The Oyasato Seminar—a summer program that teaches the young generation of the path from overseas about the Tenrikyo faith—was held in the Home of the Parent, with the English, Portuguese, and Chinese Courses running between July 17 and 22 and the Korean Course between August 3 and 7.
The seminar, sponsored by Tenrikyo Overseas Department, was originally launched in 1984 to help nurture successors of the path living overseas by providing an opportunity to gather in Jiba and learn and implement Oyasama’s teachings. This year, it drew 53 participants from the U.S., Australia, Brazil, Taiwan, and South Korea.
There were 14 students in the English Course. They checked in at Moya 38 on July 16, the day before the official opening of the Oyasato Seminar, and attended the English Course orientation. The seminar’s opening ceremony took place at the Overseas Department on July 17, attended by the students of the English, Portuguese, and Chinese Courses, as well as staff members and instructors for each course. Overseas Department Head Masaharu Matsuda said in his opening address: “It is my sincerest hope that you will strive to spread the fragrance of the teachings and help save others as God the Parent’s Yoboku in your countries and regions. I would like you to regard the Oyasato Seminar as an opportunity to take your first step forward in your journey as Yoboku.”
In the first half of the English Course program, the students reviewed the basic teachings and gained new insights into the teachings t
hrough workshops entitled “God the Parent and Jiba,” “Family’s Faith,” “Oyasama,” and “A Thing Lent, A Thing Borrowed.” Those workshops included tours of the Main Sanctuary, the Foundress’ Sanctuary, the Memorial Hall, Oyasama’s birthplace, and the historical buildings as well as talks on particular aspects of the path, group discussions, and enjoyable group activities designed to help students deepen their understanding of the teachings of the path.
In the second half of the program, the students engaged in the outward practices of the faith. On the 19th, they devoted themselves to cleaning hinokishin at the Main Sanctuary, wiping the lower-ground level of the East Worship Hall in high spirits with a sense of gratitude for the daily blessings of God the Parent. On the 21st, the students went to Nara City to spread the fragrance of the teachings to tourists and others from various parts of the world. At first,
they spread the name of God while singing the Eight Verses of the Yorozuyo together as they walked toward the center of Nara Park. The students were then divided into six groups and spread around the park to speak to and distribute pamphlets to people. On the previous day, they had chosen particular teachings to share with tourists in Nara and practiced explaining them in their own words
During the one-week program, 13 students of the English Course received the truth of the Sazuke. They pledged to become fine Yoboku who can show examples of how to live a joyous life to their local communities by implementing what they had learned through the Oyasato Seminar.
On the 22nd, the closing ceremony was held at the Overseas Department. In the ceremony, a student representative from
each course gave an appreciation speech. From the English Course, Yosuke Kayama shared how he developed new perspectives on the teachings through attending the Besseki lectures and workshops as well as through his interaction with the counselors and other students. He also said that he found a way to address questions and concerns about the faith without compromising fundamental aspects of who he was as a person.
Looking back on their experiences during the Oyasato Seminar, some of the English Course students shared their hopes for their continuing spiritual journey. Lauren Haru Yukimoto, a student from the U.S. mainland, said that she hopes to stay focused on the teachings when she goes back home and spread them to other people. Similarly, Luc Yoshimitsu Tabata, a student from Hawaii, noted that, after having learned about the Divine Model of Oyasama, he hopes to proactively work for other people with a generous heart—a heart that Oyasama always had—during the remaining months leading up to the 140th Anniversary of Oyasama.
