Bosnia and Herzegovina is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country with three major ethnic groups, namely Bosniaks, who are predominantly Muslim; Serbs, who are mainly Orthodox Christian; and Croats, who are primarily Catholic. In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the onset of Bosnia\u2019s civil war, the meeting was entitled \u201cLiving Together Is the Future: Religions and Cultures in Dialogue.\u201d<\/p>\n
Honbu-in Yokoyama served as a panelist in a session on \u201cThe Spirit of Assisi in the East: Japanese Religions in Dialogue,\u201d\u2014held on the 10th\u2014where the panel also included representatives from Tendai Buddhism and Rissho Kosei-kai. He started his speech by referring to the teaching of the Joyous Life, the purpose of God the Parent\u2019s human creation, and explained in an easy-to-understand manner that the Tenrikyo faith, based on Oyasama\u2019s Divine Model, aims at bringing happiness and peace to all human beings in the world.<\/p>\n
As the chair of the board of directors of Tenri Yorozu-sodansho Foundation\u2014management body of Ikoi-no-Ie Hospital\u2014Rev. Yokoyama went on to speak about unique aspects of the hospital. He mentioned that Tenrikyo ministers serving at the hospital provide spiritual care for patients and offer prayers through the administration of the Sazuke while working in cooperation with doctors and nurses. \u201cI think all religious people appreciate the importance of prayer, which is instrumental in helping patients recover from their illnesses,\u201d he said, adding, \u201cThere is no discrimination or distinction in this regard between Tenrikyo followers and followers of other religions in our hospital.\u201d<\/p>\n
He continued: \u201cI believe that religions exist in order to save and deliver people from their distresses and afflictions. People are seeking spiritual salvation through religions. Religions must not do anything that would hinder people\u2019s progress toward salvation\u2014or toward the Joyous Life in our terminology. Religions are to save people and offer prayers for them to be happy. It would be a great tragedy for the human race if religions became antagonistic to one another.\u201d<\/p>\n
He then concluded by saying: \u201cThe goal of human existence is to build a joyous and bright life in this world through mutual help. If we are to achieve this, it is necessary for religions, which are many, to promote dialogue and contribute to reducing conflict and antagonism and achieving world peace and humankind\u2019s happiness.\u201d In a question-and-answer session that followed, Honbu-in Yokoyama answered questions raised by the audience who asked about such things as relations between faith and medicine.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>On the evening of the last day, participating religious groups were allocated separate venues to conduct their respective prayers for peace. The Tenrikyo delegation performed the seated service and the first half of the Dance with Hand Movements to the accompaniment of musical instruments.<\/p>\n