Oceania Seminar for Successors 2008

On 16th & 17th February, the Oceania Seminar for Successors was spiritedly held at the Oceania Centre inviting Rev Shugo Yamanaka as a lecturer sent from Church Headquarters. This Seminar was conducted as an Overseas Version of the Seminar for Successors which has been held in Jiba between August last year and April this year, sponsored by Tenrikyo Church Headquarters for the purpose of nurturing the young people who will take the lead on the path during the next generation, in the seasonable time when we have just started to take a new step forward toward the next milestone after having concluded our observance of the 120th Anniversary of Oyasama. In this Seminar, the successors of the path from the ages of around 20 to 40 assembled from the different districts within the diocese and shared a very significant and fruitful time together, making a fresh resolve towards the next milestone. We carry reports on the Seminar including the photo album of the event and impressions from some participants.

Until it started, we were worried about how many would come to participate in the Seminar for Successors, which was being held for the first time since the establishment of the Oceania Centre, not only because we could not prepare adequately for it but also because it always is a long distance, takes time and costs a lot to come to the Oceania Centre from each district in the vast Oceania region. On the previous day, 15th, however, participants from such distant places like Auckland and Sydney arrived one after another, and a total of 27 followers who pursued the path assembled at the opening ceremony on the morning of the 16th.

The participants consisted of 13 men and 14 women; 13 local Australians and Japanese Australians and 14 Japanese. In this regard, English was basically used during the programs including the opening and closing ceremonies. The lectures were given in English and the Japanese translation was made simultaneously. As to the video and discussion sessions, the participants were divided into two groups, English and Japanese, so that each one of them could understand more deeply.

In the opening ceremony starting from 9:30 on 16th, Rev Adachi made opening remarks right after the prayer service, saying, Let us learn and share many different things together! In Lecture One following the opening ceremony, Rev Yamanaka delivered the lecture under the title of God the Parent, Oyasama, Parental Love. He mentioned, Having faith in Tenrikyo is having faith in the parental love of God the Parent and Oyasama, and moreover responding to the parental love of God the Parent and Oyasama, emphasising the gratefulness of the parental love. In the video Guided by Oyasama One which followed, the participants learned a lot being deeply moved through the Honseki, Izo Iburi, and Rev Chujiro Otake, First Bishop of Mission Headquarters in Brazil.

In Discussion One after lunch, each participant, looking back at Lecture One as well as Video One, talked to one another about Treasure in your Heart. Then the practice session of the musical instruments for the service was led by Rev Yamanaka who politely explained how to deal with and how to play the instruments one by one, and afterwards everyone played Yorozuyo together.

Lecture Two was given by Rev Adachi with the theme of the Path to Spiritual Growth. Mentioning his own experiences, he said, In order to grow spiritually, it is important to know how to ponder over the truth behind whatever happens around us, and for this purpose, it is also inevitable to seek for the day of origin of our own and to become aware of our own causality. In the video Guided by Oyasama Two which followed, watching the four Yoboku who were playing an active part in the different positions, the participants learned their respective faith in the path. It was very impressive to see them fixing their eyes on the screen, and placing their faith upon one of the four Yoboku.

After dinner, in Discussion Two which started from 8 oclock in the evening, each participant, looking back at Lecture Two as well as Video Two, talked to each other about How grateful the faith in this path is! and Why we need to follow the path, based on his/her own experience.

The following morning, the participants woke up early and did various hinokishin within the Centre. After morning service and breakfast, they did Hand Dance practice led by Rev Yamanaka who explained the meaning of each movement of the Seated Service.

At 10 oclock, all the participants attended the February Monthly Service of the Oceania Centre together with other followers. Most of them played a role of Hand Dance or musical instrument wearing Kyofuku. This became a good opportunity for them to learn the importance of the Service as well as the mental attitude to perform it in a practical manner.

In the closing ceremony, watching a video message from Rev Masahiko Iburi, Director-in-Chief of Administrative Affairs, each participant was presented with a certificate of completion signed by Rev Yamanaka and Rev Adachi. In this way, the Seminar of two days and one night was successfully concluded with emotion, and all the participants were reluctant to part from one another.

The schedule of the Seminar this time became very tight with various programs in the limited time because it was held during the weekend of the Centres monthly service. However, most of the participants gave us many positive comments like, I am very happy to participate in the Seminar, This was more than expected, I could refresh my own faith, etc. On top of that, they also want the Centre to hold this kind of Seminar on a regular basis. In response to these requests as much as possible, we would like to plan and regularly carry out such a seminar like this in which followers in the diocese will get together and learn together as one of the main activities of the Centre towards the next milestone, that is, the 130th Anniversary of Oyasama.

Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to extend our sincere appreciation to all of you who participated in the Seminar from near and far despite your busy schedule. We do hope that well learn together and walk together on the path to spiritual growth from now on.