On October 27, the Young Men\u2019s Association Headquarters held its 98th convention in the Inner Courtyard of Church Headquarters, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Oyasato Construction Young Men\u2019s Association Hinokishin Corps. A large number of association members gathered from both Japan and overseas. In his address, Association President Daisuke Nakayama presented key points for implementing the association\u2019s activity guideline, \u201cPurifying our minds each day: Having less dust and more sincerity,\u201d and encouraged members to live each day purifying their minds to perceive God the Parent\u2019s intention and bring joy to Oyasama. After that, Director-in-Chief of Administrative Affairs Zensuke Nakata read aloud the Shinbashira\u2019s message, which called on members to demonstrate their youthful enthusiasm and passion in doing missionary work and seeking the path during this season for spiritual growth and to firmly show the fruits of their efforts as Arakitoryo, pioneers of the path.<\/p>\n
Blessed with refreshing autumn weather on the day of the convention, association members arrived in the Inner Courtyard one after another, led by their chapter flags. At 9:55 A.M., President Nakayama escorted Mrs. Harue Nakayama, Mrs. Nobue Nakayama, and other guests into the venue. After a moment of worship and the opening declaration, President Nakayama took the podium to deliver his address.<\/p>\n
Based on his personal experiences, President Nakayama discussed the activity guideline, \u201cPurifying our minds each day: Having less dust and more sincerity.\u201d<\/p>\n
President Nakayama first explained that we often get angry when things do not go as we expect, and he emphasized the importance of \u201cwaiting\u201d before letting our emotions come out in words. Further, he pointed out that merely waiting does not purify the mind and that we are often unaware of the dust we have accumulated. He thus noted that we should \u201cdirect our attention to our own minds\u201d after waiting for our minds to settle down.<\/p>\n
Quoting from the Ofudesaki, he emphasized that purifying our minds requires both \u201cpondering and awakening\u201d\u2014the effort to perceive or tap into God\u2019s intention\u2014and \u201cconveying and communicating\u201d\u2014the act of using our words to express or share what we have explored and realized. He noted how important it is to \u201cshare the insights we have gained\u201d through practices such as \u201cdialogues based on the teachings.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lastly, President Nakayama noted that, although there may be times when things do not go as planned, it is possible to use those moments as opportunities to put the guideline into practice. He told the members: \u201cFrom now on, . . . let us strive to perceive God the Parent\u2019s intention embodied in our daily lives. Let us also enjoy purifying our minds each day through our efforts to have less dust and more sincerity so that we can bring as much joy as possible to Oyasama.\u201d<\/p>\n
Next, Director-in-Chief Nakata read aloud the Shinbashira\u2019s message.<\/p>\n
The message reflected on how the Young Men\u2019s Association has proclaimed itself to be Arakitoryo and conducted its activities under this banner since its establishment. \u201c[T]he Young Men\u2019s Association has encouraged its members to devote themselves not only to the outward action of proactive missionary work but also to the inward action of sowing seeds of sincerity and seeking the path with an awareness that they have yet to mature spiritually,\u201d the Shinbashira stated.<\/p>\n
Noting that this year marks the 70th year since the establishment of the Oyasato Construction Young Men\u2019s Association Hinokishin Corps, the Shinbashira stated: \u201c[The corps has] created opportunities for members to develop the spirit of single-heartedness with God as God the Parent\u2019s Yoboku and to lay the foundation for working as Oyasama\u2019s instruments. In other words, the corps has been positioned as a place where its members do fusekomi<\/em>, or sow seeds of sincerity for the future. This is how the corps has been conducted up until now.\u201d He went on to say, \u201c[W]hat is important in sowing seeds of sincerity is to endeavor to find the source of joy every day so that you can perceive the boundless blessings of God the Parent and to have God accept your continuous efforts of implementing the teachings with the gratitude you feel through that practice.\u201d He then noted that these efforts will allow us to sow seeds of sincerity.<\/p>\n Furthermore, he emphasized that the corps members\u2019 mission is to work on spiritual construction through hinokishin<\/em> in the Home of the Parent, that is, to devote themselves to their spiritual development. \u201cI ask you to invite as many association members as possible to Jiba so that they can sow seeds of sincerity and work on their spiritual construction. I hope that you will make this a core activity of the Young Men\u2019s Association,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n The message concluded by noting that only one year and two months remain for the pre-anniversary activities leading up to the 140th Anniversary of Oyasama. The Shinbashira said: \u201cIn this special season for spiritual growth, I strongly hope that you devote yourselves to doing missionary work and seeking the path while taking advantage of your young enthusiasm and passion and that you association members will achieve results as Arakitoryo toward the anniversary of Oyasama.\u201d<\/p>\n After that, the association members recited the guiding principles of Arakitoryo and joined together in singing the Tenrikyo Young Men\u2019s Association Song.<\/p>\n On the afternoon and the evening of October 26, convention-related events were held, attracting many association members and other followers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" On October 27, the Young Men\u2019s Association Headquarters held its 98th convention in the Inner Courtyard of Church Headquarters, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Oyasato Construction Young Men\u2019s Association Hinokishin Corps. A large number of association members gathered from both Japan and overseas. In his address, Association President Daisuke\u2026<\/p>\n