A ceremony was held on September 25 to commence the construction of South Right Wing 2 of the Oyasato-yakata building-complex. Along with the construction for the “westward expansion of the Sanctuary precincts” started on June 25, the construction of South Right Wing 2 is one of the two major construction projects being undertaken in the Home of the Parent in anticipation of the 120th Anniversary of Oyasama. The construction of South Right Wing 2 is scheduled to be completed in 2005, the year preceding the 120th Anniversary of Oyasama.
When completed, the building will be the 28th wing of the Oyasato-yakata building-complex, which is designed to surround the Jiba. The foundation and basement of the building were already completed in November 2000 along with South Right Wing 1, which houses Tenri University Sankokan Museum. After much consideration on how to make use of South Right Wing 2, it was recently decided that it should serve as a “facility to promote sprinkling the fragrance of the teachings and saving others,” and thus the work on the rest of the building has now resumed.
At the ceremony, the Shinbashira pointed out that the construction of the Oyasato-yakata building-complex has been continuing over the past nearly 50 years since its first phase started in 1959 based on the plans announced by the second Shinbashira in the previous year. The Shinbashira reminded the listeners of the original purpose of constructing the building on a periphery of a quadrangle centering around the Jiba: the Oyasato-yakata building-complex represents a model of the world of the Joyous Life in which we children live joyously and harmoniously with our Parent as the core.
Having made those remarks, he emphasized that while it is important to construct the building in the literal sense, the most crucial point is that those who are to use the building should try to allow their minds to mature so as to demonstrate a model of the Joyous Life in accord with the original purpose. He stressed, therefore, that it is imperative to be granted the blessings by which the number of people who work with their minds will increase in proportion to the number of the completed wings.
He explained that although the purpose of the material construction of South Right Wing 2 is its completion, what is vital is to advance the “construction of our minds toward spiritual growth” through the process of constructing the building. This, he said, will allow for promoting the construction of further wings of the Oyasato-yakata building-complex. As regards the use of the building after its completion, he indicated that this wing would serve as a place where Tenrikyo followers returning to Jiba could study and learn the teachings.
South Right Wing 2 is designed as a facility where visitors to the Home of the Parent can come to know and learn the teachings of Tenrikyo and where church head ministers and Yoboku can study and understand the teachings more deeply so as to strengthen their faith. This wing will have exhibition rooms, classrooms such as for “Tenrikyo Basics Course” and “Hinokishin School,” and a conference hall with a seating capacity of 340 equipped with a simultaneous interpretation system.