Tenrikyo Hinokishin Day was observed at more than 1,700 locations throughout Japan on May 13 as well as at about 90 locations in 23 overseas countries on different days, each participant striving to practice the motto for this year’s Hinokishin Day, which was: “Now is the time for world salvation. Let us engage in hinokishin<\/em>.”<\/p>\n Hinokishin “refers to actions that express our gratitude for the gift of life and our joy at being alive each day,” explained Director- in-Chief of Administrative Affairs Masahiko Iburi in his annual Hinokishin Day Message, sent to all districts conducting Hinokishin Day. “These actions, which are free of greed, can be done by anyone, anywhere, any time.” The significance of Hinokishin Day, which has been carried out every year for almost 70 years, is to provide followers with an opportunity to get together to combine these selfless efforts of hinokishin<\/em> with which they conduct their daily lives as well as to share this spirit of hinokishin<\/em> with ever more people in their communities. Thus, Director-in Chief Iburi’s message went on to say: “The joy we generate through our hinokishin<\/em> has the power to motivate more and more people to live their lives with true sincerity, and I believe that this joy will, eventually, enable all humanity to be blessed with the actualization of the world of the Joyous Life.”<\/p>\n At the Home of the Parent, which was blessed with clear skies, Hinokishin Day was attended by 4,700 people including the staff members of Church Headquarters, students of the Spiritual Development Course, and students of Tenrikyo schools. Prior to their hinokishin<\/em>, participants joined together in prayer in the Inner Courtyard and then listened to an address by Director-in-Chief Iburi, who asked them to spend the day savoring the joy of living, embraced in the bosom of God the Parent, and work spiritedly in a unity of mind. After his address, the participants divided into 60 groups and headed out to their respective sites, which included parks, community centers, welfare facilities, train stations, police stations, and schools. Hinokishin activities involved cleaning, weeding, and picking up trash.<\/p>\n At the end of the day, the participants assembled in the Inner Courtyard again. They received words of appreciation from Director-in-Chief of Religious Affairs Tomoo Itakura, who also encouraged them to maintain the mind like clear skies and to remember to live each day of their lives in the spirit of hinokishin<\/em>, expressing their gratitude for God the Parent’s providence and their joy at being alive through their selfless actions that benefit others.<\/p>\n Overseas districts in which Hinokishin Day was observed included Brisbane, Calcutta, Hong Kong, New York, and S\u00e3o Paulo. Hinokishin<\/em> activities included cleaning, donating blood, weeding, pruning, and picking up trash.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Tenrikyo Hinokishin Day was observed at more than 1,700 locations throughout Japan on May 13 as well as at about 90 locations in 23 overseas countries on different days, each participant striving to practice the motto for this year’s Hinokishin Day, which was: “Now is the time for world salvation.\u2026<\/p>\n