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(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.

(Summary)

We have welcomed the 188th year of Tenrikyo. I look forward to your continued support this year as well.

Today, we are blessed with truly wonderful weather. As we enter the third year of the pre-anniversary activities, it feels as though we are being granted warm guidance from God the Parent.

For the past 23 years, our former head minister, Rev. Yoshie Katayama has devoted her services single-heartedly at the Foundress’ Sanctuary. Up until now, excluding Grand Church anniversaries, or memorial services for our past head ministers, she was not able to return to Honjima. However, finally she is able to receive some free time, so from now on, I believe there will be more opportunities for her to take part at the grand church services. This is truly a grateful thing.

At Jiba, I go together with our former head minister to morning service. I am enjoying all sorts of parent-child conversations with her.

When we reflect on the truth of the Kagura Service, conversation corresponds to Kashikone-no-Mikoto: in the human body, the providence of breathing and speaking; in the world, the providence of wind.

Other animals, such as dolphins and orcas, are said to communicate through some form of conversation, but humans are able to use the most complex conversations to share joy, entertain one another, and laugh together. This is one of the ten aspects of the complete providence of God the Parent, which is the providence of Kashikone-no-Mikoto.

If I add one more thought, for Omotari-no-Mikoto: in the human body, the providence of warmth; in the world, the providence of fire. In the Kagura service, the mask of Omotari-no-Mikoto, has three tails that extend. One of them is tied to the right hand of Kashikone-no-Mikoto. From this, we can reflect that when engaging in conversation, it is important to use warm words, as this aligns with the will of God the Parent.

Regarding God the Parent’s blessings, the 3rd Shinbashira, Zenye Nakayama, composed the song and wrote the words of “Blessings of God the Parent (Oya no Mamori).” As we can see from the lyrics:

Part two is about the blessings of a thing lent, a thing borrowed.

Part three is about the blessings of the future and eternity.

I’d like to sing it with you.

Thank you.

The relationship between God the Parent and human beings is the same as parent and child.

For example, the song begins with these words, “so long, long ago.” In creating human beings, God the Parent began the setup more than 900 million years ago.

The second verse starts with “day after day.” And in this instance, in order for us to be able to savor the Joyous Life, God the Parent is overseeing all of the workings of our bodies. Thus, we should live each day with gratitude of the many blessings from God the Parent. And depending on much you are aware, that gratitude may be even greater.

Lastly, as in the third verse, “Now and forever, till the end of time, and all over the world,” God is watching over us, looking ahead into the coming future, guiding us so that we don’t stray on a dangerous path or fall down.

We Yoboku must keep the blessings of God the Parents firmly on our minds as we advance on this path. I believe that these steps we make will connect to our spiritual maturity.

Oyasama followed the path for 50 years, giving Herself as the model, while conveying the teachings and workings of God the Parent.

On the south side of the grand church’s sanctuary, a large banner which says, “Follow the path of the Divine Model of Oyasama,” has been displayed for the last six years. This time, we added a new banner that says, “Let us convey the heart of Oyasama.”

In this year, let us all convey the workings of God the Parent to others. Let us also make efforts to relay to others the heart of the single-hearted salvation of Oyasama. That is the intention behind in having these banners.

In the Divine Directions, we are taught:

If you meet someone to whom the fragrance must be spread, tell it to him even on a street corner. This will be your work from now on.
Osashizu: April 7, 1907

In his sermon, Rev. Miyamori said, “Don’t miss out on your chance.”

For those of you who felt clearly, “I want to convey the teachings to this person,” or “I want to help that person,” but if you are wondering whether or not to take that step forward, this is the moment of the pre-anniversary activities and the time for spiritual maturity.

From this Divine Guidance, we are taught, “even on the street corner.” This is what “all over the world” means. Let us strive to take that first step forward, with the mindset that you must save this person, you must reach out to them. That you want them to receive the blessings of God. You want them to feel the workings of God. I would like for us all to advance with these thoughts.

There is a story about Rev. Yonosuke Okada, who is the origin of Rev. Miyamori’s family faith, in the Anecdotes of Oyasama, the Foundation of Tenrikyo. I would like to share it with you.

“The year was 1874. Yonosuke Okada (later known as Yosaburo Miyamori), at the age of eighteen, had a severe pain in his arm. He visited this and that doctor but the pain did not ease at all. He leaned against the bedding and suffered day and night. Looking at his suffering, Wasa, his married sister from Miwa, conveyed the teachings to him, suggesting, "Why don't you try to go to Shoyashiki?"”
Anecdotes of Oyasama, the Foundation of Tenrikyo: 40. STAY HERE

Because of the words from his sister, Yonosuke returned to the Residence and he was granted an audience with Oyasama. Oyasama said to him,

"Yonosuke, stay here."

After that, he began to work at the Residence for a long time.

The words from his sister led to his salvation.

I would also like to share with you another anecdote of Rev. Rin Masui.

This also happened to be the key phrase heard from someone on the street: “Tenryu-san of Yamato Shoyashiki." It was not Tenri-san. Based on the word of mouth, a man went to Jiba on Rin’s behalf and asked to have the main points of the teachings written down on paper and received a marvelous blessing by settling the whole family’s mind firmly.

Even if we do not understand all the teachings, we must first go to Jiba, to Oyasama, to settle in mind the teachings of the Parent. This is primarily important. I can see the important thing from these anecdotes.

In the last part of the Divine Direction I quoted earlier is,

“This will be your work from now on.”

The important work, the mission of us as Yoboku, is this. Let us ask around by saying, “Let’s go back to Jiba, to Tenri together.”

On January 4 this year, the Shinbashira gave us the “New Year’s Address.” In his address, he said,

The mindset we are supposed to have is to “convey the heart of Oyasama,” and to convey the heart of Oyasama, we are to unite our minds with others. We should be aware that we are moving forward together with everyone else, and in order to do so, it is important to be single-hearted with God.

In this third year of the pre-anniversary activity period, let us keep these in our minds to advance towards the Anniversary.

Lastly, I would like to talk about Shidokai Besseki Group Pilgrimage to Jiba.

I would like to focus on the Shidokai Besseki Group Pilgrimage to Jiba, which will be held on May 25 and November 30 respectively. Following the voice of the head minister of Kawaramachi Grand Church, let us bring joy to God the Parent and Oyasama.

The grand church receives the “Nioigake Report” as well as “Sazuke Administration Report” and we perform the prayer service, after the evening service on the 21st of each month. In order to increase our effort towards the Group Pilgrimage, please continue to submit the reports.

We tend to perceive these reports as an administrative matter, however, all reports are submitted to God the Parent and we pray for the blessings.

Please list the names of the people you want to bring back to the Besseki Group Pilgrimage. Please also add the names of those whom you are having hard time to approach. The mission of Yoboku is salvation work. For that reason, please submit the report every month.

Finally, wild boar population is growing in Honjima and they frequently appear in the grand church precincts.

Let us advance, at full speed, without looking aside, towards the Anniversary.

Thank you.