The September Monthly Service of Tenrikyo Church Headquarters was performed on the 26th in the Main Sanctuary.
On behalf of the Shinbashira, Successor-Designate Daisuke Nakayama served as chief officiant. In the Service prayer, he said: “September is the month that has been designated for special efforts focused on sprinkling the fragrance of the teachings. In particular, Tenrikyo Nioigake Day will be conducted over the last three days of the month. With church head ministers at the forefront, all Yoboku will sprinkle the fragrance of the teachings to make repayment for Your blessings. . . . We Service performers as well as church head ministers and other Yoboku intend once again to take to heart Your intention to save all people throughout the world as well as to reach out to the minds and hearts of people by sprinkling the fragrance of the teachings and engaging in salvation activities so that we can spread the teachings all over the world.”
The prayer was followed by the joyous performance of the Kagura Service and the Dance with Hand Movements.
After the Service performance, Honbu-in Yoichiro Miyamori took the podium to deliver the sermon. Touching upon the U.N.’s World Happiness Report, Rev. Miyamori pointed out that although Japan scored high in the areas of health, safety, and economics in comparison with other countries, the percentage of those who considered themselves “happy” in Japan was low. While sharing his faith experiences as a church head minister and quoting from the Osashizu, he then spoke at some length about the ways to handle the mind to feel happiness as follows: a) Do not compare yourself with others or criticize others; b) Be responsible in your decision-making; c) Get to like people; d) Treasure the present moment.