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<\/a>The prayer was followed by the performance of the Kagura Service and the Dance with Hand Movements. Followers who had filled the four worship halls in addition to an estimated 8,000 benches set up in the Sanctuary precincts sang the Mikagura-uta, the Songs for the Service, with their minds in unison. Among them were many overseas followers, who had returned to Jiba from 22 countries and regions.<\/p>\nAfter the performance of the Dance with Hand Movements, the Shinbashira took the podium to deliver the sermon. He began by touching upon the message of Instruction Three and spoke on the path of Oyasama\u2019s Divine Model, which is also the path of single-hearted salvation. He said that the salvation of which Oyasama speaks does not simply refer to solving tangible problems such as illnesses and other issues and explained that people can be genuinely saved through correcting their use of mind, which is the true cause of their suffering. He went on to say that all Yoboku have the mission to convey the teachings to those who do not yet know them and guide those people to the path of salvation.<\/p>\n
Referring to today\u2019s world of continual change, the Shinbashira pointed out that there are many people who have no spiritual guide and do not know what they are living for. He thus emphasized, \u201cToday, the significance of telling people about the goal of human existence, the Joyous Life of all humankind, is not decreasing at all; if anything, it is increasing.\u201d The Shinbashira then explained the missions of Tenrikyo churches\u2014serving as mission facilities in local communities for spreading the teachings and for promoting salvation work and spiritual growth\u2014and clarified the importance of Yoboku\u2019s efforts to work for their churches with their head minister as the core. \u201cMay I take this opportunity to ask all of you Yoboku to connect your minds ever more firmly with your churches and try to visit them ever more often. As for those of you who are church head ministers, please work toward achieving the sort of church that the followers feel like visiting and naturally give ever more thought to. Moreover, I hope you will make sincere efforts to provide guidance and care for all your Yoboku so that they can engage in salvation work,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Moreover, the Shinbashira spoke about the appropriate frame of mind for those who are in a position to provide guidance and care for others and encouraged the congregation to make further efforts to carry out any salvation work they can, by saying, \u201cI think it would be inexcusable if we were to overlook someone who is going through a hard time, simply because we were failing to pay attention to that person.\u201d In conclusion, the Shinbashira once again emphasized that the significance of observing the anniversaries of Oyasama is respond to Her boundless parental love with decisiveness, saying: \u201c[I]t is of paramount importance for all of us Yoboku to resolve to make a decisive effort to grow spiritually and implement that resolution. . . . I would like all of us to spend each and every day over this period making an all-out effort so that we can bring joy to Oyasama.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Autumn Grand Service was performed in the Main Sanctuary with the Shinbashira presiding as chief officiant on October 26, commemorating the day of the founding of the Teaching in 1838 when Oyasama was settled as the Shrine of Tsukihi through the divine revelation in which God said, \u201cAt this\u2026<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n