The Sincerity of All Followers Gathers in the Home of the Parent: Reporting the “Three Years, One Thousand Days” Journey to Oyasama
The sincerity of followers from across the world—all aspiring to bring joy and peace of mind to the everliving Oyasama—gathered in the Home of the Parent. This year marks the 140th year since Oyasama withdrew from physical life on the lunar calendar date of January 26, 1887, by shortening Her term of life by twenty-five years in order to hasten the performance of the Service and the spiritual growth of all humankind. The 140th Anniversary of Oyasama, the 16th such anniversary to be observed, was solemnly conducted at Tenrikyo Church Headquarters on January 26, with Successor-Designate Daisuke Nakayama presiding as chief officiant on behalf of the Shinbashira.
During the “three years, one thousand days” pre-anniversary activities leading up to this day, churches and followers alike sought to respond to Oyasama’s parental heart by making firm resolutions and implementing the teachings with their sights set on the Divine Model, thereby advancing the path of single-hearted salvation.
Starting a couple of days before the anniversary, an intense cold wave swept across the Japanese islands, disrupting transportation nationwide, including in the Kansai region. As a result, many followers were stranded in various locations. Nonetheless, approximately 120,000 people returned to the Home of the Parent from across Japan and around the world, yearning for the everliving Parent.
On the day of the Service, a single plum blossom was beginning to bloom in front of the Foundress’ Sanctuary. At 7:00 A.M., as the morning of Oyasama’s anniversary dawned, a crisp, dignified tension hung in the cold air of the Sanctuary precincts. The temperature was zero degrees Celsius. Amid the most severe and longest cold wave of the season, followers who had made their way back to Jiba in anticipation of this day assembled one after another before the Parent. The four Worship Halls, as well as the 8,500 benches placed in the Sanctuary precincts, were filled to capacity with pilgrims.
At 10:25 A.M., Rev. Daisuke Nakayama left the Staff Quarters with other Service performers and proceeded to the Main Sanctuary after paying their respects in the Foundress’ Sanctuary and the Memorial Hall. The Shinbashira, meanwhile, proceeded from the north side of the East Corridor to the Main Sanctuary to join in worshiping within the partition bars in the South Worship Hall.
A prayer was offered to God the Parent, with Rev. Nakayama as the core. The Worship Halls fell silent, and members of the congregation each reported their “three years, one thousand days” journey and expressed their gratitude to God the Parent in prayer.
In the Service prayer, Rev. Nakayama said: “Today is a day to conduct the annual Spring Grand Service. However, this year marks the 140th year since Oyasama, out of the deep parental love that seeks to hasten the spiritual growth of Her children, opened the portals and stepped out to level the ground throughout the world by shortening Her term of life by twenty-five years. Therefore, we will now conduct the Oyasama 140th Anniversary Service.”
Looking back on the efforts made by the entire Tenrikyo community during the “three years, one thousand days,” he offered his gratitude to God the Parent, representing everyone present. He then continued: “On this significant day, all of us Service performers, head ministers, and other Yoboku take this opportunity to heighten our awareness and joy of serving as Oyasama’s instruments. We pledge that, taking this day as a fresh start, we will make further progress in our journey of single-hearted salvation with firm resolve.”
Among the followers in the packed four Worship Halls, there were some who were wiping their tears away with handkerchiefs as they reflected on the parental love that had guided them along the path in the past three years.
The Service prayer was followed by the solemn yet joyous performance of the Kagura Service and the Dance with Hand Movements. The worshipers sang along with the Mikagura-uta while reflecting on the events that had happened during the times Oyasama urged the Service to be performed.
After the Kagura Service, the Shinbashira, his wife, and Successor-Designate Daisuke Nakayama proceeded to the Foundress’ Sanctuary to serve Oyasama Her lunch. After the twelve songs of the Dance with Hand Movements were smoothly completed, the Shinbashira took the podium to deliver his address.
Expressing Our Gratitude for the Boundless Blessings
After his opening remarks, the Shinbashira stated, “The anniversaries of Oyasama began to be observed as a result of Her withdrawal from physical life.” He then proceeded with his talk, referring to Chapter 10 of The Life of Oyasama, entitled “The Portals Opened.”
Touching upon the dilemma felt by the first Shinbashira, who sought a directive that would uphold both the directions of Oyasama and the laws of the country, he pointed out that Oyasama stressed that it was imperative to settle the mind in ways that fully accorded with God the Parent’s intention. She thus taught the early followers about the frame of mind they ought to maintain to move forward toward the Joyous Life, a frame of mind that entails placing the settling of the mind before laws, he noted. The Shinbashira then said, “This instruction was not simply intended for those who were at Oyasama’s bedside at the time; it is a cornerstone of our faith that we, as followers today, should also bear in mind.”
Reflecting on the pre-anniversary activities—referring to the work of single-hearted salvation he had called upon the entire Tenrikyo community, through his Instruction, to engage in with decisiveness, unity of mind, and their sights set on the Divine Model—he extended his words of appreciation to the congregation, saying: “I trust that, over the last ‘three years, one thousand days’ activity period, all of you dedicated yourselves to the pre-anniversary activities with utmost sincerity. I would like to say thank you very much for all your efforts.” Lastly, noting that there is still a long way ahead to reach the Joyous Life, he emphasized: “Although the special pre-anniversary activities have now come to an end, allowing us to go back to ordinary times, it will not do to go back to how things were three years ago.” He closed his sermon by saying: “[T]oday marks the beginning of a new chapter of our journey. I would now like to conclude my remarks by asking all of you to continue to walk the path in high spirits.”
Following the sermon, Rev. Daisuke Nakayama, as well as the Service performers, proceeded to the Foundress’ Sanctuary, where he read a prayer to Oyasama. He first thanked Oyasama for opening the ultimate teachings for world salvation by spending fifty years showing us the path of the Divine Model that leads to the Joyous Life and for continuing to guide us and look after our spiritual growth by virtue of Her eternal life. He then continued: “In preparation for Your 140th Anniversary, we focused solely on making repayment for the blessings we receive by setting aside a ‘three years, one thousand days’ period for decisive and dedicated activities to advance single-hearted salvation. Thanks to Your deep parental love in guiding us during that period, we were able to make progress on our journey of spiritual growth and finally observe Your anniversary today. We have just performed the Service in high spirits before God the Parent in the manner You taught us. Now we have come into Your presence to express our gratitude for Your boundless blessings. Thank you very much, Oyasama.”
Rev. Nakayama then made a pledge in the prayer, saying, “Regarding today’s occasion as a milestone in our journey of spiritual growth, we renew our resolve to work for the salvation of others, uniting our minds in accordance with Your Divine Model, and to make layer upon layer of effort to grow spiritually, thereby bringing joy to You.” Lastly, he asked Oyasama to continue to guide us so that we may be shown the sprouting of new growth along the path and that this path may achieve further growth in the days to come.
Then at 2:00 P.M., as soon as the musical siren sounded, the followers who were awaiting the moment clapped at once. As this day marked their new beginning, the followers of the path renewed their firm resolve to honestly and sincerely continue to walk on the path of the Divine Model.
As for overseas pilgrims, approximately 1,300 people returned to Jiba for the anniversary from a total of 22 countries and regions, including South Korea, Brazil, the United States, and France.
