The August 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 sweep away the dusts of the mind by making layer upon layer of efforts to purify our minds in our daily lives. Each one of us is determined to do our utmost to advance the work of single-hearted salvation to realize the world so desired by You.”
The prayer was followed by the joyous performance of the Kagura Service and the Dance with Hand Movements. After the Service performance, Honbu-in Hisataro Takai took the podium to deliver the sermon.
Rev. Takai spoke at some length about the early years of Oyasama saying that She showed us the model way of practicing filial piety or devotion to our parents. He went on to say: “Filial piety means to live up to the intention and the expectations of our parents by putting aside our human thoughts and our own convenience. . . . It is of primary importance, therefore, for us to base our thoughts and actions on the mind that seeks to bring joy and satisfaction to our parents.”
“On the other hand,” he said, “it is also vital for us to make efforts to become a ʻmodel parentʼ who can spontaneously drive our childrenʼs willingness and motivation to practice filial piety, given that this path teaches that piety to our parents is piety toward God the Parent.”