who belongs to my church so they can return to Jiba in fall.

Thank you for your kind attention.

(Summary)

Before the summer break begins, I would like to talk about four things.

First: “Children’s Pilgrimage to Jiba” will be held from July 27 to August 3. This is an event organized by the Church Headquarters and everyone unites effort in nurturing human resources. In such time, it is very important to convey each family’s faith to children. While repeatedly conveying, I think, unwavering faith can take root in their hearts.

Second: Being aware of one’s causality. When I reflect upon my own awareness of my causality, my father passed away at a young age. I returned to Japan from the US at the age of 17, and through the sincerity of so many people, I was able to transfer into high school in Japan. At such cornerstone of my life, I am not sure if I was able to be aware of my own causality at that time. However, I think I was aware that passing down the faith from one generation to another is a wonderful thing. I think such awareness has lead to my faith today.

Third: Age 15 is the final year as a member of Boys and Girls Association and they are at a crossroads of their lives. Let us convey the faith on the day of the child’s 15th birthday—an important day when the child’s life begins based on his/her own responsibility instead of his/her parents’.

And finally the fourth: Let us talk about Oyasama to our children, ideally in front of Oyasama’s shrine at the church. Let us convey that Oyasama is our parent, Who is everliving, although we cannot see Her physically, and Who watches us over and guide us through. Her parental heart is written a lot in the Life of Oyasama as well as in the Anecdotes of Oyasama.

Thank you very much.

(Summary)

The first time I took part in the activities for the pre-anniversary activity period for Oyasama’s anniversary was for the 110th Anniversary of Oyasama.

Exactly 30 years ago from now, in June during my third month after entering Saitama Missionary House, I was able to make a pilgrimage to Jiba accompanying my very first person to attend the Besseki lectures. Today, I would like to share with you the deep emotions I felt at that time and some of the mistakes I made along the way.

At the Missionary House, I struggled daily with my own mind, feeling as if I might lose heart at any moment. As I went door to door visiting each home with great dreams and hopes, I constantly reminded myself of the words received by the Shinbashira: “Courage and Perseverance.” However, in reality, things did not go as smoothly as I had hoped.

I was not able to have confidence in myself. Every time I pressed the intercom button, my heart would pound with anxiety, fear, and hesitation. I was a pitiful sight, and I seriously worried, “What would become of me from here on?” Most of the homes I visited turned me away coldly. Not only would they not listen to what I had to say, but the thought of administering the Sazuke was completely out of the question. Each day was a battle within myself.

Up until then, I had thought that once I entered the Missionary House, I would be taught all kinds of techniques for missionary work. But the truth is, they did not teach us anything. This is the truth. Every morning, we performed the prayer service, and immediately set out. There was nothing to do but go out and do the work ourselves, and that was truly difficult. Even at that, I gradually began to meet people who were willing to listen. The day I was allowed to administer the Sazuke for the first time, the day someone served me a cup of green tea for the first time, and the day someone made a donation to me for the first time—each of these moments were unforgettable treasures that I hold dearly. There was a joy in those experiences that cannot be replaced by anything else.

At the end of May, we were given 500 flyers each to pass out in preparation for the “Joyous Life Seminar” that we were going to host. When I finally finished handing out all of mine, I felt I should not just go back to the dorm directly, so I decided to go door-to-door as we usually did. When I visited a home, I met someone standing in his yard with a cane. He was an elderly man who was about to turn 80 years old.

When I talked to him, I learned that he had had a stroke and was paralyzed on one side of his body. I explained about the Sazuke and he let me into his living room so I could administer the Sazuke to him.

At this moment, I suddenly felt something and I remembered a salvation story that I had heard at a church. It was about a person who had doused himself in cold shower and performed a prayer service at midnight every night. He believed that he could receive blessings of a cure for the person for whom he prayed if he did that for 21 days, and he went from being a missionary with no roof over his head to establishing a church.

So, I resolved to perform a prayer service and administer the Sazuke to this elderly person every day for 21 days. Every night at midnight, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I would douse myself in cold water and perform the prayer service. When I would finally return to bed, morning came quickly. Each day I was very tired, but as it was the first time I seriously committed myself to a resolution, I persevered and saw it to completion.

I’m going to change the subject just a bit. I would like to share with you the advice I received from a missionary that I could not help having tearful eyes.

First: It is not a good thing if you go out doing the missionary work by yourself. Always say, “Oyasama, Oyasama” repeatedly in your mind, and believe in Oyasama completely, become a useful someone for Oyasama, and walk with Oyasama.

Second: Waste is important. During missionary work, no one will like you, you will get turned down, and repeatedly ridiculed and disrespected. However, cherish these times. Then, your mind will be smoothened and polished, and you will be become a useful material for God.

Third: Offer your time. Tsukihi is God the Parent. The Shinbashira, the emperor, and the prime minister all equally live 24 hours a day. The reason why the Missionary House members skip lunch to do the missionary work is to offer lunch to go door-to-door. When you engage in salvation work, you exert effort to build a foundation by offering your time to sleep or your personal time. Cherish such time.

Going back to the story, on the final 21st day of the spiritual resolution, I had made a promise to administer the Sazuke to this elderly person at the worship hall of the diocese administrations office and was on my way to pick him up. However, he told me he just can’t go. I had firmly believed that I would be shown miraculous blessings having tried so hard for 21 days, so I was disappointed and shocked that I could not continue salvation work. As an apology, I performed the Twelve Songs of the Hand Dance at the worship hall of the diocese administrations office. While I was dancing, I could not stop weeping tears. With the realization of my misunderstanding, that I had pressed my own convenience on another person, I felt better later.

The next day, in better spirits, I made my way to the elderly person’s home to thank him for everything. When I arrived at his home, he was wearing a suit and had the engine of his car running. I asked if he is going somewhere and he said, “to the diocese administrations office.” We promptly made our way to the diocese administrations office, and I was able to administer the Sazuke for him at the worship hall. At that time, I asked him, “tomorrow evening, there is a bus leaving for the Jiba. Would you like to go with me?” He responded, “I’d like to go.” Without a thought, I did an internal fist pump. The elderly person even paid for the trip for the both of us.

We arrived in Jiba early in the following morning and we got off the bus at the Honjima followers’ dormitory. My father had left for the morning service at the Church Headquarters, so after having breakfast, I had the elderly person rest in the room.

I think after that there were activities for the Young Men’s Association, so I was invited to participate in street speeches at Nara Station. Although I was a bit concerned about the elderly person, I left the at the followers’ dormitory. When I returned to the followers’ dormitory, refreshed in mind from participating in the activities, the elderly person was quivering and became incontinent. It was obvious that he was in a dangerous condition, and I became very concerned that he might pass away. I didn’t know what to do and I panicked.

At that point, my father returned to the room and asked me, “Have you gone to the Main Sanctuary?” I replied, “Not yet.” “Go run to the Kanrodai,” he said. I asked for mercy as I sat in front of the Kanrodai at the Jiba for the first time and performed a prayer service.

When I returned to the followers’ dormitory, my father was administering the Sazuke to him and received miraculous blessing. My father looked divinely and majestic at that time.

The next day he was able to attend the monthly service on a wheelchair and he was able to attend the Besseki lecture for the first time. Further, on our way to the Foundress’ Sanctuary to receive the Proof Amulet, his leg that was disabled began to move and he stepped up the stairs on his own. I was stunned.

Thanks to my father and other people, the pilgrimage to Jiba was successful and heart-touching.

Today, there are various ways to do missionary work such as social welfare, disaster relief, foster parents, social media, etc. There are many ways that suit the current of the times. For example, if I use baseball as an example, there is breaking ball such as slider, curveball, and splitter. Although they are important technique, but most importantly, fastball is the “basic.”

“Go straightforward in doing missionary work.” Combine various methods today into the straightforward method. I think it is important to polish up the “straight ball” during the pre-anniversary activity period.

Ponder and come follow Me with firm resolve.
There is a path of hope in the future.
(Ofudesaki V:24)

Thank you for your kind attention.