{"id":1789,"date":"2013-03-28T09:50:54","date_gmt":"2013-03-28T09:50:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/online.tenrikyo.org\/?p=1789"},"modified":"2013-04-01T06:31:35","modified_gmt":"2013-04-01T06:31:35","slug":"college-students-resolve-to-attain-spiritual-growth-through-sprinkling-the-fragrance-of-the-teachings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/online.tenrikyo.org\/?p=1789","title":{"rendered":"College Students Resolve to Attain Spiritual Growth through Sprinkling the Fragrance of the Teachings"},"content":{"rendered":"

The College Division of the Students Training Course was held at the Home of the Parent from March 3 through 9. This year, 575 university, junior college, and technical school students (330 males and 245 females)\u2014100 more than last year\u2014assembled from all over the county to share in the joy of faith. Among them, a record number of 406 students took the course for the first time. Under the theme \u201cInquire into the origin and pioneer the way for tomorrow,\u201d the participants spent a week seeking the path and nurturing the mind of mutual help through various activities\u2014such as lectures, the practice of the dance and musical instruments for the service, hinokishin<\/em>, and group discussions.\"\"<\/a> <\/a>In addition, March 7 was set aside as a day to sprinkle the fragrance of the teachings. This story covers some participants\u2019 experiences on that day.<\/p>\n

Masayo Hashigami, a third year college student, went to Nara to sprinkle the fragrance of the teachings. In her elementary school days, Masayo had some sort of inferiority complex about her mother, who was much older than her friends\u2019 mothers. She once told her mother: \u201cPlease don\u2019t come to parents\u2019 day at school because it\u2019s too embarrassing. Why didn\u2019t you give birth to me when you were younger?\u201d After entering junior high school, however, Masayo heard about her mother\u2019s sad experiences from the wife of their church\u2019s head minister. Her mother had had three miscarriages before Masayo was born. While she was pregnant with Masayo, her mother devoted herself to engaging in hinokishin <\/em>and sprinkling the fragrance of the teachings as well as visiting the church to worship. People at the church also conducted prayer services. Having heard all this, Masayo realized that it is due to God\u2019s blessings and her mother\u2019s dedication that she is where she is today. Since then, she has come to perform the service with a sense of gratitude.<\/p>\n

On March 7, Masayo was handing out leaflets in Nara City. A woman passing by told her: \u201cI\u2019m grateful that young people like you are engaging in missionary work. Thank you.\u201d The woman was a follower and encouraged Masayo with the warm words. Masayo later said, \u201cI will try to keep my mind humble and focused on saving others.\u201d<\/p>\n

Taiki Izumi, a freshman, was born as the second son of a church head minister. He decided to participate in the course in order to take a step in spiritual growth during the lead-up to the 130th Anniversary of Oyasama. The day before the course began, his father said to him, \u201cI want you to learn that nothing should be taken for granted.\u201d The message remained in Taiki\u2019s heart.<\/p>\n

On the evening of March 6, Taiki was in bed with a fever. He thought that he would not be able to join in sprinkling the fragrance of the teachings the next day. Then, a member of his group administered the Sazuke to him. The following morning, his fever was down. Taiki recalled his father\u2019s message and felt grateful that God had given him an opportunity to appreciate something he had taken for granted.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Delivering a roadside speech in the hustle and bustle of Osaka City on March 7, Taiki said loudly, \u201cThings that we take for granted are actually blessings!\u201d After the speech, he handed out leaflets and met a foreigner who was suffering from chronic headaches. Taiki used gestures to explain the teachings to the man. Receiving his permission to pray to God on his behalf, Taiki single-heartedly administered the Sazuke to him. Taiki later said: \u201cI believe that getting the fever and meeting that man were both intended by God. Sharing with friends the feeling of gratitude for things that we tend to take for granted, I intend to proactively engage in the activities during the lead-up to the 130th Anniversary of Oyasama.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kiyoshiro Sugita, a second year college student, engaged in door-to-door missionary work in residential areas in Nara City on that day. He visited people\u2019s homes and said: \u201cHello, I\u2019m from Tenrikyo and would like to share the teachings of God with you. May I have a moment of your time?\u201d<\/p>\n

On the previous day, Kiyoshiro\u2019s group had set a goal for their missionary work: \u201cLet\u2019s walk joyfully and spiritedly so as to bring joy to Oyasama.\u201d Therefore, he continued walking even if people did not listen to him. Kiyoshiro learned that the early followers cultivated and nurtured their faith while going through difficult circumstances. He realized that it is important to put the teachings into practice consistently and strive to grow spiritually step by step in order to be a follower who can naturally sprinkle the fragrance of the teachings.<\/p>\n

Around 2:00 p.m., Kiyoshiro\u2019s group sang the Eight Verses of the Yorozuyo in a downtown area. After that, a woman ran up to him, saying: \u201cI have faith in the path, too. Keep up the good work!\u201d He was overjoyed to hear that. Kiyoshiro later said, \u201cMaking use of what I learned and experienced through this missionary work, I want to continue working together with friends of the path to polish my faith.\u201d \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Chihiro Doke, a third year college student, has yet to receive the truth of the Sazuke. On the previous day of the missionary work, therefore, she asked her group counselor if there was anything she could do without the Sazuke. The counselor gently said, \u201cYou can pray for a solution through performing a service even if you cannot yet administer the Sazuke.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Chihiro was handing out leaflets on the following day, an elderly man suddenly said to her: \u201cOgaki City is in Gifu Prefecture, isn\u2019t it? I have been there.\u201d The man actually saw the name of Chihiro\u2019s grand church, \u201cOgaki Grand Church,\u201d on her happi coat. Talking with him, Chihiro learned that he had suffered from stomach trouble and had surgery many times. She gathered her courage to say, \u201cIf you don\u2019t mind, I would like to pray to God so that you will get better.\u201d The man then answered, \u201cI\u2019d appreciate that.\u201d She was glad to know that there are things she could do and decided to conduct a prayer service for him after returning to Jiba. Chihiro later said: \u201cI would like to receive the truth of the Sazuke as soon as possible and administer the Sazuke to people suffering from illness. As an instrument of Oyasama, I am determined to make progress in my spiritual growth step by step.\u201d<\/p>\n

On March 9, the last day of the course, the participants attended the closing ceremony. They received certificates of completion and pledged to one another to meet again in Jiba, the Home of the Parent.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The College Division of the Students Training Course was held at the Home of the Parent from March 3 through 9. This year, 575 university, junior college, and technical school students (330 males and 245 females)\u2014100 more than last year\u2014assembled from all over the county to share in the joy\u2026<\/p>\n

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