Yoboku

What Yoboku Should Be Aware of

What is the guiding spirit with which we Yoboku are to live each day? Needless to mention, it is to nurture firm faith that is single-hearted with God, to maintain at all times the attitude of hinokishin, and to work together in a unity of mind. The guiding spirit of Yoboku is to observe these three principles we have upheld ever since the time of the second Shinbashira.

132 (1969): Spring Seminar for Newly Appointed Head Ministers

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I presume that among those who became Yoboku by receiving the Sazuke, some are aware of their role and others are not, and some are diligent in fulfilling that role and others are not. This, however, is not the point at issue. The point is that since all Yoboku received an important merit from Oyasama, they are urgently required to help one another in following the path so that they will make good use of that merit.

136 (1973): Izushima Branch Church

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Those of us who have been drawn together as Yoboku must completely trust in the providence and guidance we receive from God the Parent, which are exactly the same as those the instruments for creation received, and practice Oyasama's Divine Model in exact accordance with the teachings. I should like all of us to become clearly aware that this is the mission we are entrusted with and that this is the way to respond to God's loving care. Just as the creation of human beings was accomplished through God the Parent's workings, which were given in response to the instruments' working with a unity of mind, so the world of the Joyous Life will be realized through God the Parent's workings, which will be given only when Yoboku, the instruments of Oyasama, work with a unity of mind.

141 (1978): Autumn Grand Service

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I should like to see the process of falling to the depths of poverty shown at the outset of the Divine Model as a tangible expression of the process of leaving everything up to God the Parent's intention. If I see it this way, I feel that we followers must take this process as our priority and as our fundamental spirit in following the path of single-hearted salvation.

144 (1981): Kanamekai Convention

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To live in single-heartedness with God means to take Oyasama's teachings alone as the standard for all our thoughts. . . . If only we have a will to do it, it is certainly possible for any of us--whether we are involved full-time in the work of the path or work in an office or run a business--to nurture a mind that enables us to do things in accord with God the Parent's intention. Thus, the spirit of single-heartedness with God concerns not only those of you gathered here but also all of those who have faith in the path.

144 (1981): 14th Meeting for Newly Appointed Head Ministers

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In order to remember to inquire into God the Parent's intention time and again, in order to maintain our gratitude for God's loving care that enables us to live and work each day, and in order to ensure that God the Parent works in high spirits, we would do well to visit our churches as often as possible and take an active part in performing the service. We must be clearly aware that this also is an important part of our role as Yoboku.

145 (1982): Spring Grand Service

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I should like you to remember that a Yoboku is asked to seek the path, as well as to convey the path.

145 (1982): Spring Grand Service

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I always remind myself that it is important for those of us who are committed to the path of single-hearted salvation to make sure that one's thoughts, words, and actions match. We seekers of the path must take it upon ourselves to make efforts to settle tanno with the aid of the Divine Model, to convey our understanding to others by carefully choosing words and approaches that will help them understand, and to put our resolve into actual practice, so that we will be looked up to as a real follower of Oyasama, or a real follower of the path, in every way.

151 (1988): Chiba Diocese Leaders Pep Rally

Requirements to Be Met by Yoboku

The ability to serve as Yoboku has nothing to do with whether one is male or female, or rich or poor. Having been drawn from among many people by God the Parent, all Yoboku are equally qualified to work as the timber for the construction of the Joyous Life. It is not that some people can better serve as Yoboku because they have a special talent or because they are eloquent. Rather, if only we are aware and proud of our role as Yoboku and sincere in fulfilling our role, we shall each become a useful instrument of Oyasama.

143 (1980): Saikai Grand Church Yoboku Convention

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Yoboku must make themselves useful by helping Oyasama "make the world level."

145 (1982): Spring Grand Service

Mission and Task of Yoboku

We are Oyasama's instruments, who are to serve as Her hands and feet. Our hands and feet can perform their functions only if they work according to the commands from our brain. In the same way, we can fulfill our mission as Oyasama's instruments only by following Her directions. The mission we are to fulfill, then, is to spread God the Parent's intention widely in the world, to convey it to our children, and thereby to gather and nurture Oyasama's instruments until the world is filled with them.

147 (1984): 66th Women's Association Convention

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No matter how much human civilization advances, problems will keep arising so long as human beings live in the world. In fact, even for us followers, there are very few days when we do not have a problem. Problems do arise in everyone's life. Fortunately, we have learned from Oyasama's teachings and Her Divine Model how to deal with them. But what about those who have not yet learned Her teachings? When I think of them, not merely do I feel sorry for them, but I become painfully aware how insufficient our efforts have been in spreading the teachings. . . . If we each exert our utmost in doing what we can, the Joyous Life will spread in proportion to our efforts and more people will be saved in proportion to our efforts. Therefore, I should like you to remain firm and patient in following the path to convey God the Parent's intention, with Oyasama's Divine Model as the dependable guide, while acquainting yourselves day after day in your respective capacities with the life and customs of the place where you live.

147 (1984): Mission Headquarters in America 50th Anniversary

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A Yoboku's mission is to save people. Thus, all we need to do is always concentrate our minds and actions on saving people.

144 (1981): 14th Meeting for Newly Appointed Head Ministers

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What is the task of a Yoboku? Surely, it is to convey the path of salvation. . . . To accomplish this task, first we need to spread the Divine Record in the world. This is to say that we must tell the world about who created and raised us and whose protection and guidance enable us to live day after day, as well as about God the Parent's intention in creating and nurturing us human beings. In addition, we need to tell people, exactly as instructed by Oyasama, about the way of living that measures up to God the Parent's intention, the way of using our bodies that enables us to respond to the intention of God the Parent who lent us the bodies, and the method whereby we can be saved from physical disorders. Those of us who are Yoboku must thus nurture people in a way that encourages them to join in following our Parent's path.

145 (1982): Spring Grand Service

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It is also a Yoboku's task to help those who are suffering from physical problems to receive God the Parent's blessings--if necessary, by administering the Sazuke--and to encourage them to live their lives helping one another with a firm conviction that we are all God the Parent's children, hence brothers and sisters.

145 (1982): Spring Grand Service

Our Role in Saving Others

It would not be an exaggeration to say that the administration of the Sazuke is an act which vividly exhibits our complete trust in God the Parent. It is not we human beings but Oyasama, God the Parent, who saves people from illness through the Sazuke. Those who were saved through the administration of the Sazuke rejoice at having been saved, and those who witnessed salvation as a result of their administration of the Sazuke savor greater joy. Indeed, Oyasama taught us the path that enables all people to savor the joy of nearing the Joyous Life.

142 (1979): 9th Meeting for Newly Appointed Head Ministers