TENRIKYO - The Path to the Joyous Life
INTRODUCTION - 8/28/01
WHAT IS TENRIKYO?
- What are Tenrikyo's basic teachings? by Roy Forbes
- Tenrikyo [Wikipedia]
- Tenrikyo Search Engine
BASIC TEACHINGS
As you may recall the first words of God the Parent were:
"I am the Creator, 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 have Miki as the Shrine of God."
God the Parent
The God, whom we call God the Parent, is named Tenri-O-no-Mikoto. God the Parent is the Creator of human beings and the universe, hence God is our Parent and we are all brothers and sisters, as God's children. According to the Truth of Creation, God created human beings in order that God might enjoy seeing us live a joyous life. The joyous life is God's will and it is also the goal of human beings.
Jiba
"There is causality in this Residence," - by residence is meant the Nakayama residence, where the present Main Sanctuary of the Mother Church is situated in what is now called Tenri City. The reason God selected this residence was because it is the spot where the first human beings were conceived by God. We call it Jiba.
In our divine revelations, it reads:
"At this place the Jiba, I created all human beings of the world. XVII:7
I set up the Kanrodai as the evidence that I created human beings at this place. XVII:9
Jiba is the center of worship and a sacred stand called the Kanrodai is erected to symbolize creation and to mark the exact spot. The sanctuary is built around it so that people can worship from all four sides.
The name Jiba, also refers to the surrounding area where church headquarters are situated including, church buildings, schools, Tenri University, a large library, orphanage, dormitories, etc. are located. Since Jiba is our origin, when we go to Jiba, we say that we are going "back" to Jiba. When we arrive there, the people there say, "Welcome back" or "welcome home." Another name for Jiba is Oyasato or Parental Home.
Time
The next sentence: "At this time I have appeared in this world in person to save all mankind." "At this time" means October 26, 1838, a preordained time. In the past, God sent great religious leaders to teach and guide human beings. However, at this preordained time God appeared in person, to save humankind from sufferings and troubles and to attain joyous life. By using Miki Nakayama as a living shrine, God appeared in person. Therefore what the Foundress said and wrote are the words of God. Although the Foundress looked like any ordinary person outwardly, within Her dwelt God the Parent.
"These thoughts of Tsukihi are spoken through Her:
the mouth is human, the mind is that of Tsukihi.
(Tsukihi, literally means Moon-Sun, but it refers to God)
Listen! I, Tsukihi, am borrowing Her mouth wholly, And I, Tsukihi, am lending My mind wholly.
The Foundress taught not only by Her mouth and "writing brush," but also by Her example. The fifty years of Her life after founding Tenrikyo are referred to as Oyasama's Divine Model. Tenrikyo followers try to follow Her Divine Model, which is always their source of inspiration and guidance.
