The 108th Convention of Tenrikyo Women’s Association was held on April 19, the day after the Oyasama Birth Celebration Service, with the Inner Courtyard of Church Headquarters serving as the main venue.
In the lead-up to the convention, the association promoted the slogan “Let all of us members return to Jiba with the people we have invited—let’s invite them to the Besseki lecture,” and encouraged its members to bring as many other members as possible to the convention. On that day, approximately 35,000 members gathered in the Home of the Parent from across Japan and overseas. At the registration booths, each participant received a program flyer and a small commemorative booklet entitled Oyasama wa Gozonmei (Oyasama is everliving), a compilation of a series of articles originally published in Michinodai, vols. 207–212.
At 9:30 A.M., Women’s Association President Harue Nakayama escorted Successor-Designate Daisuke Nakayama and other distinguished guests into the venue. The ceremony began with the singing of the Eight Verses of the Yorozuyo and then moved on to a pledge by a representative of new members. The pledge was followed by a progress report presented by Committee Member Matsue Matsumura. Following the report, the association president took the podium to deliver her address.
President Nakayama explained that this year’s activity guidelines were set after discussions with the association headquarters committee members on how to move forward in the post-anniversary period, building on the capabilities developed over the three years. Then, she said: “[T]his year’s activity guidelines encourage us to learn the importance of the Service and perform the service wholeheartedly. We are also called to make efforts to convey the significance of the Service to others and to our own children in a way they can easily understand so that more people may perform it in the same spirit.”
She concluded her speech by saying, “As we aim toward the next milestone starting today, let us make great strides along the path by encouraging one another and helping one another become spirited so that we may attain spiritual growth that may bring joy to God the Parent and Oyasama.”
The president’s address was followed by the message from the Shinbashira delivered by Director-in-Chief of Religious Affairs Yoichiro Miyamori. In the message, the Shinbashira pointed out that as the 140th Anniversary of Oyasama was observed earlier this year, it is important for each of us to reflect on how we had gone through the period leading up to that day. He said: “If we find many shortcomings in ourselves, we should consider what needs to be corrected and make the necessary changes. Even if we feel that we have done our utmost, we must not become complacent about it. Rather, we should brace ourselves once again and strive to move forward.”
He then stated that the reason the Women’s Association is considered to be the foundation of the path lies in never forgetting the virtues of bearing and nurturing that women are endowed with, in not being swayed by worldly common ideas, and in making an honest effort to follow the teachings to make progress along the path. It is through making such efforts repeatedly that the association members are able to make spiritual growth, and that is the true purpose of the association’s activities. The keys to following the Divine Model and receiving the blessings that help us grow spiritually are “to become familiar with the Scriptures and seek a deeper understanding of the core of the teachings and the Parent’s intention” and “to put the teachings into practice in our everyday lives, starting with what is close at hand,” he stressed.
He went on to say, “It would not be an exaggeration to say that seeking the mind of the Parent—that is, the intention of God the Parent and Oyasama—and making daily efforts to put the teachings into practice lead us to following the Divine Model.” He closed his remarks by saying, “Now that we have passed one significant milestone, I sincerely ask you to reflect on how you have gone through the pre-anniversary period, correct whatever may need to be corrected, build upon what should be carried forward, and set out anew with renewed decisiveness.”
After the Shinbashira’s message, Asakusa Chapter Chairwoman Ariko Miyauchi delivered a pledge on behalf of all members. The members then sang the association song.
Following the ceremony, “Chapter Meetings” were held by the respective directly supervised chapters in the afternoon as part of the commemorative events.
Commemorative Lecture on “Oyasama” Held
At 5:00 P.M. on April 18—the day before the convention—commemorative lectures on the theme of “Oyasama” were given at four venues, drawing a total of 6,100 participants: Dining Hall 2, East Lecture Hall, and the fourth-floor assembly halls in East Right Wing 1 and East Left Wing 5 of the Oyasato-yakata building-complex. At the Oyasato-yakata East Right Wing 1 venue, the lecture was simultaneously interpreted into English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish.