Approximately 70,000 followers, including many from overseas, returned to Jiba to celebrate the 214th birthday of the everliving Oyasama, \u201cour beloved Parent,\u201d on April 18.<\/p>\n
The Oyasama Birth Celebration Service started shortly after 10:00 a.m., when the Shinbashira arrived in the Main Sanctuary after paying respects at the Foundress\u2019 Sanctuary and the Memorial Hall. He first ascended the dais to deliver the Service prayer to God on behalf of all followers. He stated: \u201cThis auspicious day today marks the joyful occasion when Oyasama, having the causality of the soul of the mother in human creation, was born into this world on this very day of this month in 1798. Therefore, we Service performers will now conduct the Oyasama Birth Celebration Service, uniting our minds in joy as we perform the Kagura and the Teodori.\u201d<\/p>\n
The prayer was followed by the joyous performance of the Kagura Service, after which the Shinbashira, his wife, and the former Shinbashira proceeded to the Foundress\u2019 Sanctuary to serve a meal to Oyasama. In the meantime, the Dance with Hand Movements was joyously performed in the Main Sanctuary. Yearning for the Parent of the Divine Model, followers joined together in singing the Mikagura-uta, the Songs for the Service, in unity of mind while pledging to devote themselves to single-hearted salvation.<\/p>\n
Following the conclusion of the Dance with Hand Movements, Honbu-in Narahiko Nakata delivered a sermon. He began by quoting a part of God\u2019s first words spoken through Oyasama\u2019s mouth, \u201cI have descended here to save all humankind.\u201d He noted that this phrase \u201crefers to spiritual salvation or the transformation of the mind that is far from the Joyous Life into the mind of the Joyous Life.\u201d He then spoke about two important components of the Joyous Life, namely \u201cto have the mind that enables one to appreciate the preciousness of God\u2019s blessings\u201d and \u201cto convey the preciousness to other people.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the Ofudesaki,\u201d he said, \u201cOyasama first referred to God the Parent as \u2018Kami\u2019 (God), next as \u2018Tsukihi\u2019 (Moon-Sun), and finally as \u2018Oya\u2019 (Parent) in order to explain what God\u2019s blessings are like.\u201d He then explained how three terms signify God\u2019s \u201cworkings,\u201d \u201cblessings of fire, water, and wind,\u201d and \u201cparental heart,\u201d respectively. After noting that the Kanrodai Service embodies God\u2019s parental heart, he stressed, \u201cThrough attending the Service, we need to take God\u2019s blessings to heart.\u201d<\/p>\n
As for another essential element of the Joyous Life, he said, \u201cThe everliving Oyasama always pays close attention to our efforts to let people know the precious workings of God through sprinkling the fragrance of the teachings and helping others be saved.\u201d He then shared a story where he strongly felt that he was accompanied by Oyasama while doing missionary work.<\/p>\n
Lastly, referring to the upcoming 130th Anniversary of Oyasama, he stated: \u201cI believe an anniversary is an occasion when the everliving Oyasama looks forward to seeing many people return to Jiba with the mind that enables them to live the Joyous Life. Let us take this opportunity to work in accord with Oyasama\u2019s intention.\u201d<\/p>\n
Following the sermon, the Service performers assembled in the Foundress\u2019 Sanctuary, where the Shinbashira read a prayer to Oyasama to extend words of celebration. After expressing appreciation for Her parental love in working for the salvation of one and all, he said, \u201cWe will seek to deepen our joy at being able to serve as Your instruments in the cause of single-hearted salvation, maintain spiritedness and single-heartedness with God in anysituation, exert our true sincerity to save others, and spiritually mature into Yoboku that measure up to the Parent\u2019s intention.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Joyous Chorus then took place in the Inner Courtyard, where thousands of followers joined together in singing a number of songs, accompanied by an orchestra comprising musicians from Tenri High School and other Tenrikyo schools as well as Tenrikyo Institute of Music. The songs included \u201cO-uta 12: Path of the Divine Model\u201d and \u201cOyasama\u2019s Birthday Celebration Song.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Approximately 70,000 followers, including many from overseas, returned to Jiba to celebrate the 214th birthday of the everliving Oyasama, \u201cour beloved Parent,\u201d on April 18. […]<\/p>\n