Hinokishin
There is nothing so trying as illness;
So from now on, I, too, will devote myself to hinokishin.
Mikagura-uta III:8
Forgetting greed we work in hinokishin.
This becomes the first fertilizer.
Mikagura-uta XI:4
*The Mikagura-uta was taught as the songs for the Service.
- What is hinokishin?
Hinokishin, selfless and thankful action, refers to a spontaneous action that expresses a sense of gratitude for the blessings of God the Parent. Each of us is borrowing a body form God the Parent and is able to live our everyday lives thanks to God’s providence. When we realize how marvelous God’s providence is, a sense of gratitude and joy will spring from the bottom of our heart, driving us to make repayment for the blessings that we receive from God the Parent.
- Why is it called hinokishin?
The term hinokishin is composed of two Japanese words: hino meaning “daily” and kishin meaning “contribution.” It is called hinokishin because it is an act of offering one’s time and efforts to God the Parent in our daily lives.
- How can we do hinokishin?
Hinokishin can take many forms. Any selfless action can be hinokishin as long as it comes from one’s faith and from an overflowing sense of gratitude and joy. Let’s do something that benefits others, starting from volunteering or clean-up activities in our local areas. Anyone—whether rich or poor, young or old—can do hinokishin so long as sincerity is present. Any such activity can be hinokishin that can surely be accepted by God the Parent.