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<\/a>As soon as a loudspeaker announcement of the opening of the venue echoed throughout the Sanctuary precincts, the participants began to file into the Inner Courtyard, carrying placards and banners of their dioceses or directly supervised churches. The convention began at 10:00 a.m. when the Shinbashira, Mrs. Nakayama, and Successor-Designate Daisuke Nakayama arrived in the Inner Courtyard.<\/p>\nFollowing a moment of prayer and the singing of the Yorozuyo, Students Association Chairperson Haruka Asano made opening remarks. She said: \u201cWe have made every effort to engage in salvation work in anticipation of this year\u2019s 130th Anniversary of Oyasama and to achieve our goal of bringing 10,000 students to this convention by caring for one another and encouraging one another. . . . For this convention today we launched the slogan \u02bbLet us nurture ourselves to become Yoboku who will lead the next generation.\u2019\u201d She ended by saying, \u201cLet\u2019s take to heart the message that the Shinbashira is going to give us so that we can make a resolution to become Yoboku who will lead the next generation of the path.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Shinbashira then took the podium to deliver his address. Starting off by noting that the Oyasama 130th Anniversary Service was duly conducted, he explained that it marked but one milestone on our path of spiritual growth leading to the Joyous Life and that our mission, which was to last through endless generations, was to take further steps along the path of spiritual growth.<\/p>\n
He said that in order to learn about Oyasama\u2019s parental love embodied in the Divine Model, settle it in their mind correctly, and cultivate firm faith, \u201cit is important to work hard at your studies, develop your powers of comprehension, nurture your intellectual ability, and exercise your body\u2014thus making efforts to discipline your mind and body\u2014as you lead your student lives as students of the path.\u201d<\/p>\n He also told the listeners that during their student days they might encounter life\u2019s difficulties that often cause worries and suffering. He mentioned that especially in such circumstances, they should put their effort and ingenuity into having buds sprout from knots of difficulties rather than give up in despair; this, he pointed out, was one way they could put human wisdom to good use.<\/p>\n \u201cThe attitude of facing up to and dealing with knots by practicing patience as opposed to running away from them becomes the fertilizer that allows us to settle the mind through joyous acceptance, nurture the mind committed to following Oyasama\u2019s example exactly as shown in the Divine Model, and cultivate the mind that does not become easily discouraged,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n To conclude his address, the Shinbashira expressed his hope that the listeners would sense God the Parent\u2019s blessings in their daily lives, implement the teachings in pursuing Oyasama\u2019s mind, and continue to follow the path with bright and spirited minds so that they could grow up to be fine instruments of Oyasama.<\/p>\n This was followed by two speeches given by association members. Yuichi Nakamura, who had been appointed to serve as the association chairperson starting on April 1, then made a pledge on behalf of all association members. The convention ended with the singing of the convention\u2019s theme song, \u201cKibo no Hana<\/em>\u201d (Flowers of Hope).\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a>The Shinbashira then said that the most important thing for students was to take a positive attitude toward studying and learning. He told his listeners that, as they led their student lives as Tenrikyo students, they should make a conscious effort to study, learn, and implement God the Parent\u2019s intention and Oyasama\u2019s teachings so that they could enhance their ability to be aware of God the Parent\u2019s blessings in their daily lives and let this awareness inform their words and actions as well as other aspects of their lives.<\/p>\n