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Tenrikyo Mission Headquarters of Hawaii

Origins No. 348

Nov-Dec2020

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Appearing before You, God the Parent, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto, I, Shugo Yamanaka, Bishop of the Mission Headquarters of Hawaii, speak with reverence on behalf of the Hawaii congregation.

God the Parent, with Your deep parental love to save all human beings in the world, You became revealed through Oyasama as Your Shrine, and since then You have laid the path of single-hearted salvation, thus guiding us toward the Joyous Life. For this we are truly grateful. Each of us is striving daily, in our respective places and positions, for our spiritual maturity and for world salvation, always adhering to the teachings. Today is the day we are granted to conduct the November Monthly Grand Service at this mission headquarters. In the same manner as last month, we, approximately thirty performers who have gathered here, with enough sincerity to represent all the other service performers and members of the congregation who cannot be here today, will now unite our hearts as one, without singer or flute, but by synchronizing with the recorded singing of the Mikagura-uta by the third Shinbashira and perform the Seated Service and the Dance with Hand Movements joyously in high spirits. We will earnestly pray for world salvation, especially for the ending of the current pandemic as well as the recovery of those infected, even a day sooner.

Especially during the current difficult situations, each and every one of us should turn ourselves back to the basics of the teachings and faith and keep ourselves firmly connected to God the Parent, Oyasama, and Jiba. Thus we are firmly determined to live the way of the Joyous Life each day first with our respective family and church members by helping, supporting, delighting, and encouraging each other, and continue to do so even further, positively and brightly looking forward to what lies ahead, so as to respond to God the Parent’s intention. May You, God the Parent, accept our sincerity, and we ask that You allow us human beings to overcome the current great crisis, seeing a great bud sprouting from this great knot, and guide us further toward the reconstruction of the world into a Joyous Life World, even a day sooner, where everyone will come to know of the Parent of Origin thus awakening to the truth of universal brotherhood & sisterhood and live together in harmony helping and caring for one another. Together with all present, I sincerely pray that You bless us so.

November Monthly Service Prayer

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Mission HQ November Monthly Service SermonRev. Michioki Inafuku Head Minister of Kariyushi Mission Station

This is in print only, not delivered at the monthly service.

The reason Tsukihi began human beings was the desire to see you lead a joyous life. (XIV: 25)

As written in this Ofudesaki verse, God the Parent created human beings in this world with a desire to see human beings lead the Joyous Life. In other words, our purpose to live our lives as human beings is to have God the Parent see us living joyously. If human beings live in a way that goes against the intention of God the Parent, corrective action must be taken. I believe this current pandemic is the corrective action that is taking place.

In July of 1879, a pandemic called “cholera” occurred in Japan. At that time, cholera was feared, and it was called “collapse & die in 3 days” because if you got infected, you would pass away for rebirth in three days. In the Ofudesaki it says,

The world is saying that it is cholera, but it is Tsukihi informing you of the regret.

(XIV: 22)

Surely, God the Parent is showing regret to those who could not live up to God’s “intention.” Furthermore, if we continue our selfish lifestyle without knowing the intention

of God the Parent and continue to live life as we please without practicing “unity of mind, mutual help, etc,” human beings will be faced with corrective action through natural disasters.

Thunder, earthquakes, great winds, and floods: these are from the regret and anger of Tsukihi. (VIII: 58)

In recent years, the Great Tohoku Earthquake, the Kumamoto Earthquake, typhoons, and floods have occurred in quick succession in Japan. This year, the wildfires in California were major disasters for everyone. Why does God the Parent show anger to human beings through catastrophe? It is simply because of God’s parental desire to have human beings live the Joyous Life.

Hereafter, I shall set out to make the whole world brim with joy.

(X: 103)

In this world, we are promised to live life filled with joy according to the intention of God the Parent. However, if we are unaware of the intention and continue to live life as we please,

What are you thinking on hearing this talk? Flames of heaven, rains of fire, and tidal waves in the seas…

(VI: 116)

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Therefore, it is important to resolve our minds and settle the intention of God the Parent. Only when we are in accordance with God the Parent’s intention, we are able to live the Joyous Life. In fact, the importance of this “intention” can be proven by modern physics.

Dr. Albert Einstein proclaimed “there is no time in the world.” For example, the stars we see in the sky at night are not the light at the present, but the light from stars several billions years ago. So if time does not exist in this world, what does exist? As advocated by Einstein and current physicists, only the “present” (what we see at this moment) exists.

Furthermore, the “present” is actually an “intention.” So this “present” that we are continuously living in is an “intention.” Modern physicists also advocate that all physical and spiritual things are made up of this “intention.” For example, in quantum mechanics, the smallest unit of matter is an elementary particle, and similar elementary particles gather together to form a matter. It is said that human skin and iPhones are made up of matters that are formed by these similar elementary particles.

Next, it is said that if you put human internal organs such as stomach, intestines, liver and kidneys in a beaker, break them down into small particles, stir it, and leave it for a while, the stomach particles will gather with similar stomach particles and the liver particles will gather with similar liver particles. In this way, modern physicists have proven that not only spiritual things but all things are formed by this “intention.” Now we know how magnificent God the Parent’s intention is. Furthermore, we as Yoboku and followers must remember the

importance of relaying the intention of God the Parent to all human beings.

We are fortunate to be living in Hawaii, a “key station” for Jiba. Rev. Yoshitaro Ueda, the former Director-in-Chief of Administrative Affairs, spent his time studying in the U.S. mainland as a student. During his stay, he thought the U.S. mainland was Jiba’s “key station” for missionary activities. 30 years ago, Rev. Ueda was dispatched by Church HQ to Hawaii to teach the Spiritual Developmental Course and spent a little over a month here. During that time, he told me that Hawaii is the “key station” for Jiba.

In 1974, more than 1,200 YMA members from Japan and other countries participated in the Hawaii Convention. It can be said that the energy from the convention strongly influenced the young generation by giving them confidence and pride to walk this path. Moreover, the Tenrikyo Bazaar, which is held in Hawaii every year, is a wonderful religious event that reaches out to the local community and spreads the fragrance of Tenrikyo.

With an ideal climate and English as its native language, I believe we have entered a period in which the intention of God the Parent is being conveyed from Hawaii to the people of the world. 50 years has passed since I was dispatched from the YMA HQ in June of 1971 as one of three missionaries taking on the task of revitalizing missionary activities in Hawaii. As we approach the 140th Anniversary of Oyasama, I will continue to spread the teachings with the aim of making a “Mission Center for Salvation” at my mission station in Kapolei. Thank you for your kind attention.

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October 7The biggest news for many of us since

last week must be “President Trump testing positive for Covid-19 and getting hospitalized.” Ever since he took office, President Trump has been severely criticized for his words and deeds, including his handling of the current pandemic. Yet, I admit that I was rather moved by some of his words, particularly, “Do not let it (coronavirus) dominate your lives,” which he uttered upon his return to the White House.

Never do I mean to praise or support Mr. Trump, but I honestly felt that his words, “Do not let coronavirus dominate our lives,” had some truth in it.

Of course, we should be careful enough and take every precaution against the spread of the coronavirus. However, living our daily lives while remaining excessively scared of it at every moment has more negative effects than positive, I think. While we should be properly afraid of, and cautious against, the coronavirus, we should strive to live each day in bright, spirited, and positive mind while trusting in the wonderful workings of God the Parent we receive within our bodies, “things lent, things borrowed,” rather than being excessively scared.

October 12Usually, around this time in October, many

head ministers are getting busy preparing to travel to Japan for Jiba and respective Grand Churches. This year, however, because of the

pandemic, most of us including myself have given up on returning to Jiba this month.

When will we be able to return to Jiba again? Next January or April? We cannot tell for sure yet. One thing we can say for sure now, however, is that our next return to Jiba will be a very special one, bringing us great feelings of inspiration and joy never felt before. Until that time comes, let us live each day while keeping our minds and hearts firmly connected to God the Parent, Oyasama, and Jiba.

As we all know, God the Parent created human beings “in order to see us live the Joyous Life and thus share in that joy.” Therefore, it is our task as followers of the path to strive to live the Joyous Life in any time in any circumstance. It may even be said that we should be able to live the Joyous Life in any difficult time or circumstance.

Let us keep having a firm sense of awareness as followers of the path, firmly trusting in God the Parent and Oyasama, and let us live each day with bright joyous spirits by helping, supporting, encouraging and delighting each other with those right around us.

October 20Thank you very much for coming to

perform at Dendocho October Grand Service or making worship from your homes last Sunday.

The Service was performed without fue or jikata, with only 4 dancers, with enough distance kept among the instruments, with everyone on the dais wearing masks, while synchronizing with the Third Shinbashira’s

A Digest of Bishop's Weekly Messages to Head Ministers in Hawaii

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singing of the Mikagura-Uta. Of course, that is not exactly how it should be done, but it is the best we could do under the current restrictions. We’d like to find a sense of gratitude in that we were able to perform the Service somehow in the spacious and breezy Dendocho Shinden. I hope that we’ll be able to continue performing the Dendocho Monthly Service in the same manner for the next several months.

As you all know, Church HQ’s Autumn Grand Service will be held on the 26th of this month. We’d like to conduct the 26th-day service at Dendocho at 1:30 pm next Sunday, the 25th, in Hawaii time, which is approximately the time when the Kagura Service will be starting at Jiba. You may join us at Dendocho or make worship from your homes, of course. Let us direct our prayers toward Jiba, give our thoughts to the day of origin of the Founding of the Teaching, and renew our pledge to keep on living each day, even during the pandemic, as followers of the path, in single-heartedness with God, single-heartedly dedicated to helping & saving others and finding joy in any situation.

October 27According to a message from Kaigaibu,

the Church HQ’s Autumn Grand Service was conducted in a unity of minds under a beautiful refreshing autumn weather. With the coronavirus situations in Japan still precarious, only the heads of Dioceses and Grand Churches, Church HQ staff ministers, and certain head ministers chosen from each Grand Church were allowed to be inside the Worship Halls. Other head ministers, yoboku,

and followers were able to be seated on the long chairs placed outside the Worship Halls.

Daisuke-sama, as chief officiant, stated in the service prayer: “Upon this occasion of the Autumn Grand Service, all of us shall raise our awareness as Yoboku who take on the intention of the Parent expressed on the day of origin of the Founding of the Teaching and resolve to attain further spiritual maturity by seeking the path each day and uniting our hearts under any hardship, thus fulfilling our respective duties.”

Even though we cannot physically return to Jiba, let us remember the day of origin of the Founding of the Teaching, reflecting upon the profound purpose of God the Parent starting this Teaching through Oyasama and, further, upon our respective “faith roots”—why we have been following this path in Hawaii. By so doing, we shall be able to renew our awareness, pride, and sense of mission as followers of the path and keep on living each day in high spirits even during the pandemic.

November 3In his sermon at Autumn Grand Service,

Director-in-Chief of Religious Affairs Miyamori requested us to “think about what each of us can do now, based on Oyasama’s Divine Model” and to “be mindful of helping and saving others with gentle hearts, putting aside our worries.” He further encouraged us by saying: “All the more because we are currently facing the difficult challenging times, we should strive to use our wisdom to its fullest and exert our efforts to advance with our salvation work, finding delight in

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We are in the midst of the holiday season and as gathering numbers are allowed to increase, I am sure there will be family gatherings to come. No better time than to share something the family will love. I have always loved bread pudding which is usually sweet, yet never have I ever found a savory bread pudding recipe. I found this in Taste of Home and thought it was different. So I decided to share. It really makes a flavorful side dish. I hope you enjoy this.

The Hungry Reporter

Ingredients:4 cups Cubed Rye Bread (about 6 slices)2 Tbsp Butter, melted2 cups Cubed or Shredded Corned Beef, cooked1 can Sauerkraut, rinsed and well drained.1 cup shredded Swiss Cheese, divided3 large Eggs

Reuben Bread Pudding

Directions:1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In large bowl, toss bread cubes with butter. Stir in corned beef, sauerkraut and ½ cup cheese; transfer to a greased 11X7 inch baking dish.

2. In same bowl, whisk eggs, milk, salad dressing, mustard and pepper; pour over top. Bake, uncovered for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake until top is golden and a knife inserted in center comes out clean, about 5-7 minutes longer.

1 cup 2% Milk1/3 cup Thousand Island Dressing1 ½ tsp Mustard¼ tsp Pepper

what lies ahead in the future, no less than how our predecessors persevered through their own difficulties.” (Translation mine) Please keep these words firmly in our minds.

November 23In the U.S. mainland, the numbers of

Covid-19 infection cases are continuing to rise at the unprecedented pace, with the total cases surpassing the 12 million and the total deaths reaching 257,000. In Hawaii, the number of daily new cases for Sunday was 123, and 114 for today, hitting the triple digits. Fortunately, Hawaii has the nation’s lowest rate of COVID infections. Of course, we should never be off our guard. However, let us not fall into an excessive sense of fear and anxiety. Instead, let us strive to live through the pandemic with a bright mind

by firmly trusting—and thanking—God the Parent’s workings within our bodies and Oyasama’s daily guidance. We may not yet see the light coming from the exit of this very long tunnel, but at least our “bright minds” as Tenrikyo followers should be able to illuminate the dark for people around us to walk through the tunnel at some ease.

November 30Because of Hawaii being an island state

separated by the ocean, the coronavirus numbers have remained this low. Rather than just feeling fortunate to be living in Hawaii and sympathetic toward the people in the mainland, I think we should ponder what we can or should do as Tenrikyo followers living in Hawaii and start taking actions no matter how small.

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Mission HQ Personnel ChangesOn Nov. 11, Mr. Nobuyuki Yoshida (Shikito

GC) finished his 2-year duty and returned to Japan. Mahalo for his hinokishin efforts!

On Dec. 3, Miss Michiko Uno (Koshinokuni GC) arrived to serve for 2 months as a joshi-seinen at Dendocho. Please extend your aloha when you see her.

Young Women’s Club GatheringOn Nov. 28, YWC made 100 cards with

origami to distribute to 2 nursing facilities. During these difficult times we wanted to give some joy to their residents. Mahalo for your support.

Dendocho Year-end EventsThe 26th-Day Service (Yohaishiki) at

Dendocho will be held on Dec. 25 at 2pm. Year-end General Clean-up will be done by Dendocho staff on Dec. 26. Year-end mochi-making is cancelled due to the current pandemic. Thank you for your understanding.

Greeting from New StaffAloha! My name is Genki Maruta. I arrived

in Hawaii on Oct. 31 from Kaigaibu, replacing Mr. Mukai. Although the original arrival at Hawaii was delayed due to the pandemic, I am now relieved that I could come here safely.

After finishing the 2-week quarantine, I started working at Dendocho joyously. This is my first time in Hawaii so I do not know Hawaii well. But I will do my best for you all. I humbly ask for your kind support.