Tenrikyo Church Headquarters sponsored the University Division of the Students Training Course from March 3 through 9 at the Home of the Parent, drawing 440 college students from all over the country. This weeklong training course provides university, junior college, and technical school students with an opportunity to learn about the teachings, practice the dance and musical instruments for the service, and conduct missionary work in Osaka. The participants, 250 males and 190 females, were divided into 50 groups consisting of about 9 students per group, each of which was led by a pair of group counselors, one male and one female, who had been trained in advance. Working together as groups throughout the period allowed the participants not only to share the joy of faith with one another, but also to reflect upon themselves, thereby enabling them to deepen their faith.<\/p>\n
In the afternoon of March 3, the participants assembled in the Home of the Parent in spite of the cold rainy weather. At the opening ceremony, Honbu-in Kazuo Nagao encouraged the students in his opening address, saying: “I want each one of you, as young adults, to seek the teachings of Oyasama willingly and put into practice what made sense to you, while fully taking advantage of your ability to act with an open and accepting mind, which is, I believe, a quality that you all have as young people.” This was followed by an address delivered by Students Advisory Committee Chairman Yuji Terada. After the ceremony, the participants and the staff assembled in the East Worship Hall for the prayer service.<\/p>\n
On March 4, the course started in full swing with Honbu-in Motoo Matsuda’s lecture entitled “Sprinkling the Fragrance of the Teachings and Engaging in Salvation Work As Taught in Instruction Two.” Optional lectures were provided on the following two mornings. Most popular among them was the lecture entitled “Faith at Workplace,” given by Mr. Bungo Osawa, a Yoboku who works at the foreign news desk of the Mainichi Newspaper. In the afternoon of the second and third days, the participants attended optional classes to practice the dance, musical instruments, and rituals for the service, and to learn how to wear the service kimono. They also conducted group work several times during the period, through which they took a closer look at themselves, became better acquainted with one another, and discussed the teachings as well as other topics.<\/p>\n
On March 6, the participants spent the whole afternoon and evening preparing themselves to participate in missionary work on the following day. After attending a lecture given by the Aichi Missionary House Director Koichi Kanda, they moved to their group work rooms to discuss the importance of sprinkling the fragrance of the teachings, and prepare manuscripts for their roadside speeches. Some even stayed up late to complete their manuscripts under the guidance of their counselors.<\/p>\n
Then came March 7, the day for sprinkling the fragrance of the teachings, which was the main event for the entire course. After offering a prayer at the Main Sanctuary, the students and counselors walked through the rain to Tenri train station, where Chairman Terada gave them words of encouragement before they left for Osaka by chartered train. This year, all the missionary work was conducted within Osaka City. After getting off the train at the designated stations, half of the groups sang the Eight Verses of the Yorozuyo while walking to their respective destinations–Senba Grand Church, Mitsu Grand Church, and Osaka Diocese Administrative Office, whereas the other half first delivered roadside speeches and then headed for their respective destinations, while spreading the name of God the Parent. On that day, the Shinbashira and his wife visited Osaka as well to observe the students spiritedly engaging in missionary work in the cold rainy weather.<\/p>\n
On March 8, nearly one hundred students attended the Besseki lecture, while others did hinokishin around the Main Sanctuary. In the morning, the participants also listened to faith experience speeches delivered by eight students. In the afternoon, they attended an introductory session on the Young Men’s Association and the Women’s Association, which was followed by a panel discussion on the theme “Living Each Day in a Manner Based on the Teachings.” Based on the issues presented in the discussion, the participants continued to discuss the theme in groups. The former Shinbashira visited Moya 38 to observe those group discussions.<\/p>\n
On March 9, in the cold wind and snowy weather, the students assembled at Dining Hall 2 to attend the closing ceremony. Director-in-Chief of Administrative Affairs Masahiko Iburi then delivered a speech, saying: “Praying includes the meaning of expressing our gratitude to God the Parent for the blessings we receive as well as our readiness to accept whatever happens. I want you to live each day with the importance of prayer kept in mind.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Tenrikyo Church Headquarters sponsored the University Division of the Students Training Course from March 3 through 9 at the Home of the Parent, drawing 440 college students from all over the country. This weeklong training course provides university, junior college, and technical school students with an opportunity to learn about\u2026<\/p>\n