A ceremony to commemorate Tenri Seminary’s hundredth anniversary was held on November 25 in Church Headquarters’ Dining Hall 2. Both the Shinbashira and the former Shinbashira were present at the ceremony, which was attended by about 4,000 people including students and graduates of the Graduate Seminary, Junior Seminary, and Daini Junior Seminary as well as faculty members from various educational institutions operated by Tenrikyo. Since the huge turnout exceeded the capacity of Dining Hall 2, seating was also provided in Dining Hall 3 as well as the lecture hall in the Oyasato-yakata’s East Right Wing 1, where the proceedings were televised on large monitors.
The ceremony commenced at 10:30 a.m. with an opening address delivered by Tenri Seminary Principal Kei’ichiro Moroi. He explained that Tenri Seminary had continuously evolved and expanded ever since its establishment in April 1900, and he attributed the seminary’s century of growth to the foresight and guidance of the successive Shinbashiras. After discussing the purpose behind the seminary’s establishment, he told the audience: “The objective of this Teaching is to save everyone in the world. That objective cannot be accomplished, however, unless we develop abundant human resources. Since Tenri Seminary is the primary institution for training these indispensable resources, the responsibility and mission entrusted to the seminary is of immense proportions. Always bearing in mind the seminary’s objective and aspiring for improvement, I pledge our efforts to ensure that the seminary fulfills its role, and I ask all of you for your continued cooperation.”
Next, the Shinbashira took the podium to deliver his address. After discussing the historical background of the seminary, the Shinbashira pointed out that the various educational institutions presently operated by Tenrikyo can equally trace their day of origin to the establishment of Tenri Seminary. He said that what all these schools have in common is that, in addition to their specialized curriculums, they offer religious education based on Oyasama’s teachings.
“Our purpose in providing education,” the Shinbashira went on to say, “is not only to draw out the children’s innate abilities but also to impart Oyasama’s teaching to them, so that they will learn how to deal skillfully with any situation that arises in their lives. So long as we are successful in imparting this to them, they will surely be able to transform any hardship into joy and live the Joyous Life with spirited minds, thereby assuring them of happiness throughout their lifetime. I hope that the education they receive here will enable them to lead the Joyous Life themselves as well as to bring the Joyous Life into their communities.”
To close his address, the Shinbashira asked teachers to educate and nurture students in such a way that students will always cherish the years they spent studying in the Home of the Parent as being the most memorable years of their lives. He also asked students to follow their teachers’ enthusiastic lead and study hard so that they might learn the joy of life and equip themselves with the tools for savoring the Joyous Life throughout their lives.
Director-in-Chief of Administrative Affairs Masahiko Iburi then delivered his congratulatory address. He first outlined the attitude that is appropriate for people who have faith in the teachings and whose mission is, therefore, to construct the world of the Joyous Life. Then he said: “What we mean by ‘the construction of the Joyous Life World’ is, in essence, to get ever more people to know the intention of the Parent, seek a deeper understanding of it, have absolute faith in it, and put it into practice.”
Quoting from the successive Shinbashiras, Rev. Iburi said that the people who received training at the seminary had always shouldered responsibility for maintaining the path and served as leaders who provided the momentum for propelling the path of single-hearted salvation onward. Affirming that these people had cultivated faith that was single-hearted with God, he explained that the term “faith that is single-hearted with God” could be applied only to people whose lifetime priority was to “seek the Parent’s intention, acquire an understanding of it, live it out in their lives, help others to come into touch with it, and bring it to realization in the world at large.”
Referring to the role and responsibility entrusted to the seminary, Rev. Iburi said: “Tenri Seminary is an institution that trains its students to be single-hearted with God, and its mission is to turn out people who have resolved to live their lives in strict accord with the Parent’s intention.” He added: “Tenri Seminary is where core members of the path are trained; it is where core human resources are produced. Consequently, when the seminary is filled with liveliness and vigor, the path of single-hearted salvation as a whole will also be instilled with vitality and those who follow it will have a keen awareness of their purpose and a strong sense of mission.”
Following the ceremony, the participants all proceeded to the South and East Worship Halls, where they joined together in performing the service. The participants then reassembled in front of the pool that is located just east of the South Gate, where they performed the service dance in unison to the entire set of Twelve Songs.