The March Monthly Service of Tenrikyo Church Headquarters was performed on the 26th in the Main Sanctuary.
Serving as chief officiant on behalf of the Shinbashira, who is recuperating, Successor-Designate Daisuke Nakayama said in the Service prayer: “All of us Service performers as well as church head ministers and other Yoboku will devote ourselves to reaching out to people who are suffering or fighting against one another due to the lack of any dependable guide for their minds and will guide them toward the path of true salvation by sharing with them Your parental intention to save all people throughout the world, who are Your children. We are also determined to make our utmost efforts to nurture more Yoboku who can contribute to the construction of the Joyous Life World.”
The prayer was followed by the joyous performance of the Kagura Service and the Dance with Hand Movements. After the Service performance, Honbu-in Yoshiaki Uno took the podium to deliver the sermon.
Speaking on the topic of “passing away for rebirth,” Rev. Uno shared his reflections on the profound parental love contained in the teaching of passing away. He then touched upon the importance of doing our work “in a way that makes those close to us comfortable.” Continuing, he noted, “This will help us to polish our soul and to make spiritual growth, which may in turn enable us to bring our lives to a splendid conclusion when we pass away for rebirth.”
Referring to the spring memorial service, which was due to take place the following day, Rev. Uno added that we would do well to express our sincerest gratitude to our predecessors for following and maintaining the path and that it was our duty to pass on the faith we inherited from them to the next generation.