The Joyous Life (2)

Start with Oneself

When all of us in the world manage to settle our minds in accord with God the Parent's intention, each settling firmly in the mind the reason why human beings were created, then the Joyous World will surely come about. Upholding this as the goal to be attained, we ought to work on creating a firm basis for ourselves.

134 (1971): 10th Young Women's Convention

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The members of Tenrikyo Young Men's Association are Arakitoryo, who have a pioneering role in the construction of the Joyous Life. You may feel that the construction of the Joyous Life is an undertaking which is far beyond the power of an individual. But I should like you to realize that if even one of you withdraws from the work and sits back instead, it will delay the construction that much. Though it may appear to be a slow process, I believe that to fix and settle the truth of the teachings firmly in each of our minds, as well as to strive to convey the teachings we sought, is the basic approach to everyone's goal of world peace and the best way to realize the world of the Joyous Life.

135 (1972): 48th Young Men's Association Convention

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The creation of the Joyous Life does not require any tool like a hammer or a plane. Nor does it require building materials or a great amount of money. It is our resolve and courage to live the Joyous Life, as well as the consistent effort we repeatedly make to live the Joyous Life, that are crucial to the path that brings about the Joyous Life.

141 (1978): Tenri Seminary Graduation Ceremony

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Oyasama's intention is to create the Joyous Life in this world, that is, to enable each of us to savor the Joyous Life in our lives. The creation of the Joyous Life begins with our individual effort to purify our minds. If only our minds become pure, we shall see what we are supposed to do. If we just purify our minds, we shall gain insight into how to use our talents effectively.

141 (1978): Tenri Seminary Graduation Ceremony

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The way of living we call the Joyous Life will be set in motion only when we have settled the intention of God the Parent in each of our minds. Only when we have settled God's intention and have resolved to abide by the parental intention of Oyasama shall we be able to take the first step toward savoring the Joyous Life.

155 (1992): Gifu Diocese Yoboku Pep Rally

Obstacle to the Joyous Life

We human beings are designed to live the Joyous Life. But in actual fact, we have difficulty savoring the Joyous Life. Surely, this is because of our own mind. We are unable to savor the Joyous Life because we are misusing the freedom of the mind.

153 (1990): Tenri Seminary Graduation Ceremony

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The biggest obstacle to living the Joyous Life is the mind of greed. It is our selfishness.

153 (1990): Address to the new residents of missionary houses

The Mind of Joyousness to the World of the Joyous Life

It is still far from satisfactory even if we reach the stage where we can live the Joyous Life on an individual basis. So long as we live together as a society, I find it important that our society as a whole should settle. I should like to emphasize that the settling of our society requires each of us to have a mind that is aware of one's own role and intent on helping one another based on that awareness.

136 (1973): Hokkaido Diocese Convention

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God the Parent longs for the realization of the Joyous Life. The Joyous Life is the state of the world that is brought about when people who have the mind of joyousness get together. This does not mean, however, that once the mind of each individual has become joyous, there will spontaneously appear the state in which the Joyous Life is savored. No matter how many people may be living with a joyous mind, unless they have the readiness to help one another in joining their minds to live the Joyous Life and the creative ability to make it a reality, it would be impossible to create the world of the Joyous Life so desired by God the Parent.

144 (1981): Sansai-no-Sato Youth Recreation Center 10th Anniversary

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Unless those who are determined to live the Joyous Life get together and talk with one another, resolve with one another, and discuss with one another to nurture a mind that enables everyone to live the Joyous Life, the world of the Joyous Life will not become a reality. Only when these moves are made will this state of the world be savored.

154 (1991): Sansai-no-Sato Youth Recreation Center 20th Anniversary

The Joyous Life and Peace

To some people, our activities may appear to have nothing in common with so-called peace movements. But in fact, our activities are aimed at providing all people in the world with blessings within their bodies, which is no doubt the most essential help for all people. It is important for us to be clearly aware and firmly convinced that we are doing everything we can for this purpose. The performance of the Service and the administration of the Sazuke are precisely the paths to ask for the blessings of God the Parent and Oyasama. By performing the Service, we pray for universal salvation throughout the world. Through the administration of the Sazuke, people are saved from physical problems. By conveying the teachings, we help people correct their ways of seeing and thinking to accord with the perspective of the Joyous Life so they can enjoy living. This, I believe, is the basis for the realization of the Joyous World brimming with true joyousness.

151 (1988): 64th Young MenŐs Association Convention

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I feel that the renewal of the world we are trying to accomplish requires each of us in the world to settle our own mind. Thus, as you are aware, the Joyous Life refers to the way of living that measures up to the intention of God the Parent, which I find slightly different from what people generally call peace.

155 (1992): Saitama Diocese 60th Anniversary Convention

Until the Day Arrives

We are to create the Joyous Life in this world which contains various contradictions. While this is easily said, it is indeed difficult to make this a reality. Just because it is difficult, however, we must not allow ourselves to sit back and do nothing. God the Parent desires it and Oyasama demonstrated so clearly in Her Divine Model how to create it. Therefore, difficult though it may be, we have to work on it at any cost. No matter how many decades it may take, or no matter how many generations it may take, we must intently make one effort after another to create the Joyous Life until the day when it is realized. If you consider yourselves to be followers who are entrusted with the work of the path, I should like you to become clearly aware of this now.

141 (1978): Boys and Girls Association Leaders New Year's Meeting

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The creation of the Joyous Life for all people is the task we must take upon ourselves. We shall have to continue working on it no matter how long it may take. We must never let it end up as a mere ideal.

148 (1985): 61st Young Men's Association Convention

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In order to create the Joyous Life, whatever hardships we may face, we must try to think according to the teachings and live in the way Oyasama demonstrated in the Divine Model, thereby striving to advance even a little closer to the realization of the Joyous World. I should like to stress that this is the task those of us who have faith in the teachings must take upon ourselves.

151 (1988): Tenri University Graduation Ceremony

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