Tenrikyo Basics Course is designed for people learning the teachings for the first time. Anyone who is 15 years of age or older is eligible to attend. The course is also recommended for anyone considering attending the Besseki lectures, though it is not a prerequisite for Besseki attendance.

This 90-minute course comprises two talks and two videos:

Video One: "Tenrikyo: The Path to the Joyous Life"
(an overview of the Home of the Parent and of the teachings)

Lecture One: "A Thing Lent, A Thing Borrowed"
(referring to the teaching that the human body belongs to God, whose body is the entire universe)

Video Two: "The Joy of Faith"
(some aspects of followers' faith practice)

Lecture Two: "God the Parent, Oyasama, the Jiba"

The Basics Course is offered in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Chinese, Korean, Indonesian, German, Italian, Filipino, and Thai.

This 33-page handbook, provided for everyone attending the Basics Course, is richly illustrated and contains an easy-to-understand description of the teachings and practices of Tenrikyo.

The Basics Course takes place in the second floor of South Right Wing 2 of the Oyasato-yakata building-complex. While the Japanese version of the course is offered every day (except the year-end and New Year's season), the schedule for the other versions is announced in advance of each session (please see below). Those wishing to attend a non-Japanese version on an unscheduled day are requested to contact the Overseas Department's Human Resources Development Section at least one week in advance (e-mail: edust@tenrikyo.jp; phone: 0743-63-1511 ext. 5348/5362). The donation for attendance is 500 yen. A handbook, Journey to the Joyous Life, is given to everyone attending the course. For further details, please contact the Human Resources Development Section.