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The Meaning of the Joyous LifeWhat does it mean to live the Joyous Life? Does it mean to indulge ourselves in the material abundance and comfort we enjoy in this day and age, spending hours drinking, eating, singing, and dancing without doing any work from morning till night? In a way, the phrase "Joyous Life" may give people the impression of being a life of such pleasures. If we ponder over its implications, however, we shall realize that the Joyous Life refers to the way of living that measures up to the intention of God the Parent.154 (1991): Amijima Branch Church 100th Anniversary
The Joyous Life is not something awaiting us. It is something we have to create ourselves. Each of us should first work at nurturing a mind that enables us to create it out of the realities of life. This is to say that we have to take it upon ourselves to consider how to create delight and joyousness in our minds and around ourselves. 142 (1979): 61st Women's Association Convention
Individual's AttitudeThe Joyous Life means the state of the world that measures up to the intention of God the Parent. It is to adopt a joyous way of living that enables all of us to live in delightful and harmonious relationships with one another. In order to make this an actuality, we Tenrikyo followers must set our hearts on seeking the path of salvation, which helps us overcome a variety of hardships arising in our lives and thus enables us to live the Joyous Life through our own efforts.139 (1976): Oyasama 90th Anniversary Students Pep Rally
Do you know what the Joyous Life is all about? In order to live the Joyous Life, I think it is necessary for us to develop a mind that is happy with whatever we see or hear. Any of us can be happy when things are going well. But it is difficult to be happy when things are not going well. Therefore, I think it is important for us who practice Oyasama's teachings to try to be happy even at times when things do not go as we wish or when people would usually feel upset. 142 (1979): Tenri Elementary School Graduation Ceremony
Roughly speaking, Oyasama taught us three methods that enable us to savor the Joyous Life. One is to sweep away dust from our minds or to cleanse our hearts. The fact that Oyasama went through all situations joyously and spiritedly was the very expression of Her parental desire to help us sweep away the dusts we accumulated, thereby enabling us to live the Joyous Life. The second method is to perform the Service, which is to say the Kagura Service. We are taught that when OyasamaÕs instruments perform the Service with the Parent as the core in accordance with the original truth of human creation, casting off their self-centered thoughts and fulfilling their roles with a unity of mind, the Joyous World will be savored through God the Parent's blessings. The third method is to convey the path to as many people as possible through the administration of the Sazuke. 142 (1979): Autumn Grand Service
Since God the Parent endowed each of us with talents that suit the individual, we should make the best use of the talents we were given. There is absolutely no need to be jealous of others or to put yourself down. Rather, I should like you to take pains in making good use of your talents in order to provide yourselves, and those around you, with a quality that enables everyone to live the Joyous Life. 148 (1985): 61st Young Men's Association Convention |
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