Author: Pearl Church Admin

TENRIKYO PEARL CHURCH SERMON ‘ 2005 March

Good morning! I would like to thank you all for your kind support and sincere offerings. I am sure that God the Parent and Oyasama is pleased to see you today to participate in this March Monthly Service 2005.

THE MESSAGE FROM WATER

As most of you know we are in the last year of the three years, one thousand days before Oyasama’s 120th Anniversary to be observed on January 26th, 2006. The 120th Anniversary activities will be observed throughout the year 2006. We will be commemorating 120 years since she hid her physical presence on January 26, 1887.

As members of the Tenrikyo Faith and as children of God the Parent, what does it mean to observe and commemorate Oyasama’s 120th Anniversary? Why do we have to go back to Jiba?

As you recall in the Divine Model, God the Parent was revealed through Oyasama as shrine and conveyed the Teachings not only through the spoken word, the writing brush, and through miracles of salvation, but also through Oyasama’s daily life. For 50 longs years, she showed us the way to follow the teachings, by first plunging to the depths of poverty, enduring ridicule, slander, direct opposition and violent attacks and being jailed 17 or 18 times. She went through all of this, always in high spirits and always endeavoring to show us the way to the Joyous Life, with perseverance, with patience and with courage. She taught us many times with kindness, sometimes with firmness, but always with deep parental love. Urging the followers to perform the Service despite the threat of police arrest, the followers finally complied and on January 26, 1887, Oyasama hid her physical self at the age of 90.

Just as parents and grandparents yearn to see their children and grand children during the holidays, God the Parent and Oyasama also, wishes human beings, children of God, to return to the origin, the original place of creation. And just as parents and grandparents wants to see how their children and grand children have grown and matured, God the Parent and Oyasama also wishes to see how human beings have matured spiritually.

What does it mean to grow spiritually? What is spiritual maturity? I believe and important aspect of spiritual growth is ‘gratitude.’

I would like to share with you a book ‘The Message From Water’ written by Dr. Masaru Emoto who recently gave a lecture at the Japanese Cultural Center on Beretania Street.

Water is the source of life. If water is contaminated, all creatures would be denied their existence.

Dr. Emoto placed samples of tap water from cities all over the world to be tested on petri dishes and froze them for two hours. He then examined them with a microscope and photographed them at 200-500 times magnification.

Water is the mirror of our soul. It reacts sensitively.
He came to understand that the shape of these crystals shows the different ‘faces of water.’ Then he let the water samples listen to music. First he took pictures of the water crystals before and then after exposing them to different types of music. (show photo on p. 74).

Next he experimented with how water reacts to language. He labeled one bottle with the word ‘thank you’ printed on it and the other bottle was labeled, ‘you fool.’ Then he left them both that way for one night. The next day he froze the water samples and took pictures of the crystals that formed. (show photo’s on p. 70)
He took pictures of numerous ice crystals using various words, but he found the most beautiful crystals for the water labeled, ‘love and gratitude.’ Indeed, there is nothing more important than love and gratitude in this world. Just by expressing love and gratitude, the water around us and in our bodies, changes into something so beautiful. So naturally we want to apply this information into our daily lives.

Dr. Emoto was diagnosed with diabetes 30 years ago and had various medical problems in the past. Originally, it was thought that he wouldn’t be able to walk. However, he hasn’t been under medication since he started living with the philosophy expressing love and gratitude for water. He believes that this has helped him and kept the diabetes from becoming a larger problem.

This is a picture of tap water from Shinagawa Ward of Tokyo, Japan where the water is contaminated. Dr. Emoto left water in a cup on the table and asked 500 people in different parts of Japan to send ‘chi,’ soul ‘and spirit’ of love and the wish that the water should become clean. He asked, ‘please transmit this feeling to this water on a set day and time from all over Japan.’

Surprisingly, through the beautiful pictures of the resulting crystals, we can see that people’s thoughts could be focused no matter how far apart they are. (p. 132)

This last picture is a picture of a crystal of water from Fujiwara Dam. A Buddhist chief priest performed a prayer chant for one hour beside the dam. The picture of the ice crystal before the experiment looks bad and in fact has the appearance of a face of a person suffering in great agony. After the prayer, the water in the lake became clear that the crystal after the prayer showed power and energy in their ‘soul’ based on the people’s consciousness. Love and appreciation harmonizes with water, it gives lots of energy in our life. Dr. Emoto says he had never seen a more beautiful and brilliant energy in this picture.

Also, 70 percent of our body is made of water. So you can see how important water is for our existence.

Every morning, after the sun rises and every evening before the sun sets, we have a prayer service. When we receive the morning sun light we receive a lot of energy. We offer water, fruits, vegetables and rice on the altar and start the service. We express love and gratitude to God for the new day and also thank God for the day, for our healthy bodies and being able to do our work. We give thanks to God for our family. The water we offer to God is just tap water, but I believe that this tap water is transformed into blessed or holy water after we offer it first to God and give thanks for it. When we drink this ‘holy’ water, we are able to live healthier.

I would like to share with you a story from the Anecdotes of Oyasama #84:

IN THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE PROVINCE
‘. Koiso Yamanaka married into the Yamada family who lived in the southern half of the province (I think it means southern part of Nara Prefecture). Koiso found that Isa Yamamoto, a relative of the Yamada family, had been bedridden for more than five years due to the paralysis of her limbs. Koiso prayed to God for her recovery and repeatedly gave her sacred water. The following year, when her father, Chushichi Yamanaka came to visit them, Isa was marvelously healed. She rose to her feet, all her joints cracking, and was able to walk by herself. In her village, Koiso also found a girl named Naragiku Tanaka who had been blind for more than seven years. Koiso prayed to God for the girl’s recovery, each time washing her eyes with sacred water. Soon, she received God’s blessing. The mention of Koiso’s cure of the cripple and the blind girl became so well-known throughout neighboring villages that many people came to see her one after another.

It is not mentioned here, but I believe the sacred water referred to here is water that is offered in a prayer to God by Koiso. The water became sacred after it was prayed to.

As a side note, this gives greater meaning to having a shrine at home. We may think that a shrine is not necessary at home and we can give thanks to God without a shrine. But having a shrine gives us an opportunity to practice gratitude on a daily basis. Cleaning the shrine, putting up water and food offerings and taking them down, and doing the service helps us to nurture gratitude and harmony in our minds. This is then reflected in our daily interactions at home, school and the workplace, bringing about health and happiness in our lives.

Ladies and gentlemen, Tenrikyo is the teachings for your joyous life.

Thank you for your kind attention.

Announcements:
1. I would like to thank those who have contributed to the Tsunami Relief fund. Dendocho has set a deadline for March 20 for the relief fund drive so again, if you wish to make a contribution, please indicate Relief fund on the envelope.

2. We are in the last year before the 120th Anniversary of Oyasama and I would like to ask all of you to participate by returning to Jiba in 2006. We hope to form a pilgrimage group for the children’s summer pilgrimage and hope that many of you can join us. However, you can return anytime during the year and I or Mrs. Nakao will accompany you. In order to help defray the cost we have started a fund drive from several years ago from our garage sales. We are continuing our fundraising by offering yard services, so if you know of anyone who needs yard cleaning, please let us know.

3. The Boy’s and Girl’s Association Spring Camp will be held next Friday through Sunday, March 25-27 at Tenri Cultural Center. Please see me after the Service for an application.

4. The weekly service practices every Thursday night have resume again and we would like to invite all of you to attend. It starts at 6pm right after the evening service.

TENRIKYO PEARL CHURCH SERMON ‘ 2005 March

Good morning! I would like to thank you all for your kind support and sincere offerings. I am sure that God the Parent and Oyasama is pleased to see you today to participate in this March Monthly Service 2005.

THE MESSAGE FROM WATER

As most of you know we are in the last year of the three years, one thousand days before Oyasama’s 120th Anniversary to be observed on January 26th, 2006. The 120th Anniversary activities will be observed throughout the year 2006. We will be commemorating 120 years since she hid her physical presence on January 26, 1887.

As members of the Tenrikyo Faith and as children of God the Parent, what does it mean to observe and commemorate Oyasama’s 120th Anniversary? Why do we have to go back to Jiba?

As you recall in the Divine Model, God the Parent was revealed through Oyasama as shrine and conveyed the Teachings not only through the spoken word, the writing brush, and through miracles of salvation, but also through Oyasama’s daily life. For 50 longs years, she showed us the way to follow the teachings, by first plunging to the depths of poverty, enduring ridicule, slander, direct opposition and violent attacks and being jailed 17 or 18 times. She went through all of this, always in high spirits and always endeavoring to show us the way to the Joyous Life, with perseverance, with patience and with courage. She taught us many times with kindness, sometimes with firmness, but always with deep parental love. Urging the followers to perform the Service despite the threat of police arrest, the followers finally complied and on January 26, 1887, Oyasama hid her physical self at the age of 90.

Just as parents and grandparents yearn to see their children and grand children during the holidays, God the Parent and Oyasama also, wishes human beings, children of God, to return to the origin, the original place of creation. And just as parents and grandparents wants to see how their children and grand children have grown and matured, God the Parent and Oyasama also wishes to see how human beings have matured spiritually.

What does it mean to grow spiritually? What is spiritual maturity? I believe and important aspect of spiritual growth is ‘gratitude.’

I would like to share with you a book ‘The Message From Water’ written by Dr. Masaru Emoto who recently gave a lecture at the Japanese Cultural Center on Beretania Street.

Water is the source of life. If water is contaminated, all creatures would be denied their existence.

Dr. Emoto placed samples of tap water from cities all over the world to be tested on petri dishes and froze them for two hours. He then examined them with a microscope and photographed them at 200-500 times magnification.

Water is the mirror of our soul. It reacts sensitively.
He came to understand that the shape of these crystals shows the different ‘faces of water.’ Then he let the water samples listen to music. First he took pictures of the water crystals before and then after exposing them to different types of music. (show photo on p. 74).

Next he experimented with how water reacts to language. He labeled one bottle with the word ‘thank you’ printed on it and the other bottle was labeled, ‘you fool.’ Then he left them both that way for one night. The next day he froze the water samples and took pictures of the crystals that formed. (show photo’s on p. 70)
He took pictures of numerous ice crystals using various words, but he found the most beautiful crystals for the water labeled, ‘love and gratitude.’ Indeed, there is nothing more important than love and gratitude in this world. Just by expressing love and gratitude, the water around us and in our bodies, changes into something so beautiful. So naturally we want to apply this information into our daily lives.

Dr. Emoto was diagnosed with diabetes 30 years ago and had various medical problems in the past. Originally, it was thought that he wouldn’t be able to walk. However, he hasn’t been under medication since he started living with the philosophy expressing love and gratitude for water. He believes that this has helped him and kept the diabetes from becoming a larger problem.

This is a picture of tap water from Shinagawa Ward of Tokyo, Japan where the water is contaminated. Dr. Emoto left water in a cup on the table and asked 500 people in different parts of Japan to send ‘chi,’ soul ‘and spirit’ of love and the wish that the water should become clean. He asked, ‘please transmit this feeling to this water on a set day and time from all over Japan.’

Surprisingly, through the beautiful pictures of the resulting crystals, we can see that people’s thoughts could be focused no matter how far apart they are. (p. 132)

This last picture is a picture of a crystal of water from Fujiwara Dam. A Buddhist chief priest performed a prayer chant for one hour beside the dam. The picture of the ice crystal before the experiment looks bad and in fact has the appearance of a face of a person suffering in great agony. After the prayer, the water in the lake became clear that the crystal after the prayer showed power and energy in their ‘soul’ based on the people’s consciousness. Love and appreciation harmonizes with water, it gives lots of energy in our life. Dr. Emoto says he had never seen a more beautiful and brilliant energy in this picture.

Also, 70 percent of our body is made of water. So you can see how important water is for our existence.

Every morning, after the sun rises and every evening before the sun sets, we have a prayer service. When we receive the morning sun light we receive a lot of energy. We offer water, fruits, vegetables and rice on the altar and start the service. We express love and gratitude to God for the new day and also thank God for the day, for our healthy bodies and being able to do our work. We give thanks to God for our family. The water we offer to God is just tap water, but I believe that this tap water is transformed into blessed or holy water after we offer it first to God and give thanks for it. When we drink this ‘holy’ water, we are able to live healthier.

I would like to share with you a story from the Anecdotes of Oyasama #84:

IN THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE PROVINCE
‘. Koiso Yamanaka married into the Yamada family who lived in the southern half of the province (I think it means southern part of Nara Prefecture). Koiso found that Isa Yamamoto, a relative of the Yamada family, had been bedridden for more than five years due to the paralysis of her limbs. Koiso prayed to God for her recovery and repeatedly gave her sacred water. The following year, when her father, Chushichi Yamanaka came to visit them, Isa was marvelously healed. She rose to her feet, all her joints cracking, and was able to walk by herself. In her village, Koiso also found a girl named Naragiku Tanaka who had been blind for more than seven years. Koiso prayed to God for the girl’s recovery, each time washing her eyes with sacred water. Soon, she received God’s blessing. The mention of Koiso’s cure of the cripple and the blind girl became so well-known throughout neighboring villages that many people came to see her one after another.

It is not mentioned here, but I believe the sacred water referred to here is water that is offered in a prayer to God by Koiso. The water became sacred after it was prayed to.

As a side note, this gives greater meaning to having a shrine at home. We may think that a shrine is not necessary at home and we can give thanks to God without a shrine. But having a shrine gives us an opportunity to practice gratitude on a daily basis. Cleaning the shrine, putting up water and food offerings and taking them down, and doing the service helps us to nurture gratitude and harmony in our minds. This is then reflected in our daily interactions at home, school and the workplace, bringing about health and happiness in our lives.

Ladies and gentlemen, Tenrikyo is the teachings for your joyous life.

Thank you for your kind attention.

Announcements:
1. I would like to thank those who have contributed to the Tsunami Relief fund. Dendocho has set a deadline for March 20 for the relief fund drive so again, if you wish to make a contribution, please indicate Relief fund on the envelope.

2. We are in the last year before the 120th Anniversary of Oyasama and I would like to ask all of you to participate by returning to Jiba in 2006. We hope to form a pilgrimage group for the children’s summer pilgrimage and hope that many of you can join us. However, you can return anytime during the year and I or Mrs. Nakao will accompany you. In order to help defray the cost we have started a fund drive from several years ago from our garage sales. We are continuing our fundraising by offering yard services, so if you know of anyone who needs yard cleaning, please let us know.

3. The Boy’s and Girl’s Association Spring Camp will be held next Friday through Sunday, March 25-27 at Tenri Cultural Center. Please see me after the Service for an application.

4. The weekly service practices every Thursday night have resume again and we would like to invite all of you to attend. It starts at 6pm right after the evening service.

TENRIKYO PEARL CHURCH SERMON ‘ 2005 February

Good morning! I would like to thank you all for your kind support and sincere offerings. I am sure that God the Parent and Oyasama is pleased to see you today to participate in this February Monthly Service 2005.

THE TSUNAMI, WHY DID GOD DO THIS?

On December 26, 2004 an earthquake registering 9.0 magnitude on the Richter scale triggered a massive tsunami killing over 170,000 people with still another 100,000 still missing. The large scale devastation, grief and suffering can only be imagined by most of the people who have not witnessed this type of disaster. Yet it is real and overwhelming for those who live in the affected areas of Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka and other countries. Our prayers and our hearts go out to the tsunami victims and survivors.

The scale of devastation and the vast number people who lost their lives have led many to question or doubt God’s intent or even God’s existence: ‘Where have you been God? Dear God, how can you explain this?’ Or, ‘Where is God’s mercy?’ We could go on and on about God’s existence, which I have covered in past sermons and I will explain again in a later sermon, but I want to discuss God’s intent in today’s sermon:

Let us first turn to the verses in the Ofudesaki:

Because you have not observed the words of God even until now,
I could not avoid showing it. I: 26

I am God of Origin, who began the human beings of this world.
Yet there may be no one knows Me. III: 15

I began to teach My providence in the muddy ocean,
and you have come to prosper step by step. III: 16

This time, I teach single-hearted salvation,
beginning once more that which never existed. III: 17

I begin things which have never existed,
because I am God, who made the origin. III: 18

Day after day, the words of God pile up mountainously,
stuck in My throat. I cannot speak them, though I so desire. III: 19

There is nothing that I cannot teach,
but there is no one who listens with a purified mind. III: 20

If you quickly purify your mind and listen,
I shall give you all of My teachings on everything. III: 21

This universe is the body of God.
Ponder this in all matters. III:40

These disorders are from My guidance, admonition, or anger,
Ponder, each of you. V: 20

What are you thoughts on hearing this talk?
I appeal to you repeatedly out of My deep love for you. V: 21

However I may express My admonition or anger,
I shall never say that you will not be saved. V: 22

Think of you humans admonishing your children.
The anger, too, come from love. V: 23

Ponder and come follow Me with firm resolve,
There is a path of hope in the future. V: 24

Only through the exhaustive efforts of Tsukihi,
made step by step, have you become the humans you are. VI: 88

In this world, landslides, thunder, earthquakes,
And great winds are all from the anger of Tsukihi. VI: 91

In whatever things, bear no grudges.
It is all a matter of your self-reproach. VI: 95

Further:

What are you thinking on hearing this talk?
Flames of heaven, rains of fire, and tidal waves in the seas’ VI: 116

Such is the great anxiety in the mind of Tsukihi.
What is the whole world thinking? VI: 117

Though I appeal to you in sorrow over and over,
I shall save you if you become of a sincere mind. VI: 118

Whoever you are, you are all My children.
Awaken to the anxiety in the mind of Tsukihi! VI: 119

Everything in this universe is all by Tsukihi.
All human bodies are things lent by Tsukihi. VI: 120

If only My mind is truly understood,
there will be nothing fearful or dangerous. VI: 122

From this we can understand that the tsunami is due to God’s deep regret and anger. Some might say, ‘Ah, but anger is a mental dust, how can God have mental dust?’ God’s anger is not the same anger as that which is mentioned in the eight mental dusts. The anger mentioned in the eight mental dusts is the anger which comes from selfish thinking. The anger from God comes from God’s deep parental love. It is that love which urgently wishes to see us on the path to the joyous life.

So what is this parental love that takes the lives of innocent children?

As parents we have the responsibility to nurture and bring up our children to become responsible and mature human beings. A few months ago, a father confided in me the problems he had in bringing up his teenage son. His son was constantly staying up late to play video games and then waking up late to go to school. The father said he kept telling his son to cut down on the video games, do more studying and to go to sleep earlier. But his son kept playing video games. Soon the son brought home failing grades on most of his subjects. The father said he loved his son very much but he felt that he had to do something for the sake of his son, so he took off the door to his son’s room while the son was at school. When the son got home, he was very upset and asked his father why the door was taken off. When the father explained about the video games, the son then asked, ‘Why didn’t you talk to me?’ The father explained that he did. Do you see what is happening here? The father is trying to help his son realize his bad ways so that he will correct his behavior, but the son is upset and wonders why his dad did such a thing. The father later said that his son is finally beginning to understand and has cut down on playing video games and is studying more.

God the Parent is the creator of human beings and grants us life. We borrow our bodies from God and are kept alive by God’s grace. God’s purpose in creation is for us to live the joyous life by saving and helping others. So when we continue to live opposite to God’s intent or God’s will, then God’s parental love will be manifest and it may result in illness or in the case of the tsunami, we will ‘start anew,’ as explained in Mikagura-uta Song 6, verse 8

Eighth, After all you must continue to believe.
If you entertain wrong thoughts, you are to start anew.

‘Start anew’ is translated from ‘denaoshi’ which is to pass away for rebirth in Tenrikyo.

The passing of a child is a very sorrowful and devastating event, and this may be a harsh thing to say to parents who have lost their children, however, we are taught that sickness until the age of 15, is due to the parents’ mental dust or causality. So as parents we must constantly reflect on our attitudes and behavior and resolve to correct the way we use our mind, cut our bad causality, and set good examples for our children.

Leaders of other religions have also stated that the tsunami is a warning from God:

The Catholic Bishop of Port Blair in the Andaman Islands of India, Alex Dias, told the media, "I believe that the tsunami is a warning. A warning from God to reflect deeply on the way we lead our lives." The Bishop who is leading the main relief effort in the area continued, "We are too hurried today. We are rushing here, rushing there. Everything is a facade. There are lots of cracks and undulating things in our lives. A disaster like this is a word from God to think about those cracks and smoothen them out. We are filling our lives with so much that there is little place for God." He concluded, "In moments of grave crisis, we remember God and we should also think how to put him back in the primary position in our lives." From Lifesite News webpage:

http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/jan/05010305.html

The earthquake occurred at 12:58am UTC or 9:58am Japan time, on December 26th, right in the middle of church headquarters’ monthly service which starts at 9am and right at the start of the last year of the three years, one thousand days before Oyasama’s 120th Anniversary. For us in Tenrikyo this should be interpreted to mean urgency in our salvation work. If we haven’t been doing nioigake, let us start doing nioigake. If we haven’t been using our Sazuke, let us start using it. If we haven’t learned how to play the narimono instruments or how to do the otefuri, let us start learning it. And if we are not doing the service everyday, let us start doing it everyday. This is the season, this is the time.

In closing, the Ofudesaki says:

If only My mind is truly understood,
there will be nothing fearful or dangerous. VI: 122


Announcements:

1. The Boy’s and Girl’s Association Leaders Camp and New Year Party was held on January 29 and 30th. The Leaders camp on January 29 & 30th at Dendocho and the New Party on January 30th at Stadium Park. I want to thank you all for your help and for attending the activities. A total of 7 persons attended from Pearl Church. Thank you very much!

2. The Annual BGA Spring Camp will be held on the last weekend in March from the 25th Friday through the 27th Sunday. Please encourage your children to attend and adults may pitch in with Hinokishin.

3. Dendocho has donated $25,000 from their emergency relief fund for the tsunami relief effort and Bishop Hamada has called on all members to participate in the relief effort from our respective churches, so Tenrikyo Pearl Church will be starting a relief fund drive in support of this donation. Please write ‘Tsunami Relief’ on the envelope and checks should be made out to Tenrikyo Hawaii Dendocho.

4. We are in the last year before the 120th Anniversary of Oyasama and I would like to ask all of you to participate by returning to Jiba in 2006. We hope to form a pilgrimage group for the children’s summer pilgrimage and hope that many of you can join us. However, you can return anytime during the year and I or Mrs. Nakao will accompany you. In order to help defray the cost we have started a fund drive from several years ago from our garage sales. We now have $1,664.64. We are continuing our fundraising by offering yard services, so if you know of anyone who needs yard cleaning, please let us know.

5. The weekly service practices every Thursday night is still going on and we would like to invite all of you to attend. It starts at 6pm right after the evening service.

6. The Follow Miss Kokan Seminar for Young Women’s Club members will be held on February 26 and 27th. Mrs. Taeko Nakao will be giving a lecture.

7. Our son Moses will be leaving us on March 9th for two years to work for Church Headquarters in the Overseas Department.

TENRIKYO PEARL CHURCH SERMON ‘ 2005 January

Good morning and Happy New Year! I would like to thank you all for your kind support and sincere offerings. I am sure that God the Parent and Oyasama is pleased to see you today to participate in this Spring Grand Service 2005.

Before we start I would like to thank everyone for your support given during the past year. In summary, we were able to start the church renovation in January. In February and March, I was able to give the Joyous Life Lectures in Australia and New Zealand and from April through June, I served as instructor for the English Shuyoka, during which time we stopped the construction. After my return, we resumed construction in August. During this time, Tamayo Saito came to stay at Pearl Church for three months and Jack Wong who needed a temporary place to stay also came to Pearl Church. Both of them helped a great deal in the painting and flooring. Masumi Yamazaki also came on many days to lend a helping hand. Other people including the young men from Dendocho, contributed in Hinokishin and other ways for which we are very grateful. Again, thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.


PURIFYING THE MIND TOWARD THE 120TH ANNIVERSARY

This month, January 26th, is the day when our Foundress, Miki Nakayama hid her physical self. The reason she hid her physical self was to hasten our spiritual growth. Next year 2006 will mark the 120th Anniversary since that time. How can we grow spiritually? For example: those people, who have short tempers, should try not to get angry too easily. In addition, people who tend to find fault in others should try to become good at seeing the positive and good parts of others. And those people, who easily complain, should become like people who can find joy in whatever their circumstances. I believed this is what Oyasama is waiting for us to become. How can we then live the joyous life?

In the Osashizu, Meiji 22, June 1, it says, ‘Concerning human beings, the body is a thing lent, a thing borrowed. The mind alone is yours.’ We borrow our body from God the Parent. But God gave us our minds to use freely.

One day when I was doing nioigake in the Kahala area with one of the missionaries, we met a man in his 60’s who was a devout Christian. I told this man that our bodies are borrowed from God so we cannot use it as freely as we wish; however, our minds are given to us so we can use it as we want. He responded by saying that his body is definitely his. So I said, if you own your body then can you stay young without getting any older? Can you keep your hair from turning gray and keep wrinkles from forming on your face? If you get cancer, can you get rid of it? After asking him these questions, he became quiet. I think he had to really think about for awhile and probably realized that his body was not really his.

Our minds are given to us, so we can use it freely. It is important; however, that we use our minds according to God’s will; which is to accept joyously whatever happens and help each other and always be thankful to God.

Since we can our minds freely, we use it in different ways. That’s why we are different. Those of us with clean minds are able to be thankful for the smallest things, while those of us with dusty minds complain a lot.

In our faith, those dusts which we accumulate, we can easily sweep away and polish our minds. This is important. In this way, we can change our bad causation into a good one.

Oyasama taught us how to cleanse and purify our minds in various ways. That is through the Service, Hinokishin, making contributions, nioigake, and tanno. Tanno as you recall is to accept everything joyously knowing and being thankful that whatever happens is due to the grace of God the Parent.

In the Ofudesaki III: 137, we read,

So long as you remain unknowing that the body is
A thing borrowed, you can understand nothing at all.

By changing the direction of our thinking, we can change our destiny.

I would like to share a story about Genjiro Fukaya who was the founder of Kawaramachi Grand Church. In the summer of 1884, he returned to Jiba with a man who lived in Kyoto. This man just accompanied Rev. Fukaya and went to see Oyasama for no particular reason, but perhaps with some curiosity. It was during the hot summer season, in Mishima when it was very quiet in Ojiba. When they were granted an audience with Oyasama, Oyasama gave these words: ‘Being able to eat is due to the blessing of Tsukihi (God), being able to speak is also by the blessing of Tsukihi (God). Since Oyasama said it in a singing voice, this man from Kyoto was confused whether it was a lecture or just simply a song, or She talked nonsense. On the way home while walking, he was very mad because he thought he was fooled.

Later on he suffered from cholera. His wife took care of him but even water couldn’t pass his throat. No matter how much he wanted water, however his tongue stiffened up. His mouth was so hot that he felt as if it was on fire. He suffered because even a drop of water couldn’t pass his throat.

Suddenly, he thought of what Oyasama was saying. He felt so sorry he spoke ill about Oyasama and repented the error of his ways. In that moment he was able to say ‘water,’ and his wife gave him cup after cup of water and was able to drink a great deal of water in his hot burning throat.

In the Osashizu it says’
In order to use our body freely, we should use our mind according to what God desires.

When we administer the Sazuke, instead of asking God, please save us, or please help us, we should ask God ‘please sweep away the dust in our mind and give us the strength to be at joyful any time.’

A big tsunami hit Southeast Asia causing many deaths which will go down in history as one of the worst disasters. This is nothing but a message from God who subjects us to the laws of nature.

In the Ofudesaki Part VI: 91, we read:

In this world, landslides, thunder, earthquakes,
And great winds are all from the anger of Tsukihi.

This is nothing but God’s impatience and regret. I would think it is not only the other people’s concern but also we should take it seriously as our concern also. The only way to settle this problem is to purify our mind and help others.

And these, my friends, are the teachings for you to follow for your happy and prosperous life, the joyous life. Thank you for your kind attention.

Announcements:
1. The Women’s Association monthly Hinokishin will be held this Saturday at the Tenri Cultural Center Japanese garden at 9am.

2. The Dendocho Spring Grand Service will be held next Sunday at 9am.

3. Nioigake Day will be held the following Monday on January 17th at 9am.

4. The weekly service practices every Thursday night have resume again and we would like to invite all of you to attend. It starts at 6pm right after the evening service.

5. The Young Men’s Association will conduct their annual Aloha Walk from Makiki Church near Sheridan Street to Dendocho. They will meet at Dendocho at 2:30 and shuttle to Makiki Church and do Hinokishin there for half an hour before departing for Dendocho. The walk is to remember the hardship of the early missionaries who walked long distances to Dendocho and in their salvation work.

6. The Boy’s and Girl’s Association will be holding their New Year Party at Stadium Park on the last Sunday of this month, January 30. We will meet at Dendocho at 9am or you can meet us at Stadium Park at 10am.

7. For your information I have been appointed chairperson of the Boy’s and Girl’s Association effective from March of this year. I humbly ask for your kind support and assistance.

TENRIKYO PEARL CHURCH SERMON ‘ 2004 October

Good morning! I would like to thank you all for your kind support and sincere offerings. I am confident that God the Parent and Oyasama are pleased that you are present here today to participate in this Autumn Grand Service.

This World is a Mirror
This year, on October 26, 2004, Tenrikyo will begin its 168th year.

"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."

These were the first words declared by God the Parent, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto, through the mouth of Oyasama, Miki Nakayama. It was on October 26, 1838 that Tenrikyo started.

God the Parent created us human beings to see us live joyously and that God could share in that joy.

Having faith in these teachings, I can understand God’s intent, however, sometimes when we encounter hardships and troubles, we tend to live opposite to what the joyous life is. On a daily basis we are involved with many different kinds of relationships, such as, coworkers at the workplace, friends at school, and people in the neighborhood. And also, at church and places where people gathers. Through these relationships, we sometimes get angry, get hurt, suffer and accumulate mental dusts in our minds. For instance, we may be annoyed by someone at the workplace. This person complained about us even though we tried to help this person. We thought we were being kind, but to this person it was a nuisance. Subsequently, we couldn’t help but complain about this person.

Oyasama, one-day, talked to her early disciples and said that, ‘There are no such persons who are evil. There are no such bad things in this world.’ (‘Story told by an old man.’ written by Yoshio Horikoshi ‘Kyouyu’ (Tenrikyo periodical, Issue No. 168))

In the Ofudesaki (Part I : 52, 53)
Looking all over the world and through all ages,
I find no one who is evil.

Among all humankind, there is no one who is evil.
It is only a bit of dust stuck on.

God is telling us there is no one who is a bad person. And also there are no such bad things that happen in this world. It is only a stepping stone towards spiritual maturity. Whenever something happens in front of our eyes, we need to take the opportunity to self-reflect and take it in a positive manner. However, due to our lack of spiritual maturity we tend to avoid people we can’t get along with, people who seems scary, or people who are difficult and bossy. For example, we get angry because someone said or did something that was annoying to us. Definitely, that person may have said or done something that was not right. But if we bear a grudge against that person, curse this person or seek revenge on this person, this will create a conflict that will just escalate and create a bigger problem. We, as human beings cannot see ourselves, unless we have a mirror. At the same time we have difficulty seeing ourselves as a person. We are taught that we can see our personality when we see personality traits in other people. When we smile, the face in the mirror also smiles. When we are angry, it is also reflected in the mirror. It is the same in our life. The anger we see in other people, is a reflection of ourselves.

For instance, when we think, ‘Oh that person is difficult!’ The other person is probably thinking the same thing. And sometimes we think, ‘Oh, that person is so sassy.’ But in reality, since it is a trait that we can recognize in other people, it must be our trait also. Also, if we think, ‘that person is cold-hearted; it means that we must also reveal coldness to other people too.

When we ponder once again the teaching, ‘There is no one who is evil,’ taught by Oyasama, we find that it is not a coincidence when we meet certain types of people. It is not a coincidence and it is not by chance that we meet people. It is the intention of God. God is telling us to look at that person and try not to become like that person. There is a saying: One man’s fault is another’s lesson.

Here’s a story about a senior minister of Tenrikyo. One of his church members told him, ‘Sensei, this person, Mr. So and so was saying something bad about you.’

This senior minister replied, ‘I think you probably heard that wrong, Mr. So and so is not that kind of person who would talk bad about people." This senior minister did not get angry and on top of that he praised the person who was claimed to speak ill of him. This shows how big and kind-hearted this senior minister was. We should all strive to become like him.

Let’s take this time, during this month of Tenrikyo’s beginning to remind ourselves of God’s intention and strive to become closer to God and practice the teaching by sweeping away our mental dust and help other people.

And these, my friends, are the teachings for you to follow for your happy and prosperous life, the joyous life. Thank you for your kind attention.



Announcements:
1. I want to thank you all for your help in preparing for and attending Dendocho’s 50th Anniversary which was successfully held in the presence of the Shinbashira and his wife, Mrs. Nakayama. A total of 10 persons attended from Pearl Church. Thank you very much!

2. We have started the painting and have just completed the sanctuary, but we still have a lot to do and we hope to finish by the November 14th 70th Anniversary Service. If you are available to do Hinokishin, please come out to help at any time.

3. The all Tenrikyo Nioigake Day was held on Tuesday, October 5th with 5 persons from Pearl Church participating. Thank you to all who came out.

4. The weekly service practices every Thursday night have resume again and we would like to invite all of you to attend. It starts at 6pm right after the evening service.

5. The Pearl Church 70th Anniversary and Renovation Dedication Service is scheduled for Sunday, November 14th. Please encourage your friends and family to attend this very important and joyous occasion and let us know how many are coming so that we can prepare sufficient food. Special guests will include Rev. Motohiro Nakao, head minister of our parent church: Tengen Bunkyokai, Rev. Takehiro Nakao, also from Tengen Bunkyokai, the Bishop of Hawaii Dendocho & his wife, Mrs. Hamada.

TENRIKYO PEARL CHURCH SERMON ‘ 2004 September

Good morning! I would like to thank you all for your kind support and sincere offerings. I am confident that God the Parent and Oyasama are pleased that you are present here today to participate in this September Monthly Service.

The Way to Change Your Destiny
In the Ofudesaki I:74, we read:

I bring you together according to the causality of your previous
lives and protect you. This settles the matter for all time.

To become husband and wife, brothers and sisters, parent and child, we normally may think that this is all by chance. But the people who are in the same family together are put together by God’s grace according to those who have the same causality from their previous lives. This is meant by this verse in the Ofudesaki: I:74. (Read again).

So what is causality? Causality is the path of our mind that we have laid for ourselves which is the law of cause and effect. Most people live happily as husband and wife, parent and child, brothers and sisters. However, there are those that do not get along with each other; they are like living in hell. Some are suffering in their lives, having problems with their spouse, with their children, with their parents or brother or sister. However, if you have faith in God, you can overcome those problems and live a joyous and peaceful life.

So, how can we overcome these problems and live in harmony with each other. We need to understand the intention of God in whatever happens and in the problems we are facing. Each of our causality is reflected in our parents’ life and whatever we plant in this life will sprout in our children’s lives.

It is said that whatever we see or whatever we hear is our causality. For example: The in the case of an abusive spouse, it is not the abusive spouse who is root of the problem, but it is due to our causality. Of course we need to take steps to protect ourselves. Also, that abusive spouse is planting seeds that will sprout later on.

In the Mikagura-uta which Oyasama taught us, it does not say anything about causality but it does mention about seeds that are sown we shall reap. Whatever happens and whatever we have to face is all due to what we have done in the past or past lives, which is the law of nature or principle of heaven which is a translation of Tenri. This sown seed, we shall reap.

We can see other people’s faces but we cannot see our own face unless we have a mirror. So if people are causing problems for us, we wonder why this person is causing us trouble or why this is happening or why we have to suffer this kind of problem. This is because in the teaching whatever we see or whatever we hear is our causality means that we need to realize that this is what we have done to others in the past and that we are reaping the seeds that we planted. It is not the other person who is wrong, but it is because of the seeds that we have planted. There is no result without any cause. So we need to be aware and realize what our causality is.

However, this self-realization is difficult to attain. We tend to think that the other person is wrong and not I, and bear a grudge, complain about our parents and hate a problem person. It is difficult to reflect upon ourselves and accept bad things that happen to us. Generally we can easily see the bad points in other people but difficult to see our own shortcomings. So when we suffer because of the child, it is because of the seeds we have sown ourselves as children to our parents. When we have problems with our spouse or brothers and sisters, it is because of seeds we have sown in the past lives and because of this we have to face this same sort of problems in this life.

So we should accept obediently, whatever incidents we face in life and reflect on our self and our causality and change our destiny to a brighter path.

In the Anecdotes of Oyasama Story #96 ‘Those Who Have an Innen (Causality),’ we read:

Oyasama spoke these words to Tamezo Yamazawa in 1881 or 1882: ‘God brings people of an innen and protects them. God says ‘Among the people brought here together, those whose hearts ring in harmony are to be united and live in this Residence.” And in story #172 ‘Repentence for a Previous Life,’ we read:

There once lived a daughter of a seaweed dealer in Sakai, Osaka, who was inclined to steal. Her parents reverently asked Oyasama the reason why, and Her answer was:

‘That is the result of a previous life. Your daughter is not at fault. She only does what her parents did in a previous life.’

The parents then sincerely repented for what they had done, and their daughter was marvelously healed of the bad habit.
And these, my friends, are the teachings for you to follow for your happy and prosperous life, the joyous life.

Announcements:
1. I want to thank you all for your help this past Tenrikyo Bazaar. This is the second year in a row that Pearl Church has taken care of the Ohagi making, which has further strengthened the bazaar with continuity in that area. Of course this is due not only to members from this church, but also from members of other affiliations. Also Lewis and Lucas sold bubble drinks as a new item at the bazaar, selling 166 drinks. Thank you very much!

2. As you can see the contractor portion of Phase II is finally completed and the air conditioning is working. We will start painting from tomorrow and will continue for the rest of the month and then start on the flooring. If you are available to do Hinokishin, please come out to help at any time.

3. The Dendocho 50th Anniversary Service will be held this coming Saturday at 10am in the presence of the Shinbashira and Mrs. Nakayama. It is a big event and we want everyone to join in the celebration. The Dendocho September Monthly Service will be held the following day on Sunday at 9am and the Women’s Association and Young Men’s Association General Meeting will be held right after without any monthly service sermon. Just a reminder that for both days parking will be at Tenri Cultural Center where we had the bazaar.

4. Nioigake Day on following day, Monday, is cancelled.

5. The weekly service practices every Thursday night will be
suspended until after the construction is complete.

6. The Pearl Church 70th Anniversary and Renovation Dedication Service is scheduled for Sunday, November 14th. Please encourage your friends and family to attend this very important and joyous occasion.

TENRIKYO PEARL CHURCH SERMON ‘ 2004 August


Good morning! I would like to thank you all for your kind support and sincere offerings. I am confident that God the Parent and Oyasama are pleased that you are present here today to participate in this August Monthly Service.

THE MEASURE OF HEAVEN
Serving as Shuyoka instructor for the second time, the experience still provided opportunities to the study the teachings more in depth, to reflect on my faith, and to reestablish an even firmer determination to spread the teachings and do salvation work.

Being blessed with twenty students: 14 from the U.S. 3 from Nepal, 1 from Korea, 1 from Philippines and 1 from Canada, I knew it would be a challenge, but still I felt it shouldn’t be a problem being that it was my second time. Well, I was in for a surprise. Just to explain about the necessity to wear the happi uniform proved to be more difficult than I thought. Here I would like to share with you an incident which provided me an opportunity for self-reflection and spiritual growth.

One afternoon in early June, we gathered for Hinokishin in front of 4th Wing at 1:00pm. One of the students in my class showed up just a tad late: after the sanden reihai (prayer to towards the sanctuaries) and after Class Monitor #4 had turned in the attendance card. As usual, he didn’t have his happi on when he should.

Anyway, while walking toward the cemetery for Hinokishin with everyone, this Shuyoka student put on his happi and asked me if he could take it "off." I replied, "No," in a manner as if I was saying "of course not!" He then said, "Look, I’ve asked you in a polite manner and it’s unbearably hot. It doesn’t make any sense to wear this happi in this hot weather. It makes no sense!"
I felt really distressed to be put into a position of having to explain why we had to wear the happi uniform. I wasn’t sure myself as to why we had to wear the happi coat. Without thinking about it much, I said, "It DOES make sense. It’s a rule of Shuyoka. It’s the set uniform. It promotes unity and a sense of discipline." I was hoping that I wouldn’t have to explain more than that. But he continued, "Give me one reason, why we should wear this happi in this hot weather."

At loss as to what more I could say, I said, "If it makes a difference, I would like to explain, but it seems like my explanation doesn’t make a difference." Then in defiance, he took off his happi and proceeded to the cemetery taking a different route with another Shuyoka student.

At the cemetery, everyone was allowed to remove their happi. But even after the starting prayer, he continued, "This is why I hate Tenrikyo! I’ve been through this and it doesn’t make sense. People of the world will look at this and laugh. You cannot promote Tenrikyo this way. It makes no sense!"

I don’t know where the words came from, but I said, "It does make sense and I don’t think your faith is sincere if this makes you hate Tenrikyo. Shuyoka has made reasonable accommodation.
"What’s "reasonable accommodation? That’s jargon. Explain to me what that is."

"Shuyoka has made reasonable allowances for students when it’s too hot, by allowing them to remove their happi, during Hinokishin. The happi helps to promote discipline and unity; a sense that we are in this together."

Then out of the blue he said, "Oyasama did not wear a happi.’
I was dumbfounded. I didn’t know what to say. So, I admitted, "That’s correct! I need to think about that for awhile. But I think there’s room for reflection on both sides: the way Shuyoka is run and yourself. I’m not totally against what you’re saying and I want to reflect on this too, but I think it important to foster some discipline."

"But this is not the military!"

"Exactly, and that’s why we are not as strict as the military. We are not marching in straight lines and saluting each other. I believe we have the right amount of discipline that Shuyoka is trying to instill. Yes, it is uncomfortable to wear the happi in this hot weather, uncomfortable but bearable. I think it helps to be a little uncomfortable during this time of training and spiritual development, don’t you think? (no answer). And Shuyoka has made some reasonable accommodations."

He thought for awhile and then he apologized for being upset.
I said, "No, I should apologize, for not being able to explain in a manner that you can understand. This is my job."
Later, though, I was thinking to myself: ‘Do I know what I’m talking about when I say discipline and unity? What if someone were to ask me why do we need discipline and unity? It’s common sense for most people, but for those who attend Shuyoka and need additional guidance, will I be able to explain it sufficiently?’ I had my doubts and I was not satisfied, so I had to think this through and this is what I came up with:


WHY DO WE NEED DISCIPLINE AND UNITY?

Discipline (and eventually self-discipline) fosters a sense of order and progress toward the goal of being able to do things when we need to do it whether we feel like it or not. True faith comes from making sincere efforts to become one with God (or the nature of our True Selves) or living in accord (or align our thinking) with God’s intention even at our inconvenience.

There is a story in the Anecdotes of Oyasama Story #31 called the Measure of Heaven in which Oyasama asks Izo Iburi to cut down and tree and make a straight post. Izo did as he was told and brought it to Oyasama. Oyasama then said, ‘Now take a ruler and place it against the post. There is a gap isn’t there?’ And Izo replied, ‘Yes, there is a gap.’ Oyasama said, ‘Exactly! Even the things that are considered straight by the people of the world, are warped when placed against the measure of heaven.’

I believe that this also means that human beings, left to their own devices will stray from the path of Truth. Conversely, going to church, attending the daily and monthly services, returning to Jiba and attending Shuyoka (or other spiritual development programs) are all opportunities for us to align or realign ourselves with the ‘measure of heaven.’

Unity encourages us to work together with other people. And to recognize that other need each other to live in this world and that we need to work together toward the common goal of spiritual maturity or in other words, the ‘construction of our mind and the construction of the joyous and peaceful world’ where we all live together happily as brothers and sisters. When we perform the service we are basically fostering this discipline and unity of mind. In the service we are singing, dancing and using various instruments. If one or two of us are playing, singing or dancing at a different beat, then the music will not sound good and our performance will not be good. As we practice and perform playing the instruments, singing and dancing the sacred songs, we develop and nurture the unity of mind that will lead us toward the Joyous Life.

And these, my friends, are the teachings for you to follow for your happy and prosperous life, the joyous life.


Announcements:

1. I would like to recognize Mrs. Masumi Yamazaki who audited the Hawaii Shuyokai classes from June 20 through July 17 by commuting everyday from her home in Palolo.

2. Also please welcome special guest: Saburo Mori****a from Tenri University who has just a attended a seminar at the University of Hawaii and please welcome Etsuji and Tamiko Kitada family who are members of our parent church Tengen Branch church in Japan.

3. In regards to the Pearl Church renovations, Phase II finally started on July 30th and as you can see, work is progressing. Phase II is widening, the front stairs, installing a wall in the sanctuary, and installing an activity room downstairs. In regards to Phase I, we are just about finished with the painting and floor work. If you are available to do Hinokishin, please come out to help at any time.

4. The Dendocho August Monthly Service will be held next Sunday at 9am.

5. The Dendocho Nioigake Day will be held on following day, Monday, at 9am.

6. The weekly service practices every Thursday night will be suspended until after the construction is complete.

7. The annual Tenrikyo Bazaar will be held on the last Sunday of this month, August 29th. I hope that all of you can come out to help with the ohagi making and parking. We have bazaar scrips and chicken tickets on sale. Please see me after the service if you want to purchase some.

8. The Dendocho 50th Anniversary is scheduled for Saturday, September 18th and Pearl Church 70th Anniversary and renovation grand opening is scheduled for Sunday, November 14th. Please encourage your friends and family to attend these very important and joyous occasions.