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To sum up one of God the Parent's Divine Directions, "You must thoroughly reflect faith in this path to children's minds when they are still young" (see Osashizu, November 16, 1900). We refer to our children and grandchildren who inherit the faith of their forebears and are in a position to deepen their joy of faith as "successors of the path." In the entry "The Path of the Second and Third Generations" [5.126-127], I touched upon the mind-set successors ought to have as they walk the path. Here, I wish to consider the same topic from the perspective of the parents of these successors. "Successors of the path" is an expression that is not merely confined to the children of head ministers or staff ministers who are in a position to inherit a role in which they work exclusively for the path. There are allegedly people who claim that it is important to instill an unwavering faith in their eldest children but consider it less so when it comes to their other children. However, we ought to consider not just our eldest children, but all our children as valuable "successors of the path." Certainly, there are children who take over the family business or occupation and those who enter an occupational field of their own choosing. Yet, it is ideal for the joy of faith of parents to be firmly transmitted down to all children and for an appreciation for the teachings to be planted in their minds. The teachings, more than anything else, represent our most precious asset or treasure to be handed down through all future generations. We are told that even the slightest things we say or do in our everyday lives have a significant impact on our children. Surely, it is an important task for parents to transmit the joy of faith to children through our intimate interactions with them while their souls still remain unstained. In contrast to the "horizontal mission"--that describes our efforts to spread the faith to our neighbors, acquaintances, and others--our efforts to successfully transmit the teachings to our children and grandchildren or from one generation to the next is referred to as the "vertical mission." The organization that plays a significant role in supporting parents in this vertical mission is Tenrikyo Boys and Girls Association. While the most important event the Boys and Girls Association conducts is the annual Children's Pilgrimage to Jiba held in late July and early August, the association also promotes other activities that are more accessible to the general public. One example of such activities that are held in various districts is the church sleepover. Further, the High School Division of the Students Training Course, which is held during summer vacation, and the faith-based educational system in Jiba that ranges from kindergarten to university can be said to be, in a broad sense, part of the "vertical mission." |
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