{"id":1072,"date":"2012-03-26T04:51:02","date_gmt":"2012-03-26T04:51:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/online.tenrikyo.org\/?p=1072"},"modified":"2012-08-28T06:43:13","modified_gmt":"2012-08-28T06:43:13","slug":"474-young-followers-seek-the-path-in-the-students-training-course","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/online.tenrikyo.org\/?p=1072","title":{"rendered":"474 Young Followers Seek the Path in the Students Training Course"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>The College Division of the Students Training Course was held in the Home of the Parent from March 3 to 9. Under the theme \u201cInquire into the origin and pave the way for tomorrow,\u201d the course attracted from all parts of Japan a total of 474 participants\u2014consisting of university, junior college, graduate school, and technical school students\u2014who were supported by 256 staff members.<\/p>\n

At the opening ceremony, Honbu-in Motoyoshi Tomimatsu gave an opening address, in which he said: \u201cI believe God the Parent and Oyasama, who have drawn all of you to Jiba, have prepared a message for each one of you. I hope you can embrace it in your heart through proactively engaging in various activities and interacting with your fellow participants.\u201d The ceremony was followed by a prayer service performed in the Main Sanctuary.<\/p>\n

<\/a>The weeklong training course included lectures, the practice of the dance and musical instruments for the service, hinokishin<\/em> activities, and group <\/a>discussions. A practice service was conducted on the 8th by third-time participants and second-time participants who were in the final year of school. On the 7th, all participants had a chance to sprinkle the fragrance of the teachings in Kyoto, Nara, or Osaka prefectures. What follows is based on the Tenri Jiho<\/em> newspaper\u2019s report that focused on one participant\u2019s first missionary work experience.<\/p>\n

With a map in hand, a 22-year-old participant, Chieko Tanaka, was in a residential area in Ikoma City, Nara Prefecture, paired up with another participant in her group. She was enthusiastic even though she had never engaged in door-to-door missionary work. \u201cI want to let people know how I came to the faith and how amazing the teachings are,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m more excited than nervous.\u201d<\/p>\n

When she was a freshman in high school, she was approached on the street by a Tenrikyo woman who asked her, \u201cIs there anything troubling you?\u201d Having been worried about relationships with her friends, she felt at ease because of the woman\u2019s kind smile. \u201cSomehow I told her what was on my mind,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Chieko then visited the woman\u2019s Tenrikyo church a few times as she had been invited to but gradually stopped going to the church. Right before her entrance into university, an unexpected situation arose in her family and made her feel at a loss. What crossed her mind at that time was the woman\u2019s face. The next thing she knew, she found herself with a cell phone in hand writing her a text message, saying, \u201cI want to go to the church again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her first participation in the training course was two years ago. \u201cI was deeply moved when I saw my course mates administering the Sazuke for other group members and receiving God the Parent\u2019s blessings.\u201d She had decided to come back before graduation so as to enjoy quality time once again.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello, I\u2019m a Tenrikyo follower,\u201d she tried to talk to people through the intercom during the missionary work. However, most of them were either not home or quick to turn her down. \u201cWhat if I get rejected again?\u201d Her face became clouded. That was when she found her partner politely bowing his head at each house while saying, \u201cThank you very much.\u201d Her partner\u2019s humble behavior enabled her to shake off her uneasy feeling. She thought to herself, \u201cNothing will happen if I don\u2019t try to speak.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although she did not get to talk to anybody about the teachings, she knocked on the doors of over 40 houses in a matter of one and a half hours. She and her partner then joined other group members in spreading the name of God by singing the Mikagura-uta while walking down the streets. Leading the group with the sound of the wooden clappers, she seemed unfamiliar with how to play the instrument, but one of the group members helped her keep rhythm by clapping his hands for every beat while singing the Mikagura-uta.<\/p>\n

\u201cI learned firsthand that it is not easy at all to sprinkle the fragrance of the teachings. But I want to do it again,\u201d she said, adding: \u201cThe presence of my course mates who sincerely implemented the teachings always backed me up. I want to learn more about the teachings and the service and become a Yoboku who can bring joy to God the Parent so that I can be of help to people in need.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The College Division of the Students Training Course was held in the Home of the Parent from March 3 to 9. Under the theme \u201cInquire into the origin and pave the way for tomorrow,\u201d the course attracted from all parts of Japan a total of 474 participants\u2014consisting of university, junior\u2026<\/p>\n

Continue reading<\/span><\/i><\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":1427,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[22],"class_list":["post-1072","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-tsa"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t