When did Tenrikyo churches start being established?

In the early days of the path, people in distress--many of whom were on the brink of death--came to the Residence of Origin to ask for Oyasama's help. As a result of being saved by Her, they began to follow the path. After returning to their respective hometowns, they told others about their wondrous salvation and helped them receive God the Parent's salvation themselves. In this way, more and more people came to bask in salvation, and God the Parent's teachings gradually spread throughout the country. Followers sharing the same faith then began to work together in groups to grow spiritually and engage in salvation work. Such groups of followers were called ko, or "fellowships."

It is not clear when the first fellowships were established. In the early 1860s, however, Oyasama began to urge followers to "form fellowships." It appears that quite a number of fellowships were established in the Kinki region by 1864 or 1865. It was against this backdrop that, in about April 1878, a fellowship was formed at the Residence, which was the center of the teachings. This fellowship was to provide the basis for establishing churches later.

In 1888, Tenrikyo Church Headquarters gained official status, initially as a subordinate church under the supervision of the Shinto Central Bureau. Thereafter, local fellowships that had longed for official permission to engage in missionary work began to secure approval one after another from local authorities. Later, upon receiving the everliving Oyasama's sanction, they were established as churches belonging to Tenrikyo Church Headquarters. Tenrikyo churches, sanctioned by Oyasama and guided by the Divine Directions, provide channels for the flow of the truth.

Why does a church affiliation system exist in Tenrikyo?

Tenrikyo's church affiliation system came into being naturally as the faith spread from person to person. It represents the way the truth flowed as an existing church provided guidance and care for people who eventually organized themselves as a new church.

Church affiliation makes it possible for people to receive the truth of Jiba, grow spiritually, and spread the teachings. Using the analogy of a tree, we may say that Jiba is the root, from which life energy flows to the trunk, which is Church Headquarters, and then to branches and leaves, which refer to local churches. Our churches and Jiba form one organism. Therefore, all of them are essential to the Tenrikyo faith.

The church affiliation system, which thus originated from Jiba and has expanded to involve more and more places, represents a route for us not just to passively receive the truth of Jiba but to actively seek it. Thus, beyond facilitating the outward flow of the blessings coming from God the Parent, Oya-sama, and Jiba, the affiliation system plays a very important role in helping us connect our minds with Jiba of Origin and promote world salvation in unity of mind.

It is the primary truth that lies at the foundation of this path. What matters is the way of bringing about a settling, whether here or there. Signs of church names, too, did not suddenly come into being. Once you have firmly settled the one truth in your mind, you will no longer let your mind get caught up in discursive thoughts. I am teaching you the truth that enables you to deal with all things from a single reference point, regardless of various thoughts you may entertain.

Osashizu, May 1, 1899

What is meant by "spiritual parents" and "spiritual children"?

If a person has guided someone else to the path, they are regarded as having formed a relationship like that between parents and their children, a relationship that is seen as based on their causality.

Those who were saved as a result of having been guided to the path are encouraged to express their gratitude for their salvation and make repayment for it by helping others be saved. Those who provide guidance and convey the teachings to others are then playing the role of parents, whereas those receiving the guidance and teachings from them become their spiritual children. This parent-child relationship is understood as based on wondrous causality, said to be beyond human knowledge and thought.

It is important for spiritual parents to nurture their spiritual children with true parental love on behalf of God the Parent and Oyasama. Spiritual children, in turn, should respect and honor their spiritual parents. The same applies to the relationships between parent churches and their subordinate churches. Only when their ties are deep, strong, and warm like a genuine parent-child relationship, can the great blessings of God the Parent be received. Only then will people belonging to these churches actively engage in salvation work, thereby making their churches flourish.

Finally, church affiliation, properly speaking, represents a route through which the truth of God the Parent, Oyasama, and Jiba flows forth and through which Yoboku and other followers can seek that truth. It goes without saying that it should not be confused with the common, worldly idea of hierarchy or rank.

Why is it important to practice faith through a church?

First of all, correctly learning the teachings is greatly facilitated by the churches. Trying to learn the teachings by ourselves tends to breed complacency in us and, eventually, may even distort our faith. It might be difficult to keep proper faith without appropriate guidance from Church Headquarters.

Next, one of our vital concerns is with the implementation of faith, namely putting the teachings into practice in our daily life. This can also be done most successfully through our churches, which receive the truth of Jiba.

The most important practice of faith is to work for the salvation of others. This effort, too, is most likely to bear fruit when carried out through a church connected to Jiba. Again, the Service, which is taught as a means of salvation, involves a number of performers playing their respective roles and cannot be performed by one person alone.

Our implementation of faith, which ultimately aims at bringing about world salvation by striving for the salvation of others, cannot be carried out effectively without a church that receives the truth of Jiba.

What is the "truth of a church name"?

The "truth of a church name," which is granted by the everliving Oyasama, is embodied in churches connected to the truth of Jiba. The truth of a church name is given in response to the true sincerity of those who have become fully aware of the mission of Yoboku and have pledged to strive for single-hearted salvation with their minds united in faith.

To establish a Tenrikyo church in any given community means to declare God the Parent's intention of world salvation. Churches are seen as focal points through which God the Parent works to save people. Churches are also places where we seek to express our gratitude and make repayment for God the Parent's blessings and where we try to help others receive God's blessings, which originate from Jiba.

The truth of a church name is granted, not to any geographical location, but to the sincere minds of those who assemble there, the minds that are committed to single-hearted salvation. This is the most important point for us to understand if a church is to grow and, moreover, to promote world salvation.

You say "salvation, salvation." It all came from the one truth of salvation. Here and there, in various places, people talk about a "church name." They say "church, church." None of this was brought about in a short time. Initially, one had to walk in the dark and, as it were, go through hardships and difficulties.

Osashizu, March 28, 1898

What is the mission of a church?

The church is a place where the truth of single-heartedness with God is conveyed and where single-hearted salvation is practiced.

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A church is to play a central role in conveying God the Parent's intention to the local community and working for the salvation of the people there. It is important for those who gather at the church to be fully faithful to the truth of Jiba, connect their minds to Jiba, and strive to spread the teachings in unison with the church head minister as the core. Each of them should also try to become a model of the Joyous Life by working to attain spiritual growth.

The truth of Church Headquarters and the truth of the churches: these are a single breath. Unless you settle this unity in mind, Heaven cannot work. Heaven sees into your minds, each and every one of them. From now on, settle in your minds the truth of this unity. You must go through the path, solely relying on the teaching.

Osashizu, December 13, 1906

What is the mission of a church head minister?

The mission of a church head minister is to serve as the core of the church. This entails, on the one hand, always deeply seeking the teachings while keeping in mind the day of origin of receiving the truth of a church name and, on the other hand, guiding others by taking the lead at the forefront of the path.

The Divine Directions teach that the head minister should play a core role in the church, leading Yoboku and others in the faith and conveying God the Parent's teachings. The head minister is to the church what the pivot is to the folding fan.

I have granted the truth of a church name to various places. Church, church, a church name. At each church, there is a person who is its core. Understand well. That person should be the first one to understand My heart.

Osashizu, October 31, 1900

Some say that Tenrikyo's church system is feudalistic. What do you think?

Such terms as "democratic" and "feudalistic," which refer to systems of government, are not designed to handle matters of faith.

Our church system, whose core is Jiba, represents a route by which we can seek God's blessings and make repayment for the blessings we receive and by which the truth of Jiba spreads. Church Headquarters--which is built around Jiba, the Home of the Parent--and local churches are closely connected as one in the truth of salvation.

Tenrikyo believes in discussing any matter together before making decisions about it. This attitude was, in fact, modeled by God the Parent and Oyasama, who, before carrying out any important undertaking, always took time to make sure that humans understood and agreed to it. Therefore, those belonging to the same church are encouraged to discuss things together and ensure full understanding on the part of everyone before making decisions. This entails helping one another and heart-to-heart communication so that each person may become spirited.

Is the position of a church head minister hereditary?

There is no rule that says the head minister of a church is a hereditary position. Rather, our appointment procedures state that the staff ministers of a church are to make a recommendation, which is then subject to approval by Church Headquarters. It just so happens that some head ministers are succeeded by their sons or daughters, and some by staff ministers of their churches. The reason why the parent-to-child transfer of church responsibility occurs rather often may be related to the importance attached to "the truth whereby things will settle." For example, if the way head ministers have dedicated themselves wholeheartedly to the path of single-hearted salvation has inspired their sons and daughters to accept a nomination as head minister, one and all will probably feel that the nomination is right. Another thing we may note in this regard is that the teaching of rebirth speaks of "a parent becoming a child and a child becoming a parent."

Reaching decisions by a majority is the usual principle of decision-making in modern society. In Tenrikyo, however, the basic principle is to try to achieve consensus or even to garner unanimous agreement. Selecting a head minister by a majority may not always result in the proper functioning of a church. Therefore, every effort is made to discuss things together to bring about understanding. Anyone--whether it be the former head minister's son or daughter or someone unrelated--may be appointed as the head minister if everyone agrees. The main thing is the understanding and agreement of one and all.

Tenrikyo has no stipulation that requires the position of a head minister to be hereditary.

If you think of human beings in terms of a single lifetime, then you will feel disheartened. You will end up wondering, "What on earth have I been doing?" Yet the path is eternal. Also, what is called "church name" at a specific place is a truth of eternity. This one truth is a source of delight. Human beings undergo repeated births and rebirths--hearing that this is the way things are, you can rejoice. . . . Human beings may seem to live only for a lifetime, but a church name is a truth of eternity. There are a variety of ways in which a truth of eternity appears. After you began following the path, people's minds came to be bound together on the path; then, a name bestowed on your locale is a truth of eternity, a truth that will last forever. Understand this and take delight.

Osashizu, January 19, 1901

(This article was excerpted from Questions and Answers about Tenrikyo, 175-184.)