Tenrikyo

Tenrikyo, sometimes referred to as Tenriism, is a Japanese new religion originating from the teachings of a 19th-century lady, Nakayama Miki, who was known to her followers as Oyasama. Followers of Tenrikyo believe that God of Origin, God in Truth, who is known by several names including Tsukihi, Tenri-Ō-no-Mikoto, and Oyagamisama (God the Parent) revealed the divine will through Miki Nakayama as the Shrine of God, and to a lesser extent through disciple Honseki Izo Iburi and other leaders. Tenrikyo's mission is to teach and promote the Joyous Life, which is cultivated through acts of charity and mindfulness called hinokishin (selfless and thankful action). The primary operations of Tenrikyo are located at Tenrikyo Church Headquarters (Tenri, Nara, Japan), which supports 16,833 locally managed churches in Japan, the construction and maintenance of the oyasato-yakata (a building complex begun in 1954 to serve as a model of the Joyous Life in the Home of the Parent) and various community-focused organizations. Tenrikyo is estimated to have over 2 million adherents worldwide. The majority of these reside in and are natives of Japan. Every word of this brief description of Tenrikyo that follows this introductory paragraph has been harvested from the religion’s official website: https://www.tenrikyo.or.jp/eng/

God, the Parent of all human beings

The teachings of Tenrikyo are said to be direct revelations of God the Parent, who desires to save all human beings and thus enable them to live the Joyous Life.

God not only created human beings and the world but has always been and will ever be the source of life and the sustainer of all things. The followers refer to God as God the Parent in the sense that God is the original Parent of human beings and, in prayer, glorify God as Tenri-O-no-Mikoto. According to Tenrikyo, “The universe is the body of God.” It is thus said that the world is filled with God the Parent’s workings.

Mutual help among “brothers and sisters”

Tenrikyo teaches that God’s purpose in creating human beings was to take delight in seeing their Joyous Life. The Joyous Life is a state of perfect bliss that comes about when people share the delight of living joyfully and happily while helping one another. In this connection, Tenrikyo teaches, “Through saving others, you will be saved.” In order to realize that perfect world of the Joyous Life, it is of supreme importance to be free from selfish motivations and to awaken to the teaching that we are all brothers and sisters as equal children of God.

Blessings according to the mind

As indicated by the teaching “The human body is a thing borrowed, the mind alone is ours,” the body is not to be regarded as our personal possession but as something we are borrowing from God the Parent, and it is only the mind that can be said to be ours. Everything, whether we see it as fortunate or unfortunate, is considered to come about according to our use of the mind. This is referred to as blessings according to the mind.

God-guided self-reflection

The objective of Tenrikyo is not to be achieved by praying for divine favors for oneself or one’s own family. Rather, the followers of the path seek to bring about the state of perfect bliss wherein all individuals live in joy and harmony through using the mind in accord with God’s intention. On the way to the Joyous Life we may encounter illnesses and problems, but these are seen as God’s guidance to encourage our self-reflection and lead us to the Joyous Life. By prompting us to watch how we use the mind, such situations can turn us in the direction of the Joyous Life.

Sweeping away the dust of the mind

The first verse that the followers sing in the Tenrikyo service is: “Ashiki o harote tasuke tamae, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto (Sweeping away evils, please save us, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto).” It shows Tenrikyo’s attitude toward God’s salvation: namely, we must sweep away ashiki (evils) of our mind—which is to say, replace our self-centered mind—in order to have God bless us with salvation. The ashiki in the mind is also referred to as the dust of the mind, for rather than being something we can do nothing about, it can, like dust, be swept away. Daily effort to dispel errors in the use of the mind—even such slight ones that are, like dust, not easily noticeable—is the foundation for attaining salvation.

Brief History of Tenrikyo and Its Overseas Mission

On April 18, 1798, Oyasama, the Foundress of Tenrikyo, is born. Oyasama was born in Sanmaiden Village, Yamabe County, Yamato Province (presently Tenri City). She married into the Nakayama family, who lived at the location of the Residence of Origin, where the original conception of human beings took place.

At about 8:00 a.m. on October 26 (December 12 by the Gregorian calendar), 1838, Oyasama is settled as the Shrine of God, thus marking the founding of the Teaching. God spoke through the mouth of Oyasama, declaring: “I am God of Origin, God in Truth. There is causality in this Residence. At this time I have descended here to save all humankind. I wish to receive Miki as the Shrine of God.” When Oyasama was settled as the Shrine of God, Her mind was replaced with that of God, thereby enabling Her to convey God’s intention to humankind.

Around this year, 1840, Oyasama begins to give away Her personal belongings as well as Her family’s possessions in order to fall to the depths of poverty.

In 1854 Oyasama begins bestowing the Grant of Safe Childbirth.

In 1864 the Place for the Service, Tenrikyo’s first construction, begins. The construction of the Place for the Service was the first construction project undertaken by the Tenrikyo community and was completed in 1865. Oyasama lived in the north room with the raised floor in the Place for the Service for about ten years until 1875, when She moved to the South Gatehouse. In 1888, when Tenrikyo Church Headquarters was established, an extension was added to the south side of the Place for the Service, thereby enclosing Jiba within the building. This enabled the structure to be used as the Sanctuary until 1911, when it was moved away from Jiba to make room for what is now known as the North Worship Hall.

In 1866 Oyasama begins teaching the Service.

In 1875 Jiba, the place for the Kanrodai, is identified.

In 1880 the Service is performed for the first time with the full set of musical instruments.

On February 18 (January 26 by the lunar calendar), 1887, Oyasama withdraws from physical life.

In 1888 Tenrikyo Church Headquarters is established under the direct supervision of Shinto.

In 1893 Tenrikyo missionaries go to the Korean Peninsula, marking the beginning of the overseas mission.

On September 12, 1897, Taichu Church, the first overseas church, is established in Taiwan.

In 1908 Tenrikyo achieves sectarian independence from Shinto and is officially recognized.

On January 27, 1934, the Mission Headquarters in America is established. On August 26, 1934, the Mission Headquarters in Taiwan is established.

In 1945 the restoration of the teachings and the Service begins after the end of World War II.

On July 31, 1951, the Mission Headquarters in Brazil is established.

On January 1, 1952, the Overseas Mission Department (originally established in 1927) is re-established.

On January 26, 1954, the Mission Headquarters of Hawaii is established.

On February 24, 1966, the Nepal Renrakusho is established.

On July 22, 1970, the Mission Center in Paris (later renamed the Europe Center) is established.

The Mission Center in Colombia and the Mission Center in Singapore are established, respectively, on March 8 and April 18, 1972.

On January 22, 1977, the New York Center is established.

On October 8, 1978, the Mission Center in Hong Kong is established.

On May 10, 1982, the Mission Center in Thailand is established.

The Mission Center in Mexico, the Indonesia Shutchosho, and the Mission Center in the Philippines, are established, respectively, on May 5, November 7, and December 13, 1985.

On July 26, 1997, the Mission Center in Oceania is established.

On May 7, 2000, the UK Center is established.

Faith [represented by selected devotionals]

Mind like Cotton

Oyasama once told the following story of linen, silk and cotton:

“The linen lets the breeze go through freely and does not stick to the skin. Therefore, there is nothing cooler or better to wear in the summer. However, it is too cold to wear in the winter. It is just for the summer. After being worn for about three years, it begins to discolor. If it becomes completely discolored, it is worthless. Even when it is dyed into a darker shade, the color is uneven. When it reaches this stage, it is as useless as waste paper. Silk, whether made into a formal coat or a kimono, is elegant. It is something everybody wants even though it is very expensive. However, do not become a person like silk. It is nice while it is new, but when it gets a little old nothing can be done with it. Now, when it comes to cotton, it is ordinary but is used by everyone. There is nothing that is so handy nor so widely used as cotton. It keeps us warm in the winter and it absorbs our perspiration in the summer. When it becomes dirty, it can be washed over and over again. When its color fades and it becomes so old that it cannot be worn any more, it can be used as a diaper or as a cleaning rag or even as sandals. To be useful until its original form no longer remains: this is cotton. God desires man to have a mind like cotton.”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, no. 26

“A fox urinated into the sea and said, ‘All of the sea is my urine!’” This is a proverb dating from five thousand years ago and written in cuneiform on a clay tablet in ancient Babylonia.

It goes without saying that the sea water cannot entirely be the fox’s urine. The proverb is a satire on those who try to take credit for everything that goes right—which is to say, the sort of people who take credit for everything good and blame others for everything bad. It looks as though some things have remained unchanged since five thousand years ago.

Those who think of themselves as special feel that they cannot descend to doing the same things that others are doing. Actually, others do not want to work with those who have an air of arrogance and who proudly boast about their achievements. These people tend to alienate others, and whatever abilities and skills they may actually possess are likely to go to waste.

Instead of being brilliant, it is acceptable to be ordinary. Like cotton in the story above, being versatile and useful until the very end is one of the keys to attracting people and work to us.

Human happiness comes from being useful, from being of service. The sense of being needed or depended upon by others can be a great source of joy and exhilaration.

We would do well to offer ourselves to Oyasama as instruments of Her work. We will then be provided with perfect work opportunities where we can use the abilities and skills we have. This is a sure-fire way to realize the Joyous Life.

Oyasama

Oyasama once told a follower who had arrived at the Residence after a difficult journey through heavy snow:

“Oh, I am so glad to see you have come. God the Parent lent a hand to bring you home. You had a hard time, slipping at many places. However, you were joyful. Sah, sah, God the Parent accepts fully, fully. Whatever you ask, it is accepted. God protects you. Enjoy it, enjoy it, enjoy it!”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, no. 44

Let us imagine a scene from the past when Oyasama was physically present—a scene where someone is struggling with his illness as well as a difficult and delicate problem he cannot confide to anyone else. He spends many sleepless nights worrying. He is now at his wits’ end.

One day he happens to hear rumors about a god in Yamato—called “Oyasama”—who can save anyone from anything. A faint ray of hope now illuminates the darkness of his mind. “I must see Her,” he says to himself, feeling that this god is his only hope. He sets out on a journey, which may prove difficult and risky. There are no cars or trains, needless to say. Walking is the only way, and it will take several days to reach Yamato Province.

He can only think of Oyasama as he presses on up a steep hill, along a cliff path, across rivers with no bridges, and through trackless forests. As the weather turns atrocious, he carefully treads a narrow path. Looking pale and exhausted, he trudges on.

At last, he arrives at the Residence, where Oyasama welcomes him with open arms and a warm smile. “Welcome home,” She says. “I have been waiting for you. Your true sincerity has been accepted. You will be saved.” She embraces him warmly.

Oyasama’s gentle, radiant smile and warm hands convince him that, even if the whole world turns against him, Oyasama will always be on his side and that She understands everything he goes through.

He experiences overwhelming joy and elation. The next thing he knows is that he is healed both physically and emotionally. He feels, “So long as Oyasama is with me, I can go through any situation.”

In fact, there were many who had experiences similar to what our imaginary scene depicts and were thereby able to overcome the challenges they had faced.

Warmth and Love

Once a little boy of five or six who had dislocated his right wrist was brought to the Residence by his grandmother, and Oyasama said to him:

“Welcome home, dear.”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, no. 103

Childhood is a time when the values of social responsibility and caring for others are learned in a loving and affectionate environment. An atmosphere of peace and trust is also conducive to the cultivation of a genuine spirit of inquiry.

Those deprived of love in childhood may not develop a tolerant and accepting attitude toward others. Those whose childhood innocence is betrayed may be plagued by fear and doubt throughout their lives and may find it hard to feel positive about life. Every child should be able to grow up in a caring and nurturing atmosphere.

How tender and warm Oyasama’s gaze must have felt as the boy with a dislocated wrist sat in front of Her! Those who met Her when they were children never forgot the sense of warmth and love emanating from Her.

Her Divine Model is the epitome of purity and beauty. If you patiently tell children the story of how She lived, they will listen intently and will love Her.

The Divine Model will provide them with an invaluable spiritual resource, which will help them find hope in the face of even the most insurmountable challenge.

Freedom of Mind

Oyasama once told a young man who was visiting Her for the first time in order to thank Her for saving him:

“Go through life without erring. As long as you do not err, in the end, your happiness will exceed all bounds.”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, no. 103

We are like a sailboat that is navigating the ocean.

We cannot change the direction of the wind or current. Sometimes we may encounter a storm or be carried off course by a strong current. We are trying hard to adjust the sail so as to avoid shipwreck. In this analogy, the sail refers to the mind.

Handling the sail—or the mind—can be tricky and requires skill. Sometimes the mind may become anxious and impatient. It might fall prey to temptation. It may suddenly react to a situation with a strong emotion and throw us off balance, just as a sail hit by a sudden strong gust of wind may capsize the boat.

We all like to enjoy ourselves. Our mind likes the experience of delight and joy. One may say that a life without joy is not worth living. This is because we humans were created for the express purpose of living a life filled with joy and wonder. The tricky part is that the mind can easily forget moderation and wallow in pleasure. Self-indulgence can lead to a setback. Our mind may run wild as we indulge in food and drink, shopping, gambling, love affairs, and so forth. We might end up ruining our mind and body, as well as our family and social lives.

That is why Oyasama taught moderation. It is not to be seen as a precept or prohibition. Her path does not provide any specific guidelines for what or how much is allowed. This path respects our freedom of mind and individual autonomy. What moderation does is help us to appreciate what we are blessed with for what it is and to find joy in it without getting caught up in it. Moderation allows us to understand what sufficiency means and to develop our self-discipline; moderation enriches our lives in the process.

Our life’s journey is full of possibilities. We would do well to learn how to adjust the sail so that we can catch the wind and enjoy the freedom of sailing on the open ocean.

The Long Way Around

Oyasama once said to someone who had come asking for help after having been to many places to pray:

“You have come the long way around. What a pity! You could have met all those gods if only you had come here.”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, no. 10

Let’s take a moment to consider how people generally come to embrace Tenrikyo.

Do people compare the teachings of different religions and choose Tenrikyo after finding its teachings better than other religions? Those who do so might turn out to be fewer than expected. The main reason why people become followers may rarely come from the relative merits of the teachings.

In fact, many people seem to believe that they have been drawn to the path by the everliving Oyasama.

Rather than saying, “I decided to embrace Tenrikyo,” it might be more accurate to say, “Oyasama guided me to the path.”

Even those who believe that they chose to follow Tenrikyo after comparing the relative merits of different faiths may have been guided to it by Oyasama, who had made elaborate arrangements to enable that to happen. It might just be that they are unaware of it.

The everliving Oyasama’s invisible hand may be behind the fact that one is following this path now.

Why Bother with Faith?

Oyasama once told a follower:

“Virtue is more deeply planted in the second generation than in the first one, and deeper still in the third than in the second. By becoming ever deeper, it will become virtue which lasts forever.”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, no. 123

To you, who have just turned fifteen, from your father:

Happy birthday! Let me take this opportunity to tell you why I have faith.

You might perhaps think that having faith is outdated and irrelevant to your life. I must confess that, when I was your age, I had a negative attitude toward my parents’ faith. I assumed that faith was for the weak, for those who could not face reality. I used to think, “I believe in my own abilities, and I can build a life for myself without relying on God.”

But then I encountered a number of difficulties. Despite my occasional big talk, I make many mistakes, and I fall prey to temptation. Once, I was so fed up that I tried to kill myself. My mother (that is to say, your grandmother) stepped in just in time to save me and earnestly told me about Oyasama. Her story spoke to my heart. Although I had known about Oyasama, She had only been like a character in a fairy tale. On that occasion, however, She was real. I felt Her loving gaze on me and was in tears with gratitude. I felt from the bottom of my heart, “Oyasama is here with me.”

When you think about it, it seems arrogant to think that we live by our own power. It is certainly not by our own power that we came into this world. Faith is not for the weak. On the contrary, no matter how tough things become, those of us who have faith do not run away from reality or try to find someone to blame. Instead, we face the situation head-on, perceiving God’s deep intention behind it. We keep moving forward in a positive way toward whatever may lie ahead. Faith is a brave way of living.

Had it not been for Oyasama, my life would have ended on the occasion I mentioned. I would not have met your mother, nor would you have been born. Please do not forget that it is thanks to Oyasama that we can live as we do. The reason I try to convey the path to you is that it is the key to happiness.

This is what I wanted to tell you for so long. I was waiting for this day.

Loving-Kindness

Oyasama once told a follower shortly after he began to follow the path:

“Become a person with a gentle heart.”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, no. 123

There may be times when, after receiving a negative comment from someone we know, we feel so angry that we can barely contain ourselves. We might think of getting back at that person.

Yet responding coldly, for instance, would not lead to positive results. Instead, that would leave a sour aftertaste that could even remain for life. It might do irreparable damage to our relationship with the person. We might end up wallowing in misery and hatred. It is astonishing how many people make irreversible mistakes out of anger, hatred, and resentment and, consequently, throw away their lives.

What about Oyasama?

No matter what persecution came Her way, She never condemned Her persecutors, let alone thought of revenge.

In fact, the contrary was the case. On one occasion, for example, She offered a meal to the arresting policeman. On another occasion, after being ill-treated at a police station, She tried to buy a cake for a policeman on guard who looked bored.

If we think of Her Divine Model, hurtful words that are about to come out of our mouth can remain unspoken. Anger and hatred can subside, allowing us to find the power to free ourselves from cruel thinking.

Oyasama saves us from making potentially disastrous choices that might throw us into an abyss of despair. The Divine Model protects us as we hear Her words echo in our hearts: “Become a person with a gentle heart.”

Buds Sprout from Knots

Oyasama often said:

“Buds sprout from knots.”

The Life of Oyasama, p. 142

There are times when things go so wrong that we feel at a loss as to what to do next.

At such times, we begin to see who we really are. For example, we might realize that we were arrogant enough to believe that we had all the answers and to look down on others. We might notice how weak we actually are or how devious or pathetic we can be. When going through a tough time, we have an opportunity to come face to face with ourselves, really getting to know ourselves. Difficulties help cleanse our mind.

Knowing that we are weak gives us strength. Once we see ourselves as we really are, we do not fall further down. We only fall when we lose touch with ourselves and become blind to the world around us.

When something happens that is hard and painful to go through, there is nothing wrong with struggling emotionally or physically. We would do well to fully experience the impact of the event. Everything we encounter in life is allowed by God to happen for a reason. The difficult experiences we have will not be wasted as they give us emotional and spiritual nourishment and strength that will support us in our lives. Ultimately, it is God the Parent who provides knots of difficulties for us to work through and then helps us deal with them as well as enables fine buds to sprout from them.

When faced with a crisis, we summon up the kind of strength that we never imagined we possessed. Even if we seem vulnerable in some respects, we can turn out to be much stronger than expected. We should not be vain about our abilities, but we are not weak enough to have to despair. God has endowed us with sufficient strength to withstand and overcome difficult, challenging situations. Just when it looks as though we might be crushed by life’s troubles, our life-energy enables us to bounce back.

When encountering a difficulty, some people often feel discouraged, perceiving it as another burden on them. Yet we all have the capacity to rise to the occasion. We can see the difficulty as a welcome challenge—as a knot from which new buds can sprout.

Even after being backed into a corner, we can stay connected to Oyasama and summon the strength to stand up. Difficulties help us break through our imagined limitations as the sincerity that we exert to deal with them takes us to higher levels of personal growth.

Oyasama went through any and all situations joyously and in high spirits, saying, “Buds sprout from knots,” thereby demonstrating the Divine Model. When a crucial moment is at hand for us, She will certainly be there to help, support, and encourage us.

Mind of a Three-Year-Old

Oyasama once gave Her great-grandson Sotaro Kajimoto a tangerine segment after removing the white pith, opening the segment, and turning it inside out. She placed it on Sotaro’s finger, saying:

“The kite cries ‘toh, toh,’ and the crow, ‘caw, caw.’”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, no. 192

This scene vividly portrays Oyasama’s disarming, unaffected demeanor.

Oyasama loves children. Children love Her, too.

Young children exude a refreshingly dazzling innocence.

Yet their innocence can easily be lost if some malicious person sows unwelcome ideas into their minds. Their innocence is vulnerable because of their lack of experience in the world.

On the other hand, there is a different kind of innocence in those who have been through the highs and lows of life—those who, after being driven to their wits’ end by the adversities of life, found a way forward by embracing faith in Oyasama. Having faced and overcome life’s challenges, they have been strengthened and transformed. Their innocence is rock solid and cannot be destroyed by any words anyone says. As they live sincerely each day, their faith crystallizes into something that may be referred to as the “mind of a three-year-old.”

Like a spring breeze, Oyasama’s deep, pure smile must have swept away the mists of hopelessness and let light flood into the hearts of those who came to ask for help and salvation.

Chestnut Bur

Oyasama once said to a follower

“The bur of the chestnut is rough and prickly. Take away the bur and inside it there is a shell and then there is a bitter coating. Shell it, then peel the coating, and you will find a tasty nut. If a man listens to the truth and discards his bur and his bitter coating, his mind will become indescribably delicious.”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, no. 77

A western is on TV when you turn on your set. Even though you are not watching it from the beginning, you can easily tell who the good guy is and who the bad guy is by the actors’ makeup. In terms of their behavior, too, the villain is genuinely sinister with no redeeming features, and the hero is one hundred percent good.

If things were so simple and clear-cut, it would be easy to understand the world we live in. Yet the reality is far from straightforward. Someone who looks like a true man of integrity may turn out to have a hidden, dark side. On the other hand, someone who seems selfish and uncaring may actually have a good, pure heart.

In fact, people’s personalities themselves can change dramatically in response to what others do and how they behave. There are times when we are left speechless as someone snaps at us for no apparent reason. It is almost as if a delicious looking peach suddenly began to grow a prickly bur!

The bur of a mind is the residue of past hurts and pains that the person has endured. It is a defense mechanism that the vulnerable mind has developed to protect itself against what it sees as threats. This means that it would be counterproductive to try to forcibly open someone’s bur. That would make it even harder and pricklier.

If we want someone to be a sweet fruit, we must ourselves become a sweet fruit. That may be the only way.

Those who met Oyasama felt their hearts fill with love and kindness. Touched by Her warmth, the deepest and most beautiful part of each person begins to pour forth.

Activities

Healthcare

Helping those suffering from illnesses

Tenri Yorozu-sodansho Foundation

Tenri Yorozu-sodansho Foundation was established in 1935 in order to explore all possible means to relieve human suffering, while retaining the Tenrikyo teachings as the fundamental basis. It was mainly concerned with medical treatment, counseling, and addressing issues relating to social welfare. This foundation steadily grew larger and, in 1966, made a new start when it established Ikoi-no-Ie Hospital in the Home of the Parent. Comprising the Medical Treatment Department, the Religious Guidance Department, and the Service Department, the 900-bed hospital seeks to make a contribution to the realization of the Joyous Life through the close collaboration between medicine and religion.

Social Welfare

Universal brotherhood and mutual help

Based on the teachings of universal brotherhood and mutual help, Tenrikyo has been conducting social welfare activities since the early years of its history. The start of Tenrikyo’s social welfare activities was marked by the 1910 establishment of Tenrikyo Yotokuin (now Tenri Yotokuin) Children’s Home. At the time of the opening of the children’s home, the first Shinbashira composed the following verse: “Loving the children of others in the same way you love your own, please nurture them accordingly, followers of this path.” This verse has since been promoted as the guiding principle for Tenrikyo’s social welfare activities.

Tenrikyo’s social welfare work has expanded to include a wide variety of activities focused on addressing social problems in modern society. For example, Tenrikyo takes an active role in fostering children, organizes blood donation drives, takes care of people who are afflicted by leprosy, and provides alcohol abuse counseling services. In an effort to respond to problems confronting an aging society with a declining birth rate, Tenrikyo followers have been actively carrying out hinokishin activities at social welfare facilities. Striving to nurture and train missionaries who will engage in salvation activities for people struggling to cope with physical, psychological, or social problems, Hinokishin School was established in 1980.

Education

Nurturing people to realize the Joyous Life World

Tenri University Corporation

Tenri University Corporation manages a number of educational institutions ranging from a kindergarten to a university. These institutions provide regular school education as prescribed by the School Education Law of Japan as well as religious education based on the Tenrikyo teachings. They seek to educate people in such a way that they may play active roles in society in the future, not only in Japan but also overseas, making a contribution to the realization of the Joyous Life.

Tenri Seminary

Tenri Seminary was established in 1900 in order to train and educate Tenrikyo ministers. After undergoing a number of reorganizations, it now comprises the Graduate Seminary (research program and practical training program) and the Junior Seminary.

Tenrikyo Language Institute

Tenrikyo Language Institute (TLI) was established in 1994 in order to meet the growing needs of Tenrikyo’s overseas mission. TLI offers an intensive one-year language instruction at the Japanese Language Department (for students from overseas). In addition, TLI has the Oyasato Fusekomi Department for Yoboku from overseas who will become future leaders in Tenrikyo’s mission around the world.

List of Tenrikyo schools in Tenri

Tenri Kindergarten (www.tenri-k.ed.jp)

Tenri Elementary School (www.tenri-e.ed.jp)

Tenri Junior High School (www.tenri-j.ed.jp)

Tenri High School

Day Course (www.tenri-h.ed.jp)

Evening Course (www.tenri-h.ed.jp/2bu)

Tenri Kyoko Gakuen High School (www.tenri-kyg.ac.jp)

Tenri University (www.tenri-u.ac.jp）

Tenrikyo Language Institute (kaigai.tenrikyo.or.jp/tli/top)

Tenri Seminary

Tenri Health Care University (www.tenriyorozu-u.ac.jp) 

News [representative article from Tenrikyo Online]

April 2024 Monthly Service

The April Monthly Service of Tenrikyo Church Headquarters was performed on the 26th in the Main Sanctuary, with Successor-Designate Daisuke Nakayama serving as chief officiant on behalf of the Shinbashira.

In the Service prayer, Rev. Nakayama first expressed gratitude to God the Parent for nurturing all of us throughout the world out of the desire to see us grow spiritually. Continuing, he said, “As all of us Service performers as well as church head ministers and other Yoboku seek to progress toward the Joyous Life World so desired by God the Parent, church head ministers are determined to take the initiative to become spirited and work in unity of mind with Yoboku connected to their churches to fulfill their mission as Oyasama’s instruments in high spirits.”

The prayer was followed by the joyous performance of the Kagura Service and the Dance with Hand Movements. After the Service performance, Honbu-in Hiroo Nagao took the podium to deliver the sermon.

Speaking about Oyasama’s falling into the depths of poverty, Rev. Nagao said that we can find in it a “boundless kindness” that has no concern for Herself or Her family. Noting how Her actions were consistent throughout the fifty years of Her Divine Model, he said, “This ‘boundless kindness’ is the essential basis for us to advance on the path of single-hearted salvation.”

Rev. Nagao moved on to talk about Shuyoka, the Spiritual Development Course, which is set to celebrate its 1,000th session this October. He said that Shuyoka places great emphasis on “enriching the classes” and “promoting the administration of the Sazuke” as well as on guiding students through discussions and homeroom sessions to help them learn how to put the teachings into practice. Noting how the environment plays a crucial role in nurturing the students until they feel thankful for the blessings of God, Rev. Nagao said that there are numerous occasions in Shuyoka where they can develop a sense of gratitude for what we might usually take for granted.

Rev. Nagao went on to say that providing care and guidance to nurture someone only succeeds when Church Headquarters and churches—whose truths are a single breath—work in unity of mind. He then encouraged the listeners to capture the season and continue to invite as many people as possible to attend Shuyoka.

Toward the end of his sermon, Rev. Nagao spoke about Tenrikyo Hinokishin Day, which was to be observed on the 29th. He concluded his sermon by saying, “Let us all spiritedly engage in hinokishin on that day with a sense of gratitude to express our appreciation for God the Parent’s complete providence in our bodies and the world around us.”