Day 71

Tenrikyo

from Wikipedia
(天理教 Tenrikyō?) is a monotheistic religion originating in revelations to a 19th-century Japanese woman named Nakayama Miki, known as Oyasama by followers. Followers of Tenrikyo believe that God, known by several names including Tenri-O-no-Mikoto, expressed divine will through Nakayama's role as the Shrine of God, and to a lesser extent the roles of the Honseki Izo Iburi and other leaders. Tenrikyo's worldly aim is to teach and promote the Joyous Life, which is cultivated through acts of charity and mindfulness called hinokishin.
The primary operations of Tenrikyo today include 16,833 locally managed churches in Japan,[2] the Jiba in Tenri City, the oyasato-yakata, and many other community-focused organizations. It has 1.75 million followers in Japan, and is estimated to have over 2 million worldwide.Tenrikyo is classified as shinshūkyō (new religious movement) in popular literature because it was founded in the 19th century.

Principal beliefs
The most basic teaching of Tenrikyo is kashimono-karimono, officially translated as "a thing lent, a thing borrowed". The thing that is lent and borrowed in this teaching is the human body. Tenrikyo followers think of their minds as something under their own control, but their bodies not completely under their control.[4]
The Joyous Life in Tenrikyo is defined as charity and abstention from greed, selfishness, hatred, anger and arrogance. Negative tendencies are not known as sins in Tenrikyo, but rather "dust," as a metaphor, that can be swept away from the mind through hinokishin and ritual. Hinokishin, voluntary effort, is performed not out of a desire to appear selfless, but out of gratitude for kashimono-karimono and shugo (providence).
Adherents believe in a single god, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto, who is defined as the creator and caring parent of all mankind. It is also taught that the universe is the body of God. The ultimate spiritual aim of Tenrikyo as a religion is the construction of the Kanrodai, a divinely ordained pillar in an axis mundi called the Jiba, and the correct performance of the Kagura ritual around the Kanrodai, which requires the salvation of all humanity. The idea of the Jiba as the origin of earthly creation is called moto-no-ri, or the principle of origin. A pilgrimage to the Jiba is called a return; the greeting okaeri nasai (welcome home) is seen on many inns in Tenri City.
Reincarnation is part of the religion in the form of denaoshi, translated in English as "passing away for rebirth."
Other key teachings include:
Tanno (Joyous Acceptance) – a constructive attitude towards troubles, illness and difficulties without placing judgment on what has happened in the past
Juzen-no-Shugo – ten principles involved in the creation which exist in Futatsu Hitotsu (two-in-one relationships), these principles are considered to be applied continuously throughout the universe
In Tenrikyo there are three successive levels of understanding of the nature of God: the first is Kami, which is God as understood in every day terms; the second is Tsukihi (lit. Moon Sun), or God as the creator of nature and natural laws; and lastly Oya (Parent), or God as the parent of human beings.
Many metaphors are used, from construction, carpentry, and farming are used to help understand the teachings within the scriptures. For example, the construction of a better world as a step-by-step process, in which people can make small steps towards progress by working together. Additionally, spiritual growth in Tenrikyo is also viewed as a step-by-step process by which you can walk your own path at your own pace.
Tenrikyo Resource



SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY
All of you in the world are my children.
Love of you fills me: this is my single heart.
Tenrikyo.
Ofudesaki  xvii.16

INTERFAITH PRAYER OF THE DAY

Assailed by afflictions, we discover Dharma
And find the way to liberation. Thankyou, evil forces!

When sorrows invade the mind, we discover Dharma
And find lasting happiness. Thankyou, sorrows!

Through harm caused by spirits we discover Dharma
And find fearlessness. Thankyou, ghosts and demons!

Through people's hate we discover Dharma
And find benefits and happiness. Thankyou, those who hate us!

Through cruel adversity, we discover Dharma
And find the unchanging way. Thankyou, adversity!

Through being impelled to by others, we discover Dharma
And find the essential meaning. Thankyou, all who drive us on!

We dedicate our merit to you all, to repay your kindness.

Words of My Perfect Teacher - Gyalwa Longchenpa


A COURSE IN MIRACLES
Lesson 71
Only God's plan for salvation will work.



What would You have me do?
Where would You have me go? 
What would You have me say, and to whom?



Holding grievances is the opposite of God's plan 
for salvation. And only His plan will work.



EDGAR CAYCE DAILY READING
Think on This...

"In my Father's house are many mansions," saith the Lord of Lords. And as we keep His ways we come to know HOW that out of sorrow cometh JOY-if the peace of the Lord is IN same. But if there is kept a hate, a grudge, it bringeth rust and corruption. Let the Lord's ways be thy ways, and the Christmas joy fill thy heart.
Reading 262-116


KOAN OF THE DAY
How is a raven like a writing desk?
The Mad Hatter
aka
Lewis Carroll

RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS
Visualize your heart-light connecting with the heart-light of others today.