Christians have Christmas, Judaism has Hanukkah, but what do we have? Read the rest of this entry »

Image source: http://en-nichi.seesaa.net/article/49407371.html

While walking in the Tenri Hondori earlier this month, I noticed a banner announcing the launch of a webpage named “Tenri Nigiwai Sanpo,” which loosely translates as “Tenri Lively Stroll” (a lively stroll in Tenri?).

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Wow, it’s been some time since I’ve contributed to TR! I apologize for my absence.

Some weeks ago, I stumbled upon a page entitled “Popular Questions & Answers for Tenrikyo” on FindTheData.org. Although it provides a handy list of Q&A, I found it to contain some information I would qualify as misconceptions at best.

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Rev. Colin Saito presenting at the Tenrikyo Hawaii Convention 2011.

Rev. Colin Saito had stopped by the other day and passionately explained his understanding of the Yorozuyo to myself and a few others, and described the true love of Oyasama for everyone in this world in teaching us the Service. Indeed he was very inspired to spread his words to others. So I asked if he could allow me to put his speech that he did for the Tenrikyo Hawaii Convention 2011 in the “Study of the Service” section. He had kindly allowed me to do so. Just as I remembered at the Convention, I felt like I could feel the importance of the Service through his voice and action. It was definitely inspiring and appropriate to be put on to this website.

His lecture is titled: “The Importance of the Service”
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ESL class at the Tenri Cultural Institute

The Tenri Cultural Institute (TCI) started teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) because we have been looking for ways to expand our programs. Up until now, our Japanese language classes for adults have been our most popular program averaging about 100 students a session. However, over the years, we have seen a slow decline in the amount of students taking our classes. (Currently there are about 70 adult students.) Several years ago, we started Japanese classes for children and that has become quite popular. We now have more children than adults taking Japanese classes.

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A haiga by Rev. Kuniharu Shimizu.

This morning again I uploaded a haiga (artwork inspired by haiku poem) on my blog. This has become my daily habit since about two years ago. My blog is about haiku, haiga, and haibun (prose with haiku). I write my own haiku poems and make haiga for them. But, mostly I make haiga for someone else’s haiku, for those written by haiku poets throughout the world. And I call this endeavor “art hinokishin.” Read the rest of this entry »

Tenrikyo Pearl Church - Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

As a Tenrikyo follower from Hawaii, I am not sure how each structure around the world where the daily and monthly services are performed looks like. That’s because I don’t even know what every church in Hawaii looks like.

I also wonder what kind of structure comes to mind when people hear the name “Tenrikyo.” I can only imagine most non-followers may be even more confused than me when it comes what the average Tenrikyo church is supposed to look like.

So I just thought that it would be cool to see what would happen if I asked readers to send me a photo of both your church from the outside and a photo of your shrine altar inside. It would be quite amazing if I could get a photo from every country where Tenrikyo has a presence of some kind.

In order to participate, please send me:

• A photo of your church from the outside.
• A photo of the shrine altar(s). Please do not include people in this photo so that viewers can get a clear view of it.
• The name of the city, state/province, and country your church is located.
  (You may also give any details about your church structure or shrine altar.)

Submissions will be accepted until December 15th. Submit to lewnulldev@gnullmainulll.com.

* Please note that once submitted, you are authorizing TR to post the photos and information online. Please be sure to get permission from your church minister and/or appropriate staff before submitting the photos. Contact us immediately, if you do not want the submitted photos be posted.

Your cooperation is needed! If you have a mission center or know of a friend’s church, please let them know about this project and send me their photos!

Tenri Sankokan Museum (Image source: http://www.panoramio.com/photo/26662009)

Two news videos (in Japanese only) about recent exhibitions at institutions affiliated Tenri University were posted the other day. Here are translations of the narration from the videos:

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Two news videos (in Japanese only) on two annual Tenrikyo events have been posted recently. Here are translations of the narration from the videos:

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