{"id":10259,"date":"2026-08-07T15:46:40","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T06:46:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/online.tenrikyo.org\/?p=10259"},"modified":"2026-08-07T15:50:03","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T06:50:03","slug":"growing-spiritually-together-the-shuyoka-english-class-in-the-home-of-the-parent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/online.tenrikyo.org\/?p=10259","title":{"rendered":"Growing Spiritually Together: The Shuyoka English Class in the Home of the Parent"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 1,018th session of Shuyoka (the three-month Spiritual Development Course) was held between April 1 and June 27 with thirteen classes, including the English and Chinese classes. This session took place during the year of the 140th Anniversary of Oyasama, which was commemorated on January 26. <\/span><\/p>\n

The English Class welcomed eleven students from various parts of the world, including the U.S. mainland, Hawaii, Kenya, Brazil, and the Philippines. With English as the common language, the students were filled with enthusiasm to work together to learn\u2014or relearn\u2014the teachings, highlighting the distinctive character of this international class.<\/span><\/p>\n

The students\u2019 backgrounds in the faith varied widely. Some were seeking to deepen their understanding of the teachings they already knew, including one who was attending Shuyoka for the second time and those who had already completed Shuyokai\u2014a spiritual development course offered at a mission headquarters\u2014in their respective home countries. Others were relatively new to the faith, such as those who had just embraced it within the last few years. <\/span><\/p>\n

Each day in Shuyoka began with the morning service at the Main Sanctuary, followed by a morning training session and breakfast back in the followers dormitories. From Monday to Saturday, students commuted to Shuyoka for classes on The Doctrine of Tenrikyo<\/em>, The Life of Oyasama<\/em>, and the Mikagura-uta (The Songs for the Service<\/em>), as well as service dance practices.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Anecdotes of Oyasama<\/em> also served as a supplementary textbook, with its newly translated edition becoming available in the first month of the course. Drawing on the stories in the book, students focused on key teachings and discussed how to put them into practice in their daily lives. <\/span><\/p>\n

In the afternoon, there were lessons in the musical instruments for the service and hinokishin <\/em>activities. Once students returned to their respective followers dormitories, they engaged in hinokishin<\/em>, attended the evening service, and participated in another training session.<\/span><\/p>\n

Four of the students attended the Besseki lectures during the course and received the truth of the Sazuke, the Divine Grant, in the third month. <\/span><\/p>\n

Homeroom Instructor Kay Lynn Morishita, former head minister of Tenrikyo Brotherhood Church, said: \u201cAs I reflect on the three months of teaching, my heart is filled with gratitude. I am grateful to God the Parent and Oyasama for the opportunity, grateful to the instructors and assistants who shared this journey, grateful to the students who inspired me, and grateful for every lesson learned along the way. . . . As we continue planting seeds through faith, service, and sincerity, the joyous life will continue to unfold before us. I pray that I will carry the lessons of these three months into the next chapter of my life and continue serving with gratitude, dedication, and joy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Assistant Instructor Masato Kato, a staff member of Tenrikyo Overseas Department, noted: \u201cServing as a Shuyoka instructor taught me how challenging it can be to explain to others what I thought I understood myself, as well as how challenging it is to live out the teachings that I convey as knowledge in the classroom and be a role model for people around me. . . . Watching the homeroom instructor and the students helped me realize what I need to work on moving forward. I am truly grateful for the opportunity, and I am determined to continue my journey of spiritual growth building on this experience.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Gavin Damron, who served as a class monitor for this year\u2019s English class, said: \u201cAfter Shuyoka, I am determined to dance the Twelve Songs of the Mikagura-uta in high spirits. I would like to further my resolution to engage in various hinokishin <\/em>activities and conduct missionary work in my own time. Overall, I hope to be a good Yoboku and to continue living each day of my life joyously, always feeling happy to be Tenrikyo.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The 1,018th session of Shuyoka (the three-month Spiritual Development Course) was held between April 1 and June 27 with thirteen classes, including the English and Chinese classes. This session took place during the year of the 140th Anniversary of Oyasama, which was commemorated on January 26. The English Class welcomed\u2026<\/p>\n

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