Tenrikyo Oceania Centre, located in Brisbane, Australia, held the first Oceania Seminar from February 21 to 22, drawing 19 local followers between the ages of 16 and 75. This seminar was organized because participants in the Oceania Seminar for Successors conducted last February requested that this kind of seminar be held on a regular basis. The Oceania Seminar, which was conducted entirely in English, seeks to nurture genuine Yoboku who can perform the service and engage in sprinkling the fragrance of the teachings and salvation work.
After the opening ceremony, Oceania Centre Head Masafumi Adachi gave the first lecture, which was entitled “Introduction to the Basic Teachings and Oyasama.” In the lecture, he encouraged the participants to familiarize themselves with The Doctrine of Tenrikyo by reading it on a daily basis. In the second lecture, which was given on the second day, Overseas Department Staff Member Mitsuo Kajimoto talked about the meaning and significance of the service. Participants also practiced the seated service and the Eight Verses of the Yorozuyo and engaged in group discussions.
Rev. Adachi says: “Having completed the first Oceania Seminar, we are confident that we have taken a firm step to nurture Yoboku for the future path in the Oceania region. At the same time, we want to do our utmost to hold the seminar twice a year as one of the core activities of the centre in order to provide a further opportunity for local followers to work together to deepen their spiritual practice.”