We call out the name Tenri-O-no-Mikoto in praise and worship of God the Parent. God the Parent is “God of Origin” who created this world and human beings in the beginning of the world, desiring to see us lead the Joyous Life and thus to share in that joy. Moreover, God the Parent is “God in Truth” who provides us with all the blessings in this world, including fire, water, and wind in the world, and warmth, moisture, and breathing inside the human body.
On October 23, 1838, through the mouth of our foundress, Miki Nakayama, God the Parent spoke to human beings for the first time, declaring, “I am God of Origin, God in Truth. There is causality in this Residence. At this time, I have descended here to save all humankind. I wish to receive Miki as the Shrine of God.” The third day after this revelation, October 26, marks the beginning of Tenrikyo.
We call our foundress, “Oyasama,” meaning “beloved Parent.” Oyasama not only taught us the will of God the Parent as the Shrine of God for fifty years since the beginning of Tenrikyo, but also personally showed us the Divine Model of single-hearted salvation. She withdrew from physical life on January 26, 1887, to urge the spiritual development of the children, and so we are not able to see Her figure anymore, but She still works today as ever before for the cause of world salvation.
Oyasama taught us that the purpose of our lives is for human beings—the children of God the Parent—to lead the joyous life, through helping each other.
With human beings, the body is a thing lent, a thing borrowed from God.
The mind alone is yours. (Divine Direction: June 1, 1889)
As stated above, we are taught that we borrow our body from God the Parent, and that the mind alone is ours. To realize a world of Joyous Life, it is important that each and everyone of us live each day merrily in high spirits, always sweeping away our mental dusts (reflecting over the self-centered usage of our mind which does not go along with the will of God the Parent), engaging in hinokishin ( repaying God the Parent, appreciating the blessings of God the Parent at all times. )
To help others be saved, as we are taught, “through saving others, you shall be saved,” and to realize that every incident happens due to the Parental love of God the Parent—this is the Path in which we can truly be saved.
By following the Divine Model which Oyasama showed us, performing the Service, and administering the truth of Sazuke to people suffering from illness, the minds of the people throughout the world will be purified, and this world will be reconstructed into the world of Joyous Life, the world of true peace.
God the Parent and Oyasama are hastening our spiritual development, and are waiting for the children from all over the world to come back to Jiba, the Parental Home.
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