Image source: I actually took this one for a change (ha ha ha!)

Amid the hullabaloo and pageantry of the Children’s Pilgrimage, a very important gastronomic development took place on July 26. Tenri Stamina Ramen—a spicy fixture in Tenri that has concluded many drinking binges for returning followers for as long as I can remember—opened a new store in the Tenri Hondori Shopping Arcade!

As the Hondori offers few options to fulfill late night munchies, this surely is welcome news! We hope Stamina Ramen will call the Hondori home for many years to come!

A couple more videos (in Japanese only) about the Children’s Pilgrimage to Jiba (Kodomo Ojiba Gaeri or KOG) have been posted on the Tenrikyo Japanese website. Read the rest of this entry »

A news video (in Japanese only) about the Children’s Pilgrimage to Jiba has been posted on the Tenrikyo Japanese website. Here is a translation of the narration:

On July 26, after the July Monthly Service, this year’s Children’s Pilgrimage to Jiba, hosted by Tenrikyo Church Headquarters, began.

The theme for this year’s Children’s Pilgrimage is “All people are brothers and sisters. Let’s return to the Home of the Parent.” Various activities and attractions have been planned to promote the “Three Promises”: (1) Savor the joy of living, (2) Take good care of things, and (3) Help one another.

The Children’s Pilgrimage to Jiba will be held until August 4. Summertime in Jiba will be filled with smiles of children from Japan and all over the world.

The Japanese narration can be read at 立教174年こどもおぢばがえり “子供の祭典”開幕 (7月26日)

Here are other videos on the Children’s Pilgrimage (sorry, no narration and Japanese explanations only):

KOG “Zoom-up 1” Covers:

• Oyasato-yakata lecture
• Pools in five locations
• Curry dining halls
• “Variety 174” (Dance and magic shows)
• “Kodomo yokocho” (Children’s Alley)

KOG “Zoom-up 2” Covers:

• “Achikochi Land”
•  “Attack World”
• “Oyasato Theater”
•  “Oyasato Children’s Olympics”

Update: Here are a couple of other videos that have been posted since this article was first published (sorry, no time for full translations):

• Children’s Pilgrimage to Jiba in full swing (includes footage of musical instruments practice, hinokishin, and measures to prevent/deal with heat stroke such as ice-cold tea stalls, “mist fans,” and first aid stations)
• Oyasato Parade (held after evening service for the duration of the Children’s Pilgrimage)

The following is a translation of an excerpt from Ikiru kotoba (“Living words”), p. 5.

Over a large river, there is a bridge which has no supports. . . . if you earnestly strive and cross the bridge without falling, there will be before you a mountain of treasure.

Anecdotes of Oyasama 171, “The Mountain of Treasure”

Oyasama also went on to say: “If you go to the summit you will receive something marvelous. But since one turns back because of dangers on the way, one does not receive the treasure.” God the Parent has nothing to be spirited about if people fail to make efforts to find true happiness and genuine salvation because they have are content with their own happiness as a result of living in affluence. It is assumed that “a bridge with no supports” refers to a rope bridge.

Image source: http://www.anamazinghouse.co.uk/Attractions/

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Tenri University Furusato Assembly Hall

Dr. Barbara Ambros, associate professor at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, was invited to give a presentation at Tenri University Furusato Assembly Hall on July 11. An invitation was extended to Dr. Ambros to speak in Tenri after she had written an article on CNN’s Belief Blog about how Japan’s new religions responded to the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that briefly showcased Tenrikyo and the efforts of the Disaster Relief Hinokishin Corps.

Read the rest of this entry »

The following is a translation of an excerpt from Ikiru kotoba (“Living words”), p. 13

If the path is cleared from down below both the people up above and the people down below can easily get near, can they not?

Anecdotes of Oyasama 28, “Clear the Path from the Bottom”

A particular person, thinking of the path, once offered, “The path will become so much better if it is cleared in the high mountains.” To this, Oyasama replied, “If the path is cleared from up above, can the people down below get near?”

Oyasama did not say, “Come and climb up to where I am,” from the high mountains (i.e., a position of political power or high social status). She instead established a path in which She walks and climbs with us. Such is Oyasama’s path.

Further reading

• Mission to the High Mountains by Yoshikazu Fukaya

Image source: http://www.free-extras.com/

The following is a translation of an excerpt from Ikiru kotoba (“Living words”), p. 17.

This path cannot be followed by human thinking. It is the path that is being formed by the law of nature (tennen shizen).

Anecdotes of Oyasama 17, “The Law of Nature”

We human beings tend to rush for results, relying on our fallible wisdom and power. Tennen shizen—which also refers to what is natural and spontaneous—describes the process of sowing seeds at the seasonable time, applying fertilizer when buds sprout, and finally reaping a harvest after we have given our attentive care in raising a crop. It is a process that demands time and effort.

It is the same when it comes to faith. Just as plants go through a many different stages in their development, our faith becomes genuine when we overcome difficult situations (knots).

Further reading

• Buds Sprout from Knots by Yoshikazu Fukaya
• Tennen Shizen no michi by Yoshikazu Fukaya
• Tennen shizen no michi from A Glossary of Tenrikyo Terms (Tenrikyo jiten)

Image source: http://www.free-extras.com/

Hachinohe Seagull Bridge connecting to Port Island

A news video (in Japanese only) about Heart Clean Campaign Action Day has been posted on the Tenrikyo Japanese website.

The “Heart Clean Campaign” is a Tenrikyo Young Men’s Association activity that may look quite similar to Tenrikyo Hinokishin Day. Heart Clean Campaign activities are usually held throughout Japan on the first Sunday of each month. (The activity is often held either on the second or third Sunday in January and September.)

Here is a translation of the video narration:

The “Heart Clean Campaign,” promoted by Tenrikyo Young Men’s Association, held its “Action Day” on the first Sunday of July in various regions across Japan.

The Port of Hachinohe in Aomori Prefecture suffered tsunami damage from the March 11 Tohoku Earthquake. The Sanpachi District of Aomori Diocese Young Men’s Association helped clean the area around “Port Island.” Followers in Sanpachi District brought their families to participate in cleanup hinokishin as an effort to widen the circle of the Joyous Life.

(By TR Translation Staff)

Image source: http://d.hatena.ne.jp/ysdk1/20090719/p1

Related Tenrikyo Online articles:

• Action Day for Heart-Clean Campaign Held (July 2010)
• Action Day for “Heart-Clean Campaign” Held (July 2008)
• Action Day for “Heart-Clean Campaign” Observed (July 2006)
• Action Day for “Heart-Clean Campaign” Observed (July 2005)