INSTRUCTION TWO
Announced by Rev. NAKAYAMA Zenji, the Shinbashira, 
on October 26, the day of the Autumn Grand Service of Church Headquarters, 2002.

In anticipation of the 120th Anniversary of Oyasama to be observed on January 26 in the 169th year of the Teaching (2006), I should like to share some of my reflections by way of urging all followers to make a decisive resolve and a determined effort to grow spiritually.
   Spiritual growth refers to the process of nearing the intention of the Parent. The intention of the Parent originated as the intent in the creation of humankind and the world?which was undertaken out of a desire for the Joyous Life?and led to the Teaching's day of origin when God the Parent became openly revealed in order to save all people throughout the world.
   Having been settled as the Shrine of Tsukihi at that time, Oyasama spent the subsequent fifty years revealing the original truth of all things, teaching the Service, and making other arrangements for the path of single-hearted salvation. In addition, She served as the Parent of the Divine Model in demonstrating how to follow the path through Her own example, always encouraging human beings, Her children, to grow spiritually.
   Furthermore, even after Her love for all humanity led Her to withdraw from physical life by shortening Her term of life, She is continuing to guide us, now as ever before, bestowing the truth of the Sazuke on more and more people and providing Her workings by virtue of Her eternal life. Indeed, we are told:

       Day after day, the concern of the Parent is 
       only about the means to save you.
                                                                                  Ofudesaki XIV:35

We have no way of responding to this boundless parental love except by cultivating the mind of saving others and by implementing salvation work.
   No matter how advanced our civilization may become, there will always be people suffering from illness or troubled by other things. Their minds will not be saved by the advances of our civilization. That is because they will remain unknowing of the origin and of the ultimate goal of human existence.

       Now that I shall work salvation unknown until now, 
       it is necessary to make the origin known.
                                                                                   Ofudesaki IX:29

As indicated by this verse, saving people through teaching the origin is the essence of salvation on this path.
   Those who lack a dependable guide tend to become attached to self-interest or to live in idleness. The mission entrusted to us Yoboku is to show them a standard for their minds and sprinkle the fragrance of the original Parent's intention on them. First of all, however, it is essential for us ourselves to live each day in a manner based on the teachings so that we may impart the joy of faith to those around us.
   Making sincere efforts for the salvation of people suffering from illness or other troubles is indeed the supreme mission of Yoboku. Even in our local communities, there are many who need our help. Let us, at all times, be sensitive to people's needs so that we can take every opportunity to engage in salvation work with loving care.

       The mind of saving others is the real truth of sincerity alone 
       and, by this truth of saving others, you are saved.
                                                                                                    Kakisage

With this teaching always in mind, let us keep our thoughts and actions focused on helping others be saved. Setting our sights on realizing the world of joyousness characterized by the perfect harmony of all, let us continue advancing tirelessly toward world salvation.
   We are further taught that, if we each maintain the mind of sincerity in the course of our lives, our families will naturally settle in harmony, thereby serving to convince our communities of the truth of the teachings. Feeling gratitude for God the Parent's boundless providence and rejoicing in what we are blessed with, let us live as people who make the truth of the teachings self-apparent to one and all, thus sowing the seeds of the Joyous Life in our communities.
   Today, when rapid social changes are shaking people's sense of values and undermining the ties of the heart, it is all the more important for us to emulate the Divine Model of Oyasama without being swept along by the current of the times, so that we may take genuine steps along the path of unchanging sincerity and reflect that sincerity to society at large.
   I hope that all of us endeavoring to follow the path will orient our minds toward our shared goal and make a concerted effort to advance single-hearted salvation, thereby responding to the profound intension of Oyasama, who opened the portals of the Shrine to step out and level the ground, saying, "I shall save the world from now."
   Our predecessors joined their sincere efforts and did everything in their power to prepare for the anniversaries of Oyasama, which they saw as marking crucial stages in their quest for spiritual growth. In order that we might bring forth further fruits by building on what they achieved, I strongly request that all of us rise up spiritedly and fulfill our tasks in a unity of mind.

  October 26, Tenrikyo 165 (2002)
                                                               Zenji Nakayama
                                                               The Shinbashira