{"id":1863,"date":"2013-05-17T11:09:25","date_gmt":"2013-05-17T11:09:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/online.tenrikyo.org\/?p=1863"},"modified":"2013-05-24T02:20:01","modified_gmt":"2013-05-24T02:20:01","slug":"42000-members-attend-women%e2%80%99s-association-convention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/online.tenrikyo.org\/?p=1863","title":{"rendered":"42,000 Members Attend Women\u2019s Association Convention"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tenrikyo Women\u2019s Association held its 95th annual convention in the Inner Courtyard of Church Headquarters on April 19, the day after the Oyasama Birth Celebration Service. The occasion drew 42,000 members.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

When the registration desks opened at 8:00 a.m., groups of members began to file in the Sanctuary precincts one after another, carrying banners of their chapters. At 9:30, Women\u2019s Association President Harue Nakayama escorted the Shinbashira and other guests into the Inner Courtyard. The ceremony began with the singing of the Eight Verses of the Yorozuyo, followed by a pledge by a representative of new members and a progress report presented by committee member Emiko Moroi.<\/p>\n

President Nakayama then delivered her address. She began by referring to the association\u2019s new activity guidelines\u2014\u201cLet all of us Women\u2019s Association members follow the path of making repayment for the blessings we receive. (1) Let\u2019s implement the teachings and grow spiritually to be true Yoboku. (2) Let\u2019s nurture those close to us into true Yoboku.\u201d After quoting from the Shinbashira\u2019s address at the previous convention, she stressed the importance of living each day as Yoboku and said, \u201cThere are clear differences between men and women, and the abilities and roles women are endowed with are certainly different from those of men; however, there is absolutely no difference between men and women concerning the tasks befitting Yoboku.\u201d\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

President Nakayama said, \u201cI sense that we, who live in material abundance, may have a weaker determination to make repayment for God\u2019s constant blessings.\u201d She then asked the members to increase the number of Yoboku through sprinkling the fragrance of the teachings and engaging in salvation work, which are the best ways to make repayment for God\u2019s blessings. She continued: \u201cThe primary tasks that we women of the path should carry out are to nurture our own children in such a way that they will grow up to become true Yoboku as well as nurture people close to us into true Yoboku. In order to do so, we must make a constant effort to grow spiritually and become true Yoboku ourselves. I would like to ask the association members to perform the important task of nurturing people with loving care and make it the core of our pre-anniversary activities. \u201d<\/p>\n

Next, the Shinbashira took the lectern. Referring to a series of Divine Directions concerning the establishment of the Women\u2019s Association, he said: \u201cOne important question is whether or not you are studying the path of Oyasama\u2019s Divine Model and implementing it each day or whether or not you are neglecting to study the teachings. Another question is whether or not you are making sufficient efforts to discuss things together and teach one another. From time to time, it is vital, I think, for you to ask yourselves these questions and check and correct the orientation of your minds and the way you are conducting your activities.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Shinbashira also said that the association\u2019s current activity guidelines are \u201cdesigned to make clear what it means for the Women\u2019s Association to conduct its anniversary-related activities so that it will be able to promote the association activities in unity of mind ever more enthusiastically.\u201d He then went on to explain the significance of passing down the joy of faith from generation to generation.<\/p>\n

Before concluding his address, the Shinbashira emphasized, \u201cIf we wish people to grow into true Yoboku, those of us who are in a position to nurture others need to fine-tune our own spirit of single-heartedness with God and to near Oyasama\u2019s parental love that is solely intent on single-hearted salvation.\u201d He said that the Women\u2019s Association\u2019s goal of being \u201ctrue Yoboku\u201d refers to \u201cstriving to become the sort of Yoboku . . . whose mind is always focused on helping save others.\u201d He thus encouraged the members to proactively work to sprinkle the fragrance of the teachings and help save others so that, by setting an example through those efforts, they might nurture those close to them into true Yoboku.<\/p>\n

After the Shinbashira\u2019s address, Niigata Chapter Chairwoman Haruno Ike delivered a pledge on behalf of all members. The members then sang \u201cTenrikyo Women\u2019s Association Song\u201d and \u201cOyasama 130th Anniversary Song.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Tenrikyo Women\u2019s Association held its 95th annual convention in the Inner Courtyard of Church Headquarters on April 19, the day after the Oyasama Birth Celebration Service. The occasion drew 42,000 members. When the registration desks opened at 8:00 a.m., groups of members began to file in the Sanctuary precincts one\u2026<\/p>\n

Continue reading<\/span><\/i><\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":1890,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[21],"class_list":["post-1863","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-twa"],"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