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On April 18, the Oyasama Birth Celebration Service was conducted to celebrate the 220th birthday of the everliving Oyasama in the Main Sanctuary and Foundress\u2019 Sanctuary of Tenrikyo Church Headquarters with the Shinbashira presiding as chief officiant. Approximately 60,000 followers from across Japan and overseas returned to Jiba yearning for \u201cthe Parent of the Divine Model,\u201d and sang the Songs for the Service together in unity of mind.<\/p>\n
Among them was Ms. Magaly Torres, who returned to Jiba from Mexico. In October last year, her mother passed away for rebirth from lung cancer. She said: \u201cMy mother, as an instrument of Oyasama, devoted herself to salvation work even after being diagnosed with cancer. I am going to receive the truth of the Sazuke during my stay this time. I expressed my resolve at the Main Sanctuary to tread in my mother\u2019s footsteps and engage in sprinkling the fragrance and saving others.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shortly after 9:40 a.m., the Shinbashira and other Service performers left the Staff Quarters for the Foundress\u2019 Sanctuary. After they paid their respects to Oyasama, \u201cOyasama\u2019s Birthday Celebration Song\u201d was sung together by the followers in the Inner Courtyard, which enhanced the celebratory ambiance of the day.<\/p>\n
The Shinbashira then proceeded to the Main Sanctuary and ascended the dais to deliver the Service prayer to God on behalf of all followers. In the Service prayer, he said: \u201cOn this day, we Service performers as well as church head ministers and other Yoboku will take this opportunity to reflect upon our way of following the path in the light of Oyasama\u2019s Divine Model, discuss it with one another, and encourage one another, thereby enabling all Yoboku to engage in salvation work.\u201d<\/p>\n
The joyous performance of the Kagura Service and the Dance with Hand Movements followed the Service prayer and worshipers sang in chorus the songs for the Service with their minds in unison.<\/p>\n
After the Kagura Service, the Shinbashira and his wife as well as Successor-Designate Daisuke Nakayama and his wife, proceeded to the Foundress\u2019 Sanctuary to serve a meal to Oyasama.<\/p>\n
The sermon was then delivered by Honbu-in Koji Masui. He first mentioned that Oyasama has \u201cthe causality of the soul of the mother in creation.\u201d He then emphasized the importance of following Oyasama\u2019s Divine Model, savoring the joyous way of living, and conveying that joy to others who have yet to know Oyasama\u2019s intention.<\/p>\n
Referring to the Divine Model of Oyasama, he pointed out that it began when Oyasama started falling to the depths of poverty as intended by God the Parent. \u201cIn spite of people\u2019s derision,\u201d he said, \u201cShe took great pains to teach them, patiently helping them comprehend the teachings of God the Parent.\u201d He then stressed that Oyasama taught us through Her own example to change our perspective from \u201chuman standards\u201d to \u201csingle-heartedness with God,\u201d that is to say to \u201ckeep the mind single-hearted with God instead of resorting to common sense and human thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n
He then quoted the words of Oyasama: \u201cUnless you fall to the depths of poverty, you cannot understand what sufferers feel.\u201d These words are, he said, a \u201creminder\u201d for all of us who follow the path us to \u201cbecome humble, put ourselves in sufferers\u2019 shoes, and try to understand their thoughts and feelings.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rev. Masui continued by referring to the fact that as miraculous blessings began to be shown and more and more followers paid visits to Jiba, some people were cursing and abusing Oyasama and Her followers. Moreover, as a result of Her mission to those in the high mountains, Oyasama had to undergo many hardships and imprisonment. Touching upon the illnesses and troubles that we sometimes go through in our lives, he emphasized that what Oyasama taught us was that \u201cwe can become joyous and spirited simply working with our mind in any situation and especially when we have to go through suffering and troubles.\u201d He said, \u201cLet all of us follow Oyasama\u2019s Divine Model and savor the joyous way of living.\u201d<\/p>\n
He concluded his sermon by saying, \u201cOyasama continues to work for us by virtue of Her eternal life. We all would like to express our gratitude for the daily blessings of God the Parent, rely on God the Parent and Oyasama, and walk the path of making repayment joyously and spiritedly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Following the sermon, the Shinbashira returned to the Foundress\u2019 Sanctuary and read a prayer to Oyasama. He first extended words of celebration and expressed on behalf of all followers their determination to deepen their joy and awareness of serving as instruments of Oyasama, follow the Divine Model honestly and straightforwardly, and devote themselves to the tasks of single-hearted salvation.[:]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
[:en]On April 18, the Oyasama Birth Celebration Service was conducted to celebrate the 220th birthday of the everliving Oyasama in the Main Sanctuary and Foundress\u2019 Sanctuary of Tenrikyo Church Headquarters with the Shinbashira presiding as chief officiant. Approximately 60,000 followers from across Japan and overseas returned to Jiba yearning for\u2026<\/p>\n