honjima.com

(Summary)

I thought that the “heart hands” that people make with their hands or their fingers was a uniquely Japanese culture, but I saw many people from around the world do the same thing when they won a medal at the Olympics. During their interview, they would thank people and say, “It’s all because of you. Thank you,” and make heart hands.

What I realized when I saw this is that no one makes the heart hands from the top of their head, but in front of their chest area.

Those who were the first to enter the faith in our families came to believe in God through miraculous blessings and wonderful salvation. They felt the Parental love, understood their goal, and spiritedly did doing salvation work to make repayment for the blessings they received.

As they walked the path engaging in salvation work, what did they do? They spread these wonderful teachings from heart to heart. Owing to that, they were able to form brotherhoods and further, received sanction to establish churches. I believe that is the typical order of events.

The initial miraculous salvation and receiving sanction to establish a church are through the workings of God the Parent. However, in between those two events are where humans need to do our work—spiritedly doing salvation work and spreading the teachings from heart to heart.

So, if we differentiate where God’s workings lie, and what we must do and carry out our duties doing one-on-one salvation work from “person to person” and “from heart to heart” to the best of our ability, how wonderful it would be.

At the opening of this year’s “Oyasama’s 140th Anniversary Students’ Pilgrimage to Jiba” held on March 28, the Shinbashira gave the students this message: “From here on, all of you will follow this path in an honest and straightforward manner. (remainder omitted).”

The Shinbashira’s wish is for the students to straightforwardly walk the path. We, too, are to face our students, and young people more generally, in an honest, straightforward way. We are to nurture students who will themselves walk the path straightforwardly. I believe that setting our sights toward this is what will let us move forward united in mind with the Shinbashira at our core.

So let us put forth our best efforts to convey and spread the teachings of the Joyous Life, in a straightforward manner, and from heart to heart.

(Summary)

At this year’s Students’ Pilgrimage to Jiba, a woman in her 30’s with a nursing license came to do hinokishin as part of the medical staff. She said, “I truly envy those who can pass the faith down through generations.” This nurse is the first generation of her family faith. Why does she think so?

She works as a nurse in a ward for seriously ill patients. Among the patients, some lament and grieve over their illness, giving up on life, and some even blame others or society. She said, “But it is different for those in this faith.”

In the teachings of this path, we discuss what message God the Parent might be conveying through their physical condition and circumstances, how we should accept it, and how we can connect it to filial piety, being dutiful to the parents. Such discussions arise. “I’m so envious of that,” she said. “I’m grateful to have been drawn to this faith, but I want to make it a faith that can be passed down through generations,” she added.

Looking back, because my faith is generations deep, I have a story that I would like to share.

I have eight children, and when my wife was pregnant with our second child, we were told by the doctor that she had an illness called immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). She was immediately hospitalized. Essentially, it was an autoimmune disease where the platelet count in the blood was low, which increases the risk of bleeding.

This may make sense to many women, but some blood loss comes with childbirth and with low platelet count, this may be life-threatening. Upon hearing this, my mind became totally blank. I thought, “What do we do?”

Days later, after receiving immunotherapy, she was discharged from the hospital. We were able to gather around the table as we usually do, and after finishing our meal, my mother brought out her medication. My mother has collagen (vascular) disease and takes a lot of medication after meals.

My wife looked on and said, “Ah, mother, I have the same medication.”

In reality, for both collagen disease and immune thrombocytopenia, the body mistakenly attacks its healthy cells.

When I realized this, I was shocked. I thought, “is this innen (causality)?”

My mother had developed Collagen disease short time after she was pregnant with me. Moreover, I had a sister who was five years older than me and she was born still. Therefore, I am the second child. My wife also became ill when she was pregnant with our second child. Even there is no blood relation between my mother and my wife, the fact that my mother and my wife taking the same medication when my wife was pregnant with a second child made me deeply think, without a doubt,“Oh my, this is the causality.”

How can I accept this spiritually?

My mother told me that my grandmother said to her, “We are taught that fire and water are the primary manifestations of God. A blood disease means that you should repay your gratitude to the supreme God. What is our family’s way of repaying to God? It is none other than helping others be saved.”

I see. Thanks to my grandparents, who laid the foundation of Akiyoshi Branch Church, which has led to where we are today. I realized that we just cannot sit comfortably. My wife and I discussed that we are going to repay our gratitude diligently by helping others be saved.

I believe the nurse at the Student Spiritual Development Course I mentioned earlier, who said, “I truly envy those who can pass the faith down through generations,” was referring to exactly this. I call this “the way to feel joy,” but when passing on the way to feel joy to the next generation, we often share stories of how we were saved. However, we should also share what state of mind we were in at that time. There is no need for heroic tales. We should convey everything—including how much we struggled, and how much we grieved and lamented at the time. I truly believe that this is our responsibility.

The key point is “to pass on the way to feel joy.”

(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.