From July 18 to 24, Tenrikyo Young Men’s Association organized its 12th International Hinokishin Corps, bringing together a total of 268 participants from 12 countries and regions—namely the U.S. mainland, Hawaii, Brazil, South Korea, Taiwan, the U.K., France, Italy, Thailand, Laos, Argentina, and Colombia.
Held in the year of the 140th Anniversary of Oyasama, the corps comprised 268 participants including 15 one-day participants and 73 family participants—a category open to non-association members.
The International Hinokishin Corps, formed as a special corps of the Oyasato Construction Young Men’s Association Hinokishin Corps, is designed to provide overseas association members with an opportunity to sow seeds of sincerity at Jiba and interact with their fellow members from many parts of the world.
On the first day, participants arrived one after another at Moya 100, where they stayed for the duration of the corps. Following the opening ceremony and a prayer service, Young Men’s Association President Daisuke Nakayama delivered an address.
In his address, President Nakayama referred to the vision set forth by the Young Men’s Association: “Spreading the teaching of ‘a thing lent, a thing borrowed’ throughout the world through carrying out salvation activities.” He said that the teaching of “a thing lent, a thing borrowed” lies at the very core of Tenrikyo’s teachings and explained that, if this teaching spreads throughout the world, the root of various forms of conflict will be cut off.
Reflecting on the state of the world today, he said: “In the world today, division and conflict are unending, and we see many people hurting one another through words and violence. At the root of these things is the greed that says, ‘As long as I am all right,’ or ‘As long as we are all right, that is fine.’” He continued, “That is precisely why we want to deliver the teaching of ‘a thing lent, a thing borrowed’ to the world today.”
President Nakayama also emphasized the association’s activity guideline, saying: “As we move forward in the process of pursuing the vision I have spoken about so far, what we want to keep in mind is our activity guideline: ‘Purifying our minds each day.’” He then called on the participants to move forward toward the vision together, saying: “From now on, together with all of you gathered here from around the world, I hope that we will spend each day purifying our minds through the heart and mouth and move this great ship [of our association] forward, even if only little by little, toward our vision.”
After the participants listened to President Nakayama’s address, they first took part in group work exercises, interacting with one another through the “Salvation Prayer Form,” the use of which the association is currently promoting.
Beginning on the 19th, the corps members engaged in such tasks as weeding the precincts of Church Headquarters, setting up the venues for attractions and activities to be offered during the Children’s Pilgrimage to Jiba, and carrying out maintenance work on Mount Jatani in Mitsue Village, Nara Prefecture. In the evenings, they attended practice sessions for the dance for the service and the monthly service. During the period, President Nakayama also joined the corps members and worked up a good sweat with them.
Among the corps members was Thomas Patterson, 29, from the U.K., a Yoboku belonging to London Sakurai Mission Station of Shibetsu Branch Church. “For me, Jiba is the most special place in the world, and a place where I can step back from my hectic daily life in London, reset myself, and feel closer to God the Parent,” said Patterson. “During my third International Hinokishin Corps, I was able to reconnect with friends from far and wide, make new memories and friendships, and, most importantly, be inspired by learning how Young Men’s Association chapters across the globe are continually making efforts and using their ingenuity to convey the teachings in their own unique, localised ways. I was particularly inspired by how they adapt their missionary work and activities to their local communities, including through social activities that bring non-followers of the path closer.”
He continued, “After returning home, I want to keep this unforgettable experience in my heart and bring new energy to the association activities in London, so that even one more fellow follower may join us in Europe,” looking ahead to his new role as chairman of the London District Young Men’s Association.
