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(Summary)

I want to talk about Tenri Judo today.

In the first year of the Reiwa Era, on October 26, 2019, we had the honor to invite the head coach of Tenri University Judo Team, Mr. Takamasa Anai, to the “Welcome Home Lectures” held at the Honjima Followers Dormitory.

What left a distinct impression on me from Coach Anai’s lecture was his words, “although there may be unrewarded hard work, there is no such thing as wasted efforts.”

At the London Olympics in 2012, as an athlete, Coach Anai was expected to win the gold medal, but he lost in the second round. He became very depressed and even was overwhelmed with thoughts of quitting judo altogether. But with the support from people around him, the next year in 2013, he won his second national championship and then retired. He was then appointed as the coach of the Tenri University Judo Team, as well as being selected to be a member on the Tokyo Olympics Planning Commission’s Athlete Committee.

In the world of competition, you can have many years of effort and hard work until you actually become successful and win. In addition to it, the pre-anniversary activities for Oyasama’s Anniversary is our backup support. Even if you don’t receive immediate results, your efforts are certainly not wasted, and when the season comes, I’m sure it will bear fruit.

Going back to Coach Anai, I heard that there are many promising students who joined in Tenri this year, in hopes of being coached by him. I look forward in anticipation of seeing many people gather in Tenri, to “Aim for an Ippon, a decisive victory, in Judo.”

Even if your efforts are not rewarded, or you don’t see the results that you were hoping, if you just follow the path, and if you just make the efforts, I believe you will definitely be shown good results. Believe that your efforts are not wasted and give your all toward the remaining pre-anniversary activity period.

(Summary)

When I was a child, the Honjima Followers Dormitory was located near Tenri Shopping Arcade (Hondori). The Followers Dormitory had two separate buildings built across the street from each other. There are not many people who remember the old Followers Dormitory anymore.

I went to school from the old Honjima Followers Dormitory. My father, Kan’ichiro Teramoto, was working at Followers Dormitory, and was a driver for the third head minister, Rev. Toshitsugu Katayama. When I was a child, I remember that when my family sat around a table for a meal, and as my father picked up his chopsticks to eat, a young live-in staff (seinen) would come and said, “Rev. Katayama is going out.” Then, my father would put down his chopsticks at once and flew away. This happened not once, not twice, but often.

I used to think, “Why didn't he just take at least a bite and then go?”

When I was a little older, I once asked my father why he would fly away when the Rev. Katayama calls him. My father replied, “Rev. Katayama is working diligently for Jiba and the Church Headquarters. Because I see his dedicated service up close, I dedicate myself to serving Rev. Katayama single-heartedly.”

At that time, the construction of the “Oyasato Yakata” building complex as well as other facilities around Jiba began one after another. I was still a child and had no way of knowing this, but I can only imagine how busy Rev. Katayama must have been at that time, working for the Church Headquarters and taking care of the subordinate churches of Honjima Grand Church. I am convinced that Rev. Katayama always worked single-heartedly for Jiba.

During such busy days, the construction of the Moya 46 Followers Dormitory began, and the opening ceremony of the new dormitory was held on June 24, 1975, which was 6 months from the 90th Anniversary of Oyasama. As we will observe the 140th Anniversary of Oyasama before long, this year marks its 50th year since the current Followers Dormitory was constructed.

Looking back 50 years ago, my mother was appointed as a manager of the dining hall when the new Followers Dormitory was constructed. At that time, Mrs. Kozue Katayama, the wife of the third grand church head minister, Rev. Katayama, gave my mother a piece of advice. A part of what Mrs. Kozue told my mother was, “Whatever is fine but please make sure you feed the Besseki lecture attendees whenever missionaries bring them back.”

I think my mother always kept the words in mind and did her daily tasks.

My mother told me about this and I took Mrs. Kozue’s words to heart as I also started to work at Followers Dormitory when I was young. However, as I got older, I started to think the meaning that lies behind the words—the hardship that church and missionaries go through to bring back Besseki lecture attendees and Mrs. Kozue completely understood how difficult the path would be and also to provide compassionate care to those people.

I think this comes from Mrs. Kozue’s vast parental love as the mother of Honjima.

At Followers Dormitory, followers who yearn for Oyasama return to Jiba not only from within Japan but also from distant overseas, and stay there.

Oyasama said,

Whoever comes to this house shall never leave without being filled with joy. To Me, the Parent, all human beings in the world are My children.

In order to bring joy to the followers who return to Jiba and to Followers Dormitory, I believe we must serve without forgetting the heart of the Oyasama. When I think about how I should go about this to ensure followers return with joy, I feel it begins with sincerely welcoming them—with a spirit and attitude of “Welcome home.”

Although I am now away from Followers Dormitory and return to Jiba as one follower from a church, when I do return to Followers Dormitory, I want to warmly greet the followers with a heartfelt “Welcome home” and treat them with that same welcoming spirit.

Lastly, I would like to quote a portion of the sermon delivered by the Church Headquarters Director-in-Chief, Rev. Yoichiro Miyamori, at the Spring Grand Service held this January.

In his sermon, Rev. Miyamori said, “Each of us Yoboku are intermediaries who convey the intention, the heart of Oyasama. What we are conveying is ‘returning to Jiba.’ She asks us to ‘speak to people even when you meet them on a street corner,’ so even if we can only say the words, ‘Would you like to return to Jiba?’ that is fine. God says, ‘I do not tell you to do anything difficult or to do something without a model to follow (Osashizu Nov. 7, 1889),’ so now is the time to express our invitation to return to Jiba in our own words and with our own will.

In the Divine Directions, we are taught:

What is called the Origin, Jiba, is not found anywhere else in the world. The more thought you give to this truth, the deeper the truth will become.
(Osashizu Oct 11, 1895)

For those of you living far away, it may be physically difficult to return to Jiba multiple times. Even for those living close by, if you are busy and have time constraints, it may be difficult to return many times.

What truly matters is the heart with which we return to Jiba and the devotion we maintain toward Jiba throughout the year until the day of the anniversary. It also matters how much we share our passion for returning to Jiba with others. No matter where we are in the world, the more we feel that Jiba is a special place, the deeper we perceive the blessings of God the Parent

There are people around me who are suffering from illnesses and other problems, although I have been missing opportunities for salvation work. After listening to Rev. Miyamori’s sermon, I would like to, with refreshed mind, muster up the courage to invite those people to “return to Jiba,” and to exert effort to convey the will and the heart of Oyasama even little by little.

This month, there is Oyasama Birth Celebration Service and also in May and November, we have Shidokai Besseki Attendance Group Pilgrimage. There will also be Oyasama’s 140th Anniversary approaching. There are big opportunities to return to Jiba. I wish to receive the truth of the Jiba and make effort to bring at least one person, if not more, to Jiba, and also hopefully number of times so that I may be able to bring delight to Oyasama. By doing so, I hope to make this Anniversary of Oyasama an opportunity to bring peace of mind to Oyasama. I would like to do my utmost until the day of the Anniversary in high spirits.

(Summary)

Every year, when the Major League Baseball season begins, there is something I look forward to.

That is receiving daily updates on my smartphone about Shohei Ohtani hitting home runs, stealing bases, and his outstanding performances.

It goes without saying that his ability to perform at the highest level in the world is the result of his daily training and hard work, but I am also deeply drawn to his personality.

If there is a piece of trash on the ground, he quickly picks it up and puts it in his pocket, and on the field, he never steps on the line but jumps over it. This is a sign of humility to the staff members who work behind the scenes to draw lines properly.

I am sure that this kind of mindset is because, since his childhood days, he naturally learned to be humble in daily life from his parents.

I believe we have a similar mission.

It is important for us to show a humble attitude in walking the path, so that the children who will be following the path in the future —including our own children, needless to say—can learn how to think about things and act on them based on the teachings.

In our daily lives, not only should we say in words, “God the Parent is leading us to the Joyous Life,” “We learned how to live the path of the Joyous Life through Oyasama,” “The Joyous Life is a world in which we help one another equally as brothers and sisters,” but we must also show our faith in our attitude through daily occurrences. By seeing role models, we should hope that the children will grow up to be splendid Yoboku.

Oyasama said, “Because people like you, God also likes you. While people regret to see you leave, God also regrets not seeing you here. As long as people are fond of you, God also sees promise in you.”
(Anecdotes of Oyasama 87: Because People Like You)

April marks the beginning of a new school year for children. I am sure some will be starting a new lifestyle. During this time of the year when things are in transition and people are emotionally unstable, let us remind ourselves our mission as parents who walk ahead of others on this path.

I ask for your continuous support.

(Summary)

Today I will talk about tanno, which I believe is the key to our Joyous Life.

First of all, who is Joyous here today?

And who here is not having such a good day today? Well, if you didn’t have a good day today or yesterday, it is probably because something didn’t go as you had planned or hoped, or wanted.

However, whether we had a good or bad today or yesterday, had absolutely nothing to do with that day being good or bad.

Because as Oyasama, taught us:

Every day is a good day. There are no bad days. The days that your minds are spirited are the best days.
(Anecdotes of Oyasama 173: All Days Are Lucky Days)

Therefore, in Tenrikyo, there is no such thing as a “bad” day. It all just depends on how we perceive that day to be.

I believe that tanno is the key to the Joyous Life for each and every human being on this planet.

Now what is tanno? What do our scriptures say about it? And what did Oyasama say about it?

First of all, let me tell you what tanno is NOT.

It is not mere resignation, or just putting up with, with a bad situation,. Also, tanno is not something that you can tell someone to do. It has to well up from inside yourself

Now, let’s see what The Doctrine of Tenrikyo has to say:

Tanno is not merely to be resigned nor is it just to persevere. It is to recognize God’s parental love in all event. . . into an ever firmer determination to live joyously each day. Thus, even illness or troubles become nourishment for the mind and… afford us the opportunity to. . . advance in our faith.
The Doctrine of Tenrikyo, Chapter 8, p. 59

Next, what do our scriptures say about tanno?

First of all, the word “tanno” does not appear in the Mikagura-uta. Secondly, “tanno,” again does not come out in the Ofudesaki either.

And finally, in the Divine Directions, the word “tanno tanno” comes out in 1,283 times. I counted and read every one. We can see here that Tanno is very important to settle in mind when putting the teachings into practice.

Let’s now look at what some Divine Directions say about tanno.

Practice tanno in whatever you see. Practice tanno in whatever you hear. This is how you should lead your life.”
Osashizu, June 21, 1890, 9:15pm

Only when there is sincerity does the mind of tanno settle. There is nothing more acceptable than tanno. Tanno is sincerity. Sincerity is the truth of heaven.”
Osashizu, May 13, 1890

Tanno is repentance for past life negative causality. If it is only for one generation, this cannot be called tanno.
Osashizu, November, 19, 1897

I say that tanno is sincerity. If I accept it, you will have a promising distant future, generations after generations to come.”
Osashizu, May 17, 1898

So in these Divine Directions, we see that tanno, will not only erase our personal negative causality, but if our tanno is sincere, it will be accepted for all our future generations.

Further, complains between married couple occur quite often in our daily lives. I found an interesting Divine Direction.

The one truth of tanno should practiced between husband and wife. I say this is to be practiced mutually. Sah, I tell you, that if you settle this one truth firmly in your minds from now on, everything shall go well as you wish.
Osashizu, July 19, 1897

God promises that if the mind of tanno settles between married couple, everything shall go well as you wish.

The next question is how can we better practice tanno. The Divine Direction instructs us also in this,

Ponder and become fully joyous and practice tanno. As long as you have complaints, tanno cannot be practiced.
Osashizu, August 21, 1899

In order to practice tanno, we cannot be complainers, first of all. In fact, complaining is the exact opposite of practicing tanno.

Next,

Without positive anticipation, you cannot practice tanno.
Osashizu, December 22, 1897

In order to practice tanno, we need to positively look forward to a bright future. We must think positively.

Next, I’m going to talk about some of my recent personal challenges with tanno. Lately, maybe over the past half year or so, things have not been going well for me financially, emotionally, physically, martially, family-wise, and most importantly, church wise. I was a bit depressed and wondered what God wanted to tell me. But I have been trying to look at things with a mind of tanno, and view my problem through the lens of “A big problem, small problem.”

Don’t get me wrong, I love my job as a head minister and I am proud to be a Tenrikyo minister. However, sometimes, I feel as if I have been a failure as a head minister.

When I was a young man, I was very proud to work for Sony Headquarters in Tokyo, and I thought that someday, I would become the vice-president or president of a large multinational corporation with ties with Japan.

However, I had always thought that I had never achieved my personal goals in life.

Then a few months ago, my niece called SP church for the first time in almost 7-8 years. She asked how I was doing and how the church was doing. I explained that it’s so-so, but that few people come to the church since the pandemic, and that church is struggling and how I never achieved my own personal dreams.

Then she said something that really made me smile and feel good about myself.

She said, “Uncle Marlon, You are helping people through your work, even if it’s only one person at a time. And Uncle Marlon, think about it! Did you realize that you have already achieve your dreams?”

I said, “How?” She replied, “Well aren’t you the president of SP church? And isn’t Tenrikyo a large Japan based multinational corporation and aren’t you using your language skills in your job?”

And I thought about it, and I said, “You know, I never thought about it that way! You’re right! I am living my dream! Thank you for letting me see that!”

Just with those simple words, I transformed my view of myself, and my role as a head minister. I am now able see myself through the lens of Tanno, Joyous Perception.

Another thing that gives me hope is our SP church member, Zephyr Natalie Spencer. She just graduated the 1-year Oyasato Fusekomi Course this month, after having graduated from the 1-year TLI Japanese Course last year. From this Spring, she will be working at the Overseas Department.

Her hope is to someday work at Church Headquarter’s Translation Section to translate Oyasama’s teachings into English for the rest of her life.

I am very sure that she is the first trans-person to work at the Overseas Department

It is hard to believe that it was only three years ago, in April of 2022, that she visited a Tenrikyo church for the first time ever, at America Dendocho.

Somehow, I was the first person to administer the Sazuke to her, and she later went to America Spiritual Development Course, and became a member of our SP Church. The same year, in October of 2022, she became a Yoboku, and she now regularly administers the Sazuke and does missionary work whenever she can.

She is the pride of SP Church. And if she becomes the only person I ever ever help in my life, I have good reason to be proud to be a minister.

Therefore, I try to now give thanks. I choose to perceive the blessings of God’s blessings in all things.

However, as of late, my wife and I still get into silly arguments. I now believe that God is trying to show me something that I need to change about myself. We just need to be more kind to each other and more happy with each other, and be more joyous.

In the Mikagura-uta, the Songs for the Service, we are taught:

Settle the minds of the two of you in one accord!
Then any and everything shall be realized.”
Mikagura-uta IV :2

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

Married couple being united in mind and diligently working together in hinokishin, this becomes the first seed of everything.

Toward the 140th Anniversary of Oyasama, we all should have made our own individual spiritual resolutions. Let us all do our best to keep our spiritual resolutions, and show Oyasama our spiritual growth.

One of my resolutions has been to maintain a mind of tanno as much as possible, and to improve my relationship with my partner in life, the love of my life, my wife.

I would like to end with the message that we all have a bright future to look forward to, because God the Parent and Oyasama want only for us to lead the happy and joyous life, and that the key to this happy and joyous life is being able to practice this mind of tanno.

We get to choose whether we practice tanno or not, nobody can do this for us, and nobody can force us to do it.

This is my homework for myself, to learn to practice what I have been preaching to my church followers—to find joy in all occurrences, tanno. I will continue to try to do my best for that.

Let us all try to practice tanno more and more in our daily lives, because every day is a “good day,” it just depends on how we perceive it.

I thank you for your kind attention.

(Summary)

Instruction Four shows us the significance of the pre-anniversary activity period as to “respond to Her parental love by making decisive progress in spiritual growth, with each and every Yoboku raising his or her awareness of being Oyasama’s instrument.”

Rev. Yoichiro Miyamori said “Yoboku are intermediaries” in his sermon at the Church Headquarters’ Spring Grand Service on January 26.

Rev. Miyamori talked about the term “intermediary,” which is often associated with those who deliver the Besseki lectures. In a broader sense, he said, intermediaries are those who convey the teachings of God the Parent on behalf of Oyasama and administer the truth of the Sazuke. “From this perspective,” said Rev. Miyamori, “every Yoboku is an intermediary.”

So, what exactly do we convey? What is Oyasama’s intention?

What we need to covey is to “return to Jiba.” Even if you could only say, “Would you like to return to Jiba?” it is totally fine as God says to “tell it to him even on a street corner.” We are taught, “I do not tell you to do anything difficult or to do something without a model to follow (Osashizu: November 7, 1889).” Let us express in our own words and in our own way to “return to Jiba with me.” Now is the time to get in action.

This is what Rev. Miyamori said.

Thankfully, we are invited to take part in Shidokai Besseki Group Pilgrimage to Jiba this year. Let us mark the calendar and begin inviting people by saying “Would you like to return to Jiba?” until the day of. In high spirits, let us align our minds with the intention of Oyasama and reach out to people. Let’s exert our effort for this.

Thank you.

(Summary)

Since I was 55 years old, I served as a Church Headquarters Main Sanctuary attendant every month for 20 years until I retired at the age of 75. For the first two to three years, I was not able sit in seiza, sitting in a kneeling position, as I had a pain in my left knee, and I used a small stool.

However, when I had a sanctuary attendant duty at Honjima Grand Church, after wiping the worship hall and the corridor floor, I was shown a miraculous blessing and was able to sit in seiza again.

Also, last summer, when I had a sanctuary attendant duty at the grand church again, my partner answered a phone call in a very polite manner, saying, “Hello, this is attendant’s room. How may I help you?” I noticed that there was a pleasant sensation lingering after the phone call, and I felt excited—it was very uplifting experience. It made me want to talk and listen to this person more.

When I look back at the way I spoke, I can only say that it was truly poor. Especially when it came to missionary work, it was downright miserable.

This matter had been weighing on my mind, and I was wondering if there was any way to improve. Even after returning to my own church, I discussed it with those around me, and a certain minister taught me about sales talk.

I don’t have a deep understanding of what sales talk is. That being the case, I thought it would be good to have a “missionary talk” for our faith as well. With that in mind, I again decided to study it further.

For missionary work, first, by grooming oneself properly, wearing a name tag, maintaining good posture, keeping a smile, and using polite language, the impression one gives changes significantly.

Even if I am turned down, I should humble myself even further, offer a pleasant greeting, and leave with a positive attitude. Since Tenrikyo teaches the Joyous Life, it is important to be spirited every day. In order to stay in high spirits, I decided to engage in missionary work while rising up to the truth of the teaching of “a thing lent, a thing borrowed.”

Thankfully, I have recently been able to engage in missionary work, which was previously not my favorite, without any difficulty.

I believe this is thanks to my conversations with my partner during the grand church sanctuary duty, and I am truly delighted.

Another time, I took care of a group of people who came to visit during my sanctuary duty.

Once I was done explaining, I asked a woman on a wheelchair whether I could administer the Sazuke to her. She said, “Yes, please,” so I prayed for her.

After I saw the group of people off, while I was expressing my thanks to God the Parent, I realized that I had received wonderful blessings.

It was the spiritual maturity goals that our third head minister, Rev. Toshitsugu Katayama had spoken to us about.

1) Monthly, each person should spread the fragrance of the teachings to at least one person

2) Spiritual maturity is Besseki, Receiving of the Truth of Sazuke, and Spiritual Development Course. Further, on to Head Ministers Qualification Course.

3) If you bring joy to the parent, your truth will grow

I understood number one and two right away as they are concrete goals, but the third “If you bring joy to the parent, your truth will grow” was a little abstract and hard for me to understand.

However, through my sanctuary duty, my knee got better, I learned about how to conduct missionary work, and then, I was able to administer the Sazuke to a woman on a wheelchair. I was able to understand that by dedicating my sincerity to my parent church, the truth of being able to help someone be saved grows.

In this final year of the “three years, one thousand days” toward the 140th Anniversary of Oyasama, two months have quickly passed.

In Instruction Four, we have been given guidance on exactly what we should do.

“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 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.”

Further, as was said by Rev. Kanta Katayama, the grand church head, in his sermon last month about spreading the teachings, “from just a word, let us convey the heart of Oyasama to others.”

Especially in this year, we are finishing up our pre-anniversary activities, “Shidokai Besseki Group Pilgrimage to Jiba” will be held on May 25 and November 30.

Let us combine our efforts toward having as many people as possible return to the Jiba. Thank you.