Your Words Have Power! – November 2020

Good morning and Aloha.  I would like to thank all of you for taking the time to attend the November Monthly Service here at Pearl Church and thank you for your kind and sincere offerings. And I would like to thank those who have joined us on the live streaming today as well as joining our morning and evening services. Thank you very much. I am sure God the Parent and Oyasama is really happy to see you all here today and to have performed the service with joy and in high spirits!


Let share a funny story: My cheerful friend posted on Facebook that she tested negative for coronavirus.  I commented, “Really? Normally you’re so positive!”

Your Words Have Power!
For the past 3 months uppermost in everyone’s mind is the Coronavirus Pandemic and the Presidential Election.
The election is over and now Joe Biden is the new President of the US. Those of us who wanted him to win are happy and those of us who wanted the other candidate to win are probably unhappy.  Whoever wins, it shouldn’t matter if our faith is strong.

But now that the election is over, the nation is focused on the pandemic and the economy.

As of November 1 the world has almost 47Mil cases and 1,200,000 deaths.  With 34Mil recovered and 12 Mil still infected. There’s a 7-day moving average of 500K new cases daily and 6,500 deaths.

The US has 9,500,000 cases, 236k deaths, 6Mil recovered and 3Mil still infected.
The US new cases 7-day average is 82,700 and is increasing. The US new deaths 7-day average is 851 and is increasing with the last 3 days averaging over 1,000 deaths.

No matter who is president, the coronavirus pandemic will still be with us for a long time. So it’s up to us how we are going to help control the virus. Of course, wearing face masks, maintaining our social distance and washing our hands are important, but even more important is how we as Tenrikyo followers must take advantage of this important opportunity to not only keep our strong faith but also to spread the joy of faith to those around us. Our faith, our positive attitudes and the power of our words.

One of the Tenrikyo ministers on the mainland shared an encounter with someone who moved to San Francisco from New York who always stood in line to purchase a cup of coffee.  She noticed all the customers make a cheerful greeting during their transaction.  She felt it was a waste of time and didn’t bother.  She felt guilty about it because she was the only one not saying anything. So one day she started saying, “Hi, how are you?” She felt such joy that it transformed her.  Just a few words changed her whole outlook on life.

On this earth, there is a wide variety of living creatures.  From reptiles to the gigantic whales.  Among the many animals, humans are the only ones with language.  This is a wonderful gift that God gave us to live happily, peacefully and help each other.  However, there is a proverb that says, “Words can be the source of great harm.”  Sometimes without us realizing it, just a word can break up a relationship.

  • A single word can lead to a squabble
  • A single word can help people make up with each other.
  • A single word can hurt our feelings.
  • A single word can make us laugh.
  • A single word can make us cry.
  • A single word can express love.
  • Cherishing a single word.  Enriching a single word.

Many times we forget what we have said, but we get hurt by what someone else said to us and we start holding grudges against that person and say we will never forget that word that person said.  It seems like we easily forget what we say to others, but we remember those bad things that people say to us.  Just a few words can break or destroy a good relationship.

In the Ofudesaki, it says:

Listen carefully: whatever you may say or think,
or wherever you may say or think, V: 87

I shall give a return just as you deserve.
Beware, all of you, for God may withdraw! V: 88

Explanation: No matter how far away you think you might be, whether in a deep forest or the other side of a large ocean…no matter what we say or think, God the Parent will give a return exactly as we say or think.  When our words or thoughts are not in accord to God’s will, God may withdraw at once. No matter what we say or think, will come back to us accordingly.

Choice of words:
As we learn of Oyasama’s 50-year Divine Model, Oyasama always said, “that is good, that is good.”  Always saying appreciative words.

In the Anecdotes of Oyasama #21

That’s All to the Good

Five years from the time Chushichi Yamanaka had embraced the faith, a heavy rain had fallen continuously for many days. The river overflowed here and there, rice fields were washed out and houses were carried away. Chushichi suffered heavy losses. A landslide on his mountain property buried many large trees. Also, his rice fields of approximately ninety ares* were washed out.

People in his village had been deriding Chushichi’s faith and immediately seized the opportunity to heap all sorts of abuses on him, saying,

“Look at him! What a fool he is? Stupid one!”
 Feeling chagrined at what the villagers said, Chushichi visited Oyasama in the Residence and explained the situation to Her. Oyasama told him:

“Sah, sah, that’s all to the good. That’s all to the good. Now that your goods have been carried away to the bottom of the sea, it will come to good in the future. You may wonder why your fields and hills were washed out in spite of your faith, but you must accept the situation with a heart of gratitude. You must do so. That will come to good in the future.”

There are Four Kinds of Speech That Lead to Happiness

In Tenrikyo when we worship, we clap our hands four times, and I personally interpret this to mean that there are four kinds of speech that leads to happiness. The clapping of our hands can be likened to two people coming face-to-face and, from this, I think that there are four kinds of speech that can bring happiness to each other. (In Japanese, the number four is “shi,” and the action of coming face to face is “awase.” The combination of these two words, shiawase, can mean “happiness.”) An appropriate English translation might be “Four Ways to Meet.”

In Wikipedia (online encyclopedia) the Japanese word “kotodama” refers to the Japanese belief that mystical powers dwell in words and names.  The meaning includes “the soul and power of language. Whatever we say or think will come back to us.

The four kinds of speech at will lead to happiness are:

  1. The first kind is greetings. Giving a greeting is a first step in building good relationships: “Good morning,” “Hi, how are you?”.
  2. The second kind is words of appreciation, for example, “Thank you,” “I appreciate that.”
  3. The third kind is apology. We would do well to make a genuine apology when we are wrong. Although it may be difficult to admit our own fault or mistake, let us say words of apology from our heart, which helps keep our mind humble. “I’m sorry.”
  4. The last one is words of request. Ever since we were born, all of us have been cared for, loved, and helped by others. There is no way anyone could live alone. That is one reason why we need to ask for help from other people. “Could you help me.”

I would like all of us to realize the Joyous Life through using these four kinds of speech that lead to happiness in our relationships, starting with people close to us such as family.

Language or speech is a precious gift given to us. If we do not speak at all, speech cannot serve as nourishment in our life. If we remain silent, we cannot make our intention clear to others. It is important to make full use of our ability to speak so that our words will enrich our daily life while ensuring that we can live in joy and harmony, helping one another in all matters.

After 10 months, the coronavirus pandemic is still raging around us especially here in the U.S. Let us not miss the opportunity to reflect on the importance and power of our words and resolve to say a few simple words of greeting and gratitude to the people around us. Take the initiative to live your happy life and ultimately the joyous life for all!

Monthly Service March Sermon 2020

Pre-service talk: As most of you know the novel coronavirus is spreading throughout the world, let us take this time of performing the monthly service to give thanks for our relatively good health, pray for those infected with this disease and that a cure and vaccine can be developed as soon as possible. This monthly service is the service for universal salvation, let us put our hearts together in unity of mind to pray for the Joyous Life, not only for ourselves, but for everyone in the world.

Post Service Sermon

Good morning and Aloha! I would like to thank all of you for taking the time to attend the March Service here at Pearl Church and thank you for your kind and sincere offerings.  I am sure God the Parent and Oyasama is really happy to see you all here today and to have performed the service with joy and in high spirits!

 As I mentioned at the start of the service, the novel coronavirus also known as COVID 19, is rapidly spreading throughout the world.  Originating in Wuhan, China the disease has spread to 84 countries with over 100,000 cases increasing by an average of 1500 new cases every day.

 There was a shortage of face masks due to widespread hoarding. And even in Hawaii the Governor was saying to be prepared by storing 2 weeks supply of food and essentials.  The next day there was panic buying of water and toilet paper.  I went to Costco on the following Saturday to buy toilet paper just in case.  There was a lot of traffic and a lot of people buying toilet paper.  By the time I got to the toilet paper area, it was all gone!

 The whole city of Wuhan with a population of 11 million and 15 other cities in Hubei province are quarantined, meaning that no one can go in or out of the city and the whole province of Hubei

 Taeko’s portion

 What is God’s intention behind the Corona virus pandemic?

About 200 years ago during Oyasama’s physical presence there was a cholera epidemic in Japan in which 100,000 people died.

 And about 100 years ago there was the Spanish flu pandemic in which 30 million people died.

 And early this year the novel coronavirus is spreading all over the world.

 In the Ofudesaki 

The world is saying that it is cholera,
but it is Tsukihi informing you of the regret.

Ofudesaki XIV: 22

 This means that God is showing us a great regret, in God’s eyes.  If you think of it as an illness it’s a shallow way of thinking.

Whatever is done, is done by Tsukihi.
Whatever happens, know that it is not an illness.

Ofudesaki XIV: 20

“No matter what happens,” whatever epidemic, this is what God is showing us.  Whatever kind of bodily disorder, it is not an illness.  This is nothing but the parental love of God in which God wants to lead us toward the Joyous Life.

Whatever I do to the body,
it is not an illness but the care of Tsukihi.

XIV: 21

 This is how God is correcting how we use our mind. 

Because the world does not know this truth,
everyone sinks only deeper into . 

XIV: 26 

This Truth,” is the purpose of human creation. God wants to see us helping each other, live a happy life and God share in that becoming joyful in seeing us live happily.

 Because we human beings do not know of God’s purpose in our creation, we become depressed.

 In the present Coronavirus pandemic, people are fearful of becoming infected.

 In the Ofudesaki we read: 

With you humans, also, your children are dear to you.
Think of this and ponder, please.

XIV: 34

We all love our children. God the sParent loves all human beings in the same way. 

Day after day, the concern of the Parent
is only about the means to save you.

XIV: 35

 Because God loves us so much, God is always trying to help us all. God always wants us to be happy and live joyously. Then what does God the Parent want us to do to become happy and live joyously? 

 In seeking the answer to this question, we must become open and obedient to what God is trying to teach us.  We need to become obedient in putting into practice the words of God.

If we close our minds and reject the Teaching, then it’s going to be difficult to be saved.

So God shows us through our sickness and problems to improve our use of mind.

It’s just a personal experience story but our daughter, Annabella at about 10 years old used to deliver the Hawaii Hochi Japanese language newspaper every day.  So every day after school, she delivered this newspaper.  We were telling her to put the helmet on when she rides her bike on her deliveries, especially during the late afternoon busy traffic time.  She wasn’t obedient and didn’t want to wear her helmet because it was inconvenient and it didn’t look good.  As parents we were so concerned about her safety that we told her strongly that she couldn’t ride her bike if she didn’t wear her helmet.  So reluctantly she started to wear it.  A few days later, a neighbor called to say that our daughter had a little accident. Apparently she made a sudden stop going down a steep slope causing her to go over the front of the bike injuring her little finger which was at a 90 degree angle to her hand.  Needless to say I was so shocked to see our little daughter’s finger in such an unnatural position!  We took her to emergency and the doctor said that there were no broken bones so he simply forced her finger back into position. Needless to say, it wasn’t painless! He said that she would be alright in a few weeks. I’m sure we were blessed with God the Parent’s protection.  After coming home from the emergency room, we found a small rock embedded at the top of Annabella’s helmet and told Annabella that this rock could have injured her head if she didn’t wear her helmet.  It was a good lesson in safety and listening to your parents.

Through this coronavirus, God is sending us a strong message… that we are approaching a dangerous situation in our human thinking and actions. When we look at the world today with pollution in the environment, wars and conflict, we need to reflect on our daily use of mind and make positive efforts to get rid of our selfish thinking.  How can we get rid of our self-centered thinking?  It is through the Service for universal salvation.  Are we going to be obedient in making efforts to perform the service or are we going to reject it? The choice is up to us.

Whatever may happen, there will be nothing to fear,
depending on your mind of sincerity.

XIV: 49

January Grand Service 2019

Aloha and Happy New Year Pearl Church Ohana!

This month we are commemorating Oyasama’s 133rd Anniversary since Her withdrawal from physical life. That’s why it’s called the January Grand Service rather than monthly service.

In the events leading to Oyasama’s physical “withdrawal” the followers were confronted with the dilemma of following Oyasama’s direction to perform the service and the threat of Her arrest if they did perform service due to government persecution.

Oyasama then explained the order of the universe and the followers were then able to be resolved in following Her wish to perform the service.

With the same resolve, please join us in performing the Salvation Service for the Joyous Life World.

Tenrikyo Pearl Church
1634 10th Avenue
Honolulu, Hawaii

Sunday, January 13, 2019
10:00 a.m.

Rev. Owen and Taeko Nakao

October Grand Service Sermon 2018

“Make a Resolution before making a request to God”

Tenrikyo started in October 26th in1838 which is 181 years ago of this month,
Our Foundress, MIKI NAKAYAMA married to Zenyemon Nakayama who was the village head.

When Miki was 41 years old, God the Parent spoke through her mouth saying,

“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.”

Tsukihi means God the Parent, Shrine means where God resides.

At the age of 90, She withdrew from physical life, yet remains alive now and forever at the Residence of Origin, with the portals open, protecting humankind day and night and shedding HER infinite, parental love on each of us.

We are celebrating the 100th year of Tenrikyo Young Men’s Assn. this October 28th. Also there are many events happening on the eve of the festival too. Lewis, Lucas and myself are going to join these events.

We are often taught that when we are in trouble to ask God for blessing. However, it’s not enough to just ask. We need to make a resolution or make promise to God, and follow through on your resolution. For instance giving up something you are attached with.

I met this woman (in her 80’s) who shared me an interesting story of her mother by receiving a wonderful blessing through making a resolution to God.

This woman, I shall call her Mrs. A. She’s from Japan, met a local guy, and married him. They started a new life here in this island. Both had previous marriages. About 10 years after their marriage, her mother in Japan fell critically ill and was in coma in the hospital.

Since her mother always used to say she wants to die in her own bed her brothers and sisters asked the doctor if they could take her home. However it is very dangerous to move her now, the doctor said and prescribed a complete rest for her.

Mrs. A talked to her brother and sisters in Japan that by all means she wants to take her back home to fulfill her desire.

However, she lived far away in Hawaii and wanted to ask God for help. She asked her husband to find a church to worship for her mother. Her husband had an acquaintance who was a member of a Tenrikyo church, and they were introduced to the minister of his church. Mrs. A earnestly asked the minister to help her mother come home and be able to die in her bed.

The importance of making a resolution.

The minister responded “If you really want to fulfill your mom’s desire, give up something that you are really attached to. Mrs. A was a smoker and was smoking 5 packs a day. She smoked 50 cigarettes every day! It was hard for her to stop smoking. When she attempt to stop, her hands started shaking. Because it was for her mom’s sake, from that day she made a resolution not to smoke at all. She donated her last tobacco to God the Parent.

A special service was conducted for 21days. On the morning of 21st day, Mrs. A called Japan to find out how her mother was doing. The answer was “Nothing has changed.” Again that afternoon, after the last prayer service was done, she called Japan to find out. To everyone’s amazement, they told her their mother opened her mouth and uttered “I am hungry.” Her family gave her three sips of water, and since then she started to eat well. She ended up living for 5 more years in a good health and passed away peacefully in her bed.

Make a resolution and practice the teachings. I am sure we will receive miraculous blessings.

I believe that by making that resolution to quit smoking cigarettes, in addition to her mother, Mrs. A was herself also saved from poor health from heavy smoking.

Since then, she worked very hard for the church Hinokishin.

In another story shared the by late Rev. Sakichi Ono in his book called, “I Saw God Through Saving Others.” (Ref. Otasuke no Naka ni Kami o Mita, Doyusha Publishing Co. p. 167-169).

“…every morning a man came to our mission station asking God for help. …many people come asking God through prayers to be cured. This, in fact, is not to receive blessings.

Oyasama taught us that to receive a “priceless blessing,” we must sow a seed such that we can reap an appropriate harvest. The seed is our sincerity. We need to exert an effort that will show our boundless sincerity. With this sincerity you will reap a blessing. This is what true faith is about. (p. 169)

For instance, for those of us who want to receive a blessing, we need to give up something that we have an attachment to, like smoking or drinking. And keep it as promise to God. This will be your payment of sincerity from the core of your heart. If you accomplish this goal, you will surely receive a blessing.

“One day, a man came with his child on his back. The boy about 7 or 8 years old, had asthma, who has been suffering for many years. When the boy has an attack, he starts to cough which seems as if he can hardly breath. As a parent, it’s difficult to watch his son’s suffering. The father said, “I cannot bear to see my son’s suffering. Please help.” Rev. Ono said to the father, “I understand you’re having a hard time. But in order to receive a blessing from God the Parent, you as a parent must make a resolution, a promise to God and offer or follow through on the resolution you have made. What kind of resolution you think you can make.?

The father was so astonished and said, “Aaaaah.” Then Rev. Ono said, “What is your most favorite thing.”

He answered that he loves to drink.
Rev. Ono, then said, “Why don’t you quit drinking. Then used what you have saved to make offerings to God. If you can make a promise to God then I can administer the prayer to your son.

The father said he tried to quit so many times, but he couldn’t. He said, “I will stop heavy drinking and reduce it to one or two cups a day. How’s that?

If you cannot make a resolution, your child cannot be saved. Then the father finally decided to make a promise to quit his drinking. Rev. Ono then administered the Sazuke.

This child who had been wheezing for many years finally received a complete blessing.

Making and keeping your resolution with God will be the basis for receiving the most wonderful and marvelous blessing.

After 10 years passed, Rev. Ono happened to see this boy who was healthy and well.

In the Osashizu, we read:

“With human beings; the body is a thing borrowed. The mind alone is yours. From just one mind, any kind of truth will appear daily. I accept any kind of truth. You must understand the truth of free and unlimited workings.
Osashizu, 2/14/1899

In the Mikaguta-uta Song Three we sing:

Sixth, Never make an unreasonable prayer!
Come to Me with a single mind!

We have learned that when we ask God for a blessing, we need to make a resolution or promise to God and we will be bestowed that blessing.

Announcements

  1. Thank you for donating your deposit containers in our continuing fund drive.
  2. I will be returning to Jiba on October 20th to attend the Tengen Grand Service, CHQ Grand Service and also participate in the Tengen Jiba Pilgrimage. Also Lewis and Lucas will be returning to Jiba to attend the YMA 100th Anniversary Convention on 10/28.
  3. The MHQ Grand service will be held this coming Sunday on October 14.
  4. There will be no BGA Fun Night for UNICEF this year. However, the BGA will still be conducting the UNICEF collection drive. Please take one or two for work and home and join in the drive to assist those children in disaster stricken areas.
  5. We are collecting donations for disaster relief. These donations will be forwarded from Pearl Church to the MHQ disaster relief fund which recently donated $2,000 to Big Island lava damage, the relief efforts for Hurricane Harvey and Irma. MHQ will probably make another contribution for relief efforts in Puerto Rico as well.

October Grand Service Prayer 2018

Before God the Parent, Tenri O No-Mikoto, I, Owen Osamu Nakao, Pastor of Tenrikyo Pearl Church, humbly express the following prayer:

On this day, as granted to this church, we have gathered here to conduct the October Grand Service to commemorate the Teachings’ day of origin.

As in the following words of God, “I am God of OriginGod 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.” These were the first words declared by You, God the Parent, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto, through the mouth of Oyasama, Miki Nakayama.

That day was October 26, 1838. From that day on, through Oyasama, You appeared in person to teach us the one final truth, the truth that You are the true Creator and Parent of humankind. You taught us the Reason for our creation, which was from Your desire to have all humankind lead the Joyous Life, helping one another through the marvelous path of single-hearted salvation.
To attain this, You also taught us the Joyous Service with the intent to manifest once more, the marvelous power by which humankind and the world were created where there was no form. Through the sincere performance of this Service, the world will be reconstructed as the world of the Joyous Life, which is fully in accord with the intent of God the Parent.

Each of us here today, relying on You, intend to perform the Service in harmony and joy, becoming one with the mind of God. Please accept our spirited minds of unity and let the joy of the harmonious union of God and humankind overflow.

Through Your blessing, the Pearl Church Autumn Memorial Service was faithfully conducted on September 22 with 12 persons in attendance. The BGA General Meeting and Service Performance was held on the following day September 23 at MHQ of Hawaii with 10 persons from Pearl Church attending. The annual All Tenrikyo Nioigake Day was conducted on September 30 with 4 from Pearl Church. In addition, we have engaged in Kamina Nagashi in Waikiki with the Mission Headquarters group. We thank you deeply for your love and care and we pray for your continued guidance.

During these past weeks we have experienced hurricanes and earthquakes, in Japan, Philippines, Florida, Carolinas and here in Hawaii as well. As we pray for the victims, survivors and their families, please grant us compassion and resolve that we may always extend that helping hand.
With the Shinbashira as the core, we continue to engage in nioigake and salvation work.

May we, Your children, in this 181st year of Tenrikyo, come ever closer to understanding Your intentions, so that we may become “one” with You and manifest the Joyous Life as intended for all humanity.

In union with the congregation I humbly pray may it be so.

October Grand Service 2018

Aloha Pearl Church ohana!

October is the month of the founding of the teachings when God the Parent received Oyasama as His living shrine on October 26, 1838 and conveyed the teachings through the spoken word, the writing brush and by example through Oyasma’s 50-year Divine Model.  All Tenrikyo churches will be commemorating this day of Origin at their respective Monthly Service day.  Please join us this Sunday at the Pearl Church October Grand Service at 10:00am.

October Grand Service
October 14, 2018, 10am

Tenriko Pearl Church
1634 10th Ave, Honolulu, HI 96816

At the same time let us pray for the others we know who are ill or injured and for the victims and survivors of conflict and disasters around the world.

The Mission HQ of Hawaii (Dendocho) has been making contributions toward relief aid: $2k for the Philippines Super Typhoon Mangkhut, $2k for the Western Japan flooding, $2k for the Big Island Lava damage, and $2k for Hurricane Lane relief.  There’s more to come including Hurricane Florence and Michael in the Carolinas and Florida and the earthqake in tsunami in Indonesia.  All these combined will virtually deplete the MHQ Emergency disaster relief fund and we need to step up and replenish those funds so that we may continue to lend that helping hand to those in need.  Please donate whatever you can to help replenish the disaster relief fund!

Sincerely,
Rev. Owen and Taeko Nakao

Jarrett Foundation Annual Dinner & Silent Auction 2018

Saturday, November 3, 2018
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii
Doors open at 5:30 pm

$1,000 Gold Table (10 seats in front)
$650.00 Reserve Table (10 seats)
$65.00 Individual Seat

Please join us as we celebrate our 2018 Circle of Honor Inductees!

Jarrett Foundation Dinner Application & Flier 2018

Deadline: October 19, 2018

Please see attached for application form and mail to:

Jarrett Middle School
1903 Palolo Ave.
Honolulu, HI 96816

Annual Dinner Chair: Owen Nakao
cel: (808) 381-9612 email: owen.nakao@gmail.com

Continue reading Jarrett Foundation Annual Dinner & Silent Auction 2018

Monthly Service Reminder, Sunday, 9/10, 10am

Hurricane Harvey has caused massive flooding resulting in loss of life and property damage estimated in the billions.

Why does God allow this to happen? Where is God’s love in all this? Some people may say that this is part of God’s plan or God’s in control of everything. If God is all powerful why does God allow this to happen?

This and more as we pray for the victims of Hurricane Harvey and conduct the Service for Universal Salvation at Pearl Church

Sunday, September 10, 2017
10:00 a.m.

1634 10th Avenue
Honolulu, Hawaii

Ph: 808-734-1449

Sincerely,
Rev. Owen and Taeko Nakao

Monthly Sermon – August 2017

Good morning. I would like to thank all of you for taking the time to attend the August Monthly Service here at Pearl Church and thank you for your kind and sincere offerings. I am sure God the Parent and Oyasama is really happy to see you all here today and to have performed the service with joy and in high spirits!

The Kanrodai Toppling, a Wakeup Call

On July 26, last month on the day of the monthly service, right before the evening service, an intruder rush toward the Kanrodai which is located in the center of the four-sided sanctuary and toppled the Kanrodai. Just the bottom 2 layers of the 13 layered stand remained. Each layer has a tenon and mortise connecting the layers.

According an article in the Tenri Jiho weekly newspaper, July 30, 2017, the Rev. Hiroaki Yamazawa, the director of Religious Affairs, said that this is a very serious incident and that he feels terribly sorry to God the Parent and the everliving Oyasama for this to happen.

The Kanrodai is placed on the Jiba as proof of creation and is situated in the center of the four worship halls, North, South, East and West.

The Jiba is the place where God the Parent, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto resides and is the very spot where human beings were created.

The Kanrodai is a sacred stand that marks the exact spot of creation, the center and symbol of worship. Ten persons representing the ten aspects of God’s providence perform the Kagura Service around the Kanrodai.

I heard that the perpetuator was mentally ill. But whatever happens is a message from God. We should all take this seriously and reflect on God’s message.

Rev. Yamazawa wrote that this incident is nothing but a wakeup call for each of us to reflect on whether we are in accord with the Teachings of God the Parent. We may have strayed off the Path according to our own thinking or convenience. Through this “knot,” however, we should once again realign our faith exactly in accord with God’s intention. I would like to reflect on my own faith, on how we should use our mind on a daily basis.

Faith in our daily life

People who have faith are already showing it in their daily life through their use of words and actions. It’s not just going to church and putting your hands together in prayer. It’s through their positive and hopeful attitude expressed in what they say and how they behave. It’s not just a small part of their life, but they show it every day in their daily activities.

To sprinkle a good fragrance to the people is not necessarily stating the teachings, but the real fragrance is conveyed through our words and actions: such as showing kindness, generosity and caring. The people seeing this will receive the good fragrance of the teachings.

The late Rev. Genjiro Kashiwara, who was a honbuin (Church HQ staff), received many brilliant and magnificent blessings through his Sazuke prayer. Someone once asked him, how is it that he can receive such blessings? He answered, “God does not only answer Kashiwara’s prayers. Anyone can receive the power of answered prayers.

However, people tend to offer lies to God the Parent. God does not like falsehood and flattery. People are unknowingly dedicated to offering falsehood to God the Parent. That’s why they cannot receive a blessing.

“I don’t perform false deeds,” he says, “I always try to follow the teachings and follow Oyasama’s words. I do not follow or practice falsehood. If you do exactly as God teaches, and what Oyasama says, then you will receive God’s blessings.”

He said, “You must do what you say and say what you do.

Rev. Kashiwara was not double faced. He was a very straight forward person and you could tell that he did not have a trace of deception or falsehood in his veins. (from Satoshi Satori, p341 by Rev. Sawada, Matataro.)

I believe Rev. Kashiwara is saying that we should be true to the faith by practicing the teachings in our daily life.

What’s the difference between a person of faith and a person without faith? / The person who has faith in God has an appreciation of the blessings of nature, always tries to correct his mistakes and reflects upon himself to become a better person. / However even a persons who do not have faith are also children of God who live together with us in this universe in heaven and earth, the bosom of God. We all drink the water of nature which gushes from the earth and consume the food that is grown from it. The difference is how we appreciate these wonderful blessings. Those who recognize and appreciate the blessings will show it in their daily actions.

In our daily lives, sometimes we tend to criticize other people’s faults without realizing the same faults in ourselves. There’s a saying that says: “A person’s faults, is nothing but your reflection like a mirror.” Oyasama also said that when you notice someone’s fault, you are to reflect and realize that that’s also your fault as well. / So when we see a fault in someone, we should realize that that is a fault in ourselves. All the people we meet in our life are teachers. Therefore faith is not only going to church, but that it’s part of our everyday life. It’s how we use our mind and show it in our behavior.

An old Chinese proverb says:

“Watch your thoughts, they become your words;
watch your words, they become your actions;
watch your actions, they become your habits;
watch your habits, they become your character;
watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

Even in small steps, let us practice the teachings of God the Parent and Oyasama in our daily lives aligning and realigning our minds accordingly.

Announcements

  1. The annual Tenrikyo bazaar is coming up on Sunday, August 27. We’d like to thank those who came out for yesterday’s first all bazaar hinokishin and we’d like to ask for everyone’s continued support in selling presale scrips and helping at the bazaar.
  2. The next bazaar preparation hinokishin will be this Saturday, 8/19 at 9am & Sunday 8/20 after the Mission HQ monthly service at 1pm and we would like to call on all available members and friends to help out. You may bring your used item donations from today till August 23, between the hours of 10am-4pm to the TCC Dojo.
  3. Also, next month the Tengen Bunkyokai Ojibagaeri Taikai (or Jiba Pilgrimage Convention) as a continuing activity will be held on September 24th. If anyone is interested in joining this, please see me or Mrs. Taeko. The Autumn Grand Service pilgrimage in October is another activity you can consider if September is inconvenient for you.
  4. The MHQ will be conducting its first Three Day Course on 9/22-24. Please see me or Taeko if interested.
  5. Please welcome: Carol Azama and Ayako Hata who is a former home stay student.

Monthly Service Sermon – August 2017

Before God the Parent, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto, I, Owen Osamu Nakao, Pastor of Tenrikyo Pearl Church, pray with reverence:

God the Parent, as we receive Your overflowing grace and blessings, which grants us the free use our bodies, we advance toward the realization of the joyous life world as you guide us in our spiritual development. We are forever grateful for these blessings and we express our gratitude day and night as we apply our efforts in sprinkling the fragrance of the teachings and salvation work. Today is the day we are granted to conduct the August monthly service at Pearl Church. The service performers will now unite their hearts to perform the seated service and Teodori joyously and in high spirits. As you observe the brothers and sisters of the path who have looked forward to this day singing the songs of the service in unison, with hearts filled with gratitude for Your parental love, we hope that You can be spirited as well.

We give thanks for the successful completion of the annual Children’s Pilgrimage to Jiba in which one member of our church served as Boy’s & Girl’s Hinokishin Corps counselor. We give thanks for the opportunity do hinokishin in the community by doing yard work, for the elderly and disabled. We thank you deeply for these blessings as we strive to convey the teachings to as many people as possible. Later this month the annual Tenrikyo Bazaar will be held on August 27 with members of this church helping in preparation hinokishin, ohagi making, shuttle van driving, parking, bubble drink booth and cleanup. Also next month on September 24, we hope to be joining other sister churches under Tengen Bunkyokai in participating in the 2 nd Tengen Ojibagaeri Taikai (Jiba Pilgrimage Convention) activity. We pray for safe and successful events.

In this 180 th year of Tenrikyo, we vow to continue to work together with a unity of mind engaging in hinokishin and salvation work and encourage as much people as possible to return to Jiba. We pray for the victims and survivors of conflicts and disasters in the world; that they may have faith and resolve to overcome their grief and suffering.

With the Shinbashira as the core, we pledge to make sincere efforts in our daily lives to truly follow the Divine Model of Oyasama.

We pray that Your guidance will strengthen us into worthy Yoboku, striving with a single heart for the salvation of others. We hope that our efforts will bring joy to You and peace in this world where we all help one another as brothers and sisters. With our minds in unity towards the Truth of the Jiba, we would like to spiritedly perform the August Monthly Service.

In union with the congregation, I pray for these blessings.