Anniversaries of Oyasama

Milestones for Spiritual Growth

The significance of an anniversary of Oyasama is not the same as that of the memorials we observe for our forebears and seniors who are no longer living. The anniversaries of the everliving Oyasama, who is working at all times to raise us children, originate in Her withdrawal from physical life. If we recall Her intention in withdrawing from physical life, we shall realize that it was due to our being so slow in growing spiritually. The more we reflect on Her parental intention, therefore, the more clearly we shall see that the significance of an anniversary of Oyasama is to respond to Her parental love by bringing forth the fruit of our spiritual growth, thereby bringing joy to Her. We have thus observed each anniversary of Oyasama as a milestone along our journey toward maturity.

135 (1972): Ogaki Grand Church 80th Anniversary

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I should like you to be aware that an anniversary of the everliving Oyasama is not simply a ritual or a ceremony. Obviously, it is not an occasion for celebration, either. It is an occasion where we show the everliving Oyasama how much we have neared Her intention and have grown spiritually since the previous anniversary. In addition, it is an occasion to make a new start, that is, an occasion to set out in high spirits on our new journey.

139 (1976): First day of Oyasama 90th Anniversary period

The Event of 1887

The observance of an anniversary of Oyasama has its root in the event of 1887. This event was nothing but a manifestation of the love of the Parent who was urging followers--who were unable to comply with the Parent's persistent request to perform the Service--to become firm in their resolve. To explain the implication of this event in short, I should say that it was a manifestation of the Parent's regret toward the children who were not able to follow the Parent's instructions--the regret deriving not so much from the fact that people were not performing the Service as from the fact that they were weak in their faith and lacking in responsiveness, which prevented them from understanding the Parent's teachings well and putting them into practice in the manner they had been taught. I might add that these are the times when various troubles are likely to occur.

142 (1979): 55th Young Men's Association Convention

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The cause of the event that made it necessary for us to observe Oyasama's anniversaries lies in the great gap between the mind of God the Parent and the minds of us children. Wishing to bridge this gap, God the Parent was so intent on making children grow spiritually that God resorted to the drastic move, which was quite unexpected. It was our spiritual growth that God the Parent was hastening. The significance of observing an anniversary of Oyasama, therefore, is to attain spiritual growth by nearing the intention of the Parent.

143 (1980): Completion of West Worship Hall Framework

Season for Spiritual Growth

An anniversary of Oyasama is the season for spiritual growth. A season refers to the period of time appropriate to accomplish a particular activity. I should go so far as to say that an anniversary of Oyasama is the time when the blessings of God the Parent appear more vividly.

136 (1973): Spring Grand Service

Anniversary Activities

Imagine that you are pulling a rope. If it is a short rope, it is easy to pull it taut. The longer the rope becomes, however, the more difficult it becomes to keep it taut. If you want to keep it taut, it will certainly help to set up props underneath the rope at certain intervals. I feel that Oyasama's anniversaries are, as it were, props that help us maintain the intensity of our awareness of the Parent's intention. Surely, we are all aware of the Parent's intention. However, the longer we simply continue following the path without going back to the Parent, the less intense our awareness could become. An anniversary of Oyasama, therefore, is the time for us to try to make an intense inquiry into the Parent's intention. In carrying out our anniversary activities, however, it is essential not merely to inquire into the Parent's intention but also to unite ourselves in seriously following the path to respond to the Parent's intention.

137 (1974): Inauguration of Koshinokuni Grand Church Sanctuary

"Three Years, One Thousand Days" Season to Be Decisive

During the "three years, one thousand days" season to be decisive, we all share the same objective of following the path of Oyasama's Divine Model single-heartedly. Specifically how to follow it varies, however--practically from person to person. If we ponder from our respective standpoint--for instance, that of a parent, that of a child, that of a head minister, that of a senior minister, that of a Yoboku, or that of a follower--we shall see how we ought to follow the path. What I find reassuring is the fact that Oyasama has clearly shown us, by Her own example, a model we can all depend upon, no matter how we follow it. You might follow the path by pursuing the truth of the service more deeply, or by applying yourselves to sprinkling fragrance and doing salvation work, or by providing people with help and support for spiritual growth, or by frequenting your churches with sincerity. Whichever way we may choose to follow the path, the point is to put ourselves in accord with the Parent and to live in harmony and help one another as brothers and sisters, thereby bringing joy to God the Parent. Moreover, during this "three years, one thousand days" season to be decisive, we should concentrate on--among the things we have had on our mind and yet have been unable to put into practice--the one that seems most important, or the one that seems to be the hardest to accomplish, and thereby make painstaking efforts time and again to follow the path in a way that enables us to accomplish it.

146 (1983): Spring Grand Service