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<\/p>\nThe Oyasato Seminar\u2014a summer program that teaches the young generation of the path from overseas countries and regions about the Tenrikyo faith\u2014was held this summer in the Home of the Parent. The English, Portuguese, and Chinese Courses were held between July 17 and 22. The Korean Course was conducted between August 3 and 7.<\/p>\n
The seminar, sponsored by Tenrikyo Overseas Department, was originally launched in 1984 to help nurture successors of the path living overseas by providing an opportunity to gather in Jiba and learn and implement Oyasama\u2019s teachings. This year marks the 40th year since the start of the program, and it drew 60 participants from the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and South Korea.<\/p>\n
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There were 21 students in the English Course. They checked in at Moya 38 on July 16, a day before the official opening of the Oyasato Seminar, and attended the English Course orientation. The opening ceremony took place at the Overseas Department on July 17, attended by the students of the English, Portuguese, and Chinese Courses, as well as staff members and instructors for each course. Overseas Department Head Masaharu Matsuda said in his opening address: \u201cThe Joyous Life is not something that will come about one day without us making any effort. It is something that each of us is expected to practice here and now.\u201d He concluded his address by asking the students and staff members to spend each day of the seminar joyously.<\/p>\n
In the first half of the English Course program, the students reviewed the basic teachings and gained new insights into the teachings through workshops entitled \u201cGod the Parent and Jiba,\u201d \u201cFamily\u2019s Faith,\u201d \u201cOyasama,\u201d and \u201cA Thing Lent, A Thing Borrowed.\u201d Those workshops included tours of the Main Sanctuary, the Foundress\u2019 Sanctuary, the Memorial Hall, Oyasama\u2019s birthplace, and the historical buildings as well as talks on particular aspects of the path, group discussions, and enjoyable group activities designed to help students deepen their understanding of the teachings of the path.![\"\"](\"https:\/\/online.tenrikyo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_0706-183x137.jpg\")
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In the second half of the program, the students engaged in the outward practices of the faith. On the 20th, they devoted themselves to cleaning hinokishin<\/em> at the Main Sanctuary, wiping the East Corridor in high spirits with a sense of gratitude for the daily blessings of God the Parent. On the 21st, the students went to Nara City to impart the fragrance of the teachings to tourists and others from various parts of the world. At first, they danced to the Eight Verses of the Yorozuyo together in front of the JR Nara Station. The students were then divided into eight groups and spread around Nara Park to speak to and distribute pamphlets to people. As preparation for the day, they had chosen particular teachings they would like to convey to tourists in Nara and practiced how to explain the teachings in their own words on the previous day.<\/p>\n During the one-week program, 20 students of the English Course received the truth of the Sazuke. They pledged to become fine Yoboku who can show examples of how to live a joyous life to their local communities by implementing what they had learned through the Oyasato Seminar.<\/p>\n On the 22nd, the closing ceremony was held at the Overseas Department. In the ceremony, a student representative from each course gave an appreciation speech. From the English Course, Madison Mendoza shared how she developed a better appreciation of the teachings and learned more about Oyasama\u2019s Divine Model. She also said that she would like to become a Yoboku who can confidently say, \u201cLook at me,\u201d when people ask what Tenrikyo is.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Oyasato Seminar\u2014a summer program that teaches the young generation of the path from overseas countries and regions about the Tenrikyo faith\u2014was held this summer in the Home of the Parent. The English, Portuguese, and Chinese Courses were held between July 17 and 22. The Korean Course was conducted between\u2026<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/online.tenrikyo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_0789-183x137.jpg\")
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