At the monthly meeting held on the afternoon of December 26, 2020, Tenrikyo Women’s Association announced its slogan for spiritual maturity and the activity guideline for the year 2021. They are respectively, “Let’s follow the Divine Model and become the foundation for the Joyous Life,” and, “Let’s inquire into the origin and make daily repayment for the blessings we receive.” Under the slogan and activity guideline, directly supervised chapters and diocese chapters will also develop their specific guidelines for their activities. The association will continue to encourage its members to aim for a million members by working together to ensure that each member can be blessed with two new members.
In the meeting, Association President Harue Nakayama explained that “to inquire into the origin” means to study the Scriptures and The Life of Oyasama so as to firmly settle the intention of God the Parent in our minds. She stressed the importance of passing down the faith to the next generation by delving into the origin of our church and our family’s faith. Saying that a deep sense of gratitude for the parental love wells up in our minds as we inquire into the origin, she emphasized that we can make repayment for the blessings when we become sincere in desiring to respond to the intention of the Parent and carry out our activities with a sense of indebtedness. Since there are various ways to repay our indebtedness, each chapter is expected to discuss a plan of action and implement it, said the president.
On January 27, 2021, the association held a seminar for the chairwomen of directly supervised chapters and diocese chapters at the East Lecture Hall. President Harue Nakayama led off her address by talking about how we, as followers of the path, should think about the COVID-19 pandemic.
Clarifying that this great knot is guidance for those of us who are following God the Parent’s teachings, the president stated that we should once again ponder over a way of life befitting a Yoboku or a follower and make an effort to live up to it.
Then, after quoting a passage from the Shinbashira’s New Year’s address, she talked about the issues involved in nurturing Yoboku and followers close at hand.
She said that, no matter how much the times change or society changes, we must uphold the importance of nurturing a firm conviction of faith that enables us to pass down the faith through endless generations.
She then referred to the activity guideline, saying that those of us who have faith in this path should exert our utmost in inquiring into the intention of God the Parent and convey the teachings to as many people as possible with confidence.
Further, the president reaffirmed the importance of settling in our minds the intention of the Parent by studying the Scriptures and The Life of Oyasama and of guiding and nurturing those close to us with a firm conviction of faith. She continued: “Let us heighten our awareness and help bring understanding to one another through discussion, thereby nurturing a firm conviction of faith. Also, let us encourage one another to follow the path in a way that helps us learn to use our minds and live our lives in accordance with God’s intention.”
It was announced that the 103rd Women’s Association Convention will be held on April 19 in the Inner Courtyard of Church Headquarters. Only representatives of each chapter will attend the convention.
“Lecture for Mothers” will be held on September 26 and October 26 at the East Lecture Hall.