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(Summary)

We will be welcoming the Grand Church Counselor, Rev. Yoichiro Miyamori for the grand church’s Autumn grand service. On the 21st, beginning at 5:00 PM, there will be a service dance practice for one hour. We invite everyone to attend.

Our former grand church head minister, Rev. Yoshie Katayama, was scheduled to return to the grand church from Jiba this month. However, having undergone cataract surgery, she received instructions from her attending physician not to travel far. Therefore, she will remain at the follower’s dormitory this month.

It was my first time accompanying my mother for a hospitalization. During the admission procedure, I was asked, “What is your relationship with the patient?” When I answered, “I am her son,” the staff looked at my mother and me with a somewhat puzzled expression.

At the hospital, I thought I was the one supporting my mother. Yet, even at the hospital, my mother was reaching out to others and spreading the teachings. As I watched her example from behind, I realized that I too was being nurtured, learning through the example of a parent’s footsteps.

This month (September) is the “All Church Missionary Work Drive Month,” and from the 28th to the 30th is the “All Tenrikyo Nioigake Day.”

In this seasonable time just before Oyasama’s Anniversary, let us diligently engage in sowing seeds of sincerity together.

(Summary)

My name is Wakie Onishi and I am from the California Church, located in Los Angeles, and am serving as the head of the Women’s Association California Chapter.

I have kidney disease and in September 1995, I underwent a kidney transplant surgery. Generally, a transplanted kidney is useful for about 10 to 15 years, but this year marks 30 years that I have been blessed with this kidney.

When I feel well, I try to be of service through my work with the Women’s Association and also through missionary work. I have been shown many joys by God.

While I perform my duties in America, one year, at the Women’s Association first meeting of the year, we received the slogan, “Let us willingly administer the Sazuke to those that are ill.”

I was astonished—How should I put it into words, I felt a passionate feeling rising from the depths of my heart. I felt such gratitude and made a spiritual resolution to spend one year administering the Sazuke as much as I can.

From then on, I always kept in mind to administer the Sazuke, prayed during the morning and evening services, and went out to do missionary work. As I prayed every day, interestingly, I was given so many opportunities to administer the Sazuke.

There was a person who I was encouraging to attend the Spiritual Development Course at the Mission Headquarters. When my husband and I visited them, we were informed of his next door neighbor who was sick. He had to have the big toe on his left foot amputated due to diabetes. He was going to be admitted to the hospital the next day, so we hurriedly administered the Sazuke on him.

He was a Hispanic person in his 70s. When he had bypass surgery on his heart previously, he had vascular transplant surgery on his left leg. He had a large scar that stretched from his thigh down to his calf. Due to the diabetes, his leg had become discolored and swollen. He was of Christian faith, but my husband told him, “When I administer the Sazuke, please chant ‘God the Parent’ in your heart,” and then proceeded to administer the Sazuke. And for about five months, when we were able to, my husband and I together, or one of us, would visit him every day.

Next is the story of a 45-year-old Caucasian man. While I was walking alone through a neighborhood distributing pamphlets, I saw a man in a wheelchair watering his garden. Gathering my courage, I approached him and spoke about the Sazuke. He said, “I live here with my mother, and she is inside of the house right now. If you would, please come inside to administer it.”

I showed him the pamphlet and explained the Truth of the Sazuke, and we agreed that I would visit him for three days. Each time I went, he would offer 3 or 5 dollars as a “small donation” to God the Parent. After the three days were over, I visited him together with my husband, the church head minister, and he shared many stories about his life with us.

Four months after he graduated from high school, the man was held up by a robber in Hollywood, ordered to lay on the ground and was shot in the back with a pistol. Fortunately, his life was spared due to the bullet missing his heart by just a little, but it hit the 8th vertebra, severing his nerve, and paralyzing the lower half of his body. He did not have too much strength in his right hand, but he operated his wheelchair with his left hand and he could drive and cook as well.

However, due to the shock from his friend passing away suddenly, his health deteriorated and he started to experience pain all over his body. He tried various painkillers, strong alcohol, and marijuana, trying to escape from his physical and mental pain. Now, he is making an effort to control his pain without using medication as much as possible.

He was out watering the lawn, something he never does, to distract himself from the pain when I happened to talk to him.

I thought, “Wow, what God does is amazing,” and I continued to visit him for a month. When his condition improved, he gave me a $100 check for donation to express his gratitude.

In America, donations in the amount of 3 or 5 dollars are common, ten dollars being a lot, so we were very surprised by this $100 donation.

A person who received the blessings through the administration of the Sazuke may not start following the path right away, but after the accumulation of such diligent work, I have been shown blessings in different forms. For example, when another person with whom I had been communicating over a long period of time suddenly returned to Jiba and listened to the Besseki lectures. Such things lead me to conviction.

My kidney function started to deteriorate after I got contracted with Covid-19 three years ago. At the end of last year, while I was going through such circumstances, I was appointed by the grand church head minister to deliver a sermon after the grand church monthly service. Further, I was told to come back and serve in Jiba after the new head minister installation, and things are on track accordingly.

On July 26th, my eldest son, Taichi, received the divine sanction to become the 5th head minister of the California Church, and my husband became the former head minister. Although I planned to return to Jiba in full of joy for my son’s divine sanction bestowal and Head Minister Qualification Course, I was not confident about my health condition and therefore, I could not go. I was also nervous about staying at my church by myself. The reason for this was that I was fully aware that my health was clearly deteriorating.

When I consulted with grand church head minister, he instructed and said to me, “Whatever happens is an intention of God the Parent and Oyasama. Things to coincide, as a sign for a sign, are also blessings.” Also, he suggested me about the Spiritual Development Course.

The new and former head ministers came back from Jiba at the end of July and we were busy with final stage of the preparation for the installation service which will be held on August 31.

Four days prior to the installation service, my health condition worsened suddenly, and I was hospitalized. Although I was discharged the day before the installation service and I tried to attend the service until the very last moment, I could not feel well enough and ended up not being able to attend the service.

With sincerity of so many people, the installation service was performed successfully, but I had a mixed feeling—I felt bad, disappointed with myself, but I felt grateful at the same time. However, even during such challenging times, I was shown many things that I could be grateful for.

Everyday, after the morning and evening services, the new head minister administers the Sazuke and instructs me to express my gratitude to God for things I am grateful for. I feel that it is very important to take a moment and ponder over how grateful I am now and to express my gratitude.

I do not know what kind of a path I will see in the future, but I would like to lean on God the Parent completely and serve my duty in Jiba.

Whenever you return, never think that it is caused by your individual minds. XI:78

I am sorry for talking about personal stories, but I would like to conclude my sermon now.

Thank you very much for your kind attention.

(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.