TENRI FORUM 2016
Pathways of Salvation
July
15
Day One
"EXPLORING PATHWAYS"
July
16
SESSION I
Initiating Pathways in Paradise
This session introduces different ways in which “ordinary people” spread the fragrance of the teachings and engage in activities that foster salvation work in Hawaii. Everyone has his or her own way of understanding life, and very much associated with this vantage point, everyone has his or her own level of spiritual development: no two are identical. Many of us work, some are students or homemakers, and a few are full-time missionaries. Yet we all have an opportunity to convey the teachings and engage in salvation work despite the variations of our daily routines—the desire to do so is all that we need.
This session begins with a talk on how to spread the fragrance of the teachings to mass audiences, a task that is unlike conveying the teachings on a one-on-one basis. Next we learn about innovative Boys and Girls Association–sponsored activities that seek to attract the participation of both parents and their children, extending an invitation to learn about the teachings in a non-religious environment. The last speaker is a recent Tenrikyo convert who shares his experiences of how he was introduced to the teachings as well as ways in which he freshly approaches others about Tenrikyo. These presentations give examples of how “ordinary people” can casually and effectively sprinkle the fragrance on others.
SESSION II
Sharing Pathways in Learning
All Tenrikyo followers to a certain degree are teachers. In order to teach others, you first need to understand the material and then present it in an effective way. Fortunately, we are all in the same boat since we teach the same subject. We can therefore learn from each other about the different ways to convey the teachings, and to a certain degree, we have already been learning from other teachers: seminar lecturers hold study groups while others share their notes so that others can use them for the own lectures.
Our goal for this session is to create a place where people from a wider demographic can do the same. This session proposes to provide a platform where people can share with others how they have conveyed the teachings as well as share any resources that they have found useful in their endeavors. We would like to launch a startup database of learning materials. The contents will be twofold: a directory of Tenrikyo publications and reading materials. The directory will be crowd-sourced (contributed by users) and will contain summaries and reviews about Tenrikyo books. Reading materials, on the other hand, will include lecture notes, sermons and articles, which will also be crowd-sourced. In this way, we shall explore ways to extend this project further by adding more ways for people to contribute so that we can all become better teachers together.
SESSION III
The "Business" of Engaging in Salvation Work
It has become common practice for companies and businesses to invest their time and money in charitable work, community service and outreach, and other philanthropic endeavors as a means of fulfilling their social responsibility. Some businesses view their charitable activities and philanthropic endeavors as a moral responsibility and a key component of their ongoing spiritual mission, i.e. salvation work. The reason for this is that the founders and key members of these enterprises devote their time and are totally dedicated to the religious organization to which they belong: Hewlett-Packard (The Mormon Church) and Timberland (Judaism).
Though on a much smaller scale, there are numerous Tenrikyo followers who have started, managed and operated successful businesses and have dedicated themselves in engaging in salvation work through their respective fields, operations and ventures. Due to their sincere efforts, they have succeeded in making a difference in their business communities as well as spreading the fragrance of the faith in that process.
In this session, we would like to hear from our fellow followers of the Path who have been engaging in salvation work in the business and professional world. We hope to learn from them, gain some of their wisdom, and become inspired to further develop, establish, and implement businesses that would dedicate themselves in salvation work, generate additional revenue for Tenrikyo churches and programs in the spirit of salvation work, and help promote Tenrikyo’s recognition and reputation as a community leader.
OPEN SESSION FOR GROUP DISCUSSION I
Topics to be announced
The six sessions presented by members of different regions have been in the making and remaking for several years. Local committee members, with the help of the Overseas Department staff, carefully chose these topics over others as they best represent the issues conducive to one of many pathways of salvation. The upshot of this is that there is a limitation in preparing only six topics and, unlike previously held Forums, no two sessions will be held simultaneously, leaving out the possibility to choose a topic of your interest.
This session is designed to provide a platform for which participants can begin a conversation on a relevant topic submitted by a member of the audience—a topic which meets the criteria of the Forum and is interesting enough for a good number of people to attend. As such, the open session will be proposed, led and organized by a fellow participant on a voluntary basis. In the case that there are more submissions than actual space allows, the committee will have the ultimate decision on which sessions will take place.
The discussion topic could simply be an extended conversation of a previous session or a hot topic that would be better addressed through forum-like deliberations. In this way, and although time is limited, participants will be able to voice their opinions, raise awareness, and hopefully discuss possibilities for future collaboration across regional lines.
This open session is “open” in the sense that no one in any way is obliged to attend. Participants may use this time as quiet time for reflection, looking back on the vast array of newly communicated information alone so as to better digest it. Instead of joining the open session, participants may also use this time to speak to others about specific issues individually.
Day Two
"PROMISING PATHWAYS"
SESSION IV
A Tenrikyo Response to Substance Abuse:
Working in Tandem with Clinical Professionals
You are at a party and alcoholic drinks are served. Do you know people who cannot stop once they start drinking? Are you that person? When you hear about a celebrity who has died of a drug overdose, is there a certain friend or relative that you worry about? Most of us have been touched by substance abuse to some degree or another.
This session looks into what the Tenrikyo Church and people of Tenrikyo faith can do to help those with substance abuse. We look into what substance abuse looks and feels like, what some of the causes may be, what can be done from a Tenrikyo perspective, and what kind of professional help can be sought. This session features two Tenrikyo speakers: the first shares a professional perspective on substance abuse and the second speaks from the perspective of how he overcame it. Participants will also experience, through a role-playing exercise, what a substance abuser and those in close proximity to an abuser struggle with. In this way, this session will make clear that substance abuse is not only an issue that involves the abuser, but a problem that stretches out to family members, friends, co-workers, etc. We will look into what each of us can do to seek his or her pathway to salvation.
OPEN SESSION FOR GROUP DISCUSSION II
Topics to be announced
SESSION V
Traveling Pathways in Paradise
This session will begin with a presentation of how a church head minister spends his days and nurtures the congregation. This will be followed by a video presentation featuring two Yoboku who balance work with spreading the fragrance of the teachings and salvation work. A second video will feature activities in which students and young adults participate, and we end the session with closing remarks. This session will therefore focus on active performance or participation in salvation work.
SESSION VI
Faith-Based Community Engagement
The purpose of this session is to give the audience an opportunity to hear from individuals who are actively engaging in various activities and serving the needs of their surrounding communities while strongly anchoring these actions upon their deep faith in God the Parent. By listening to the eye-opening experiences of the group of international speakers, it is hoped that the audience will be inspired by efforts that are geared specifically toward the needs of the surrounding community while fulfilling the role of a Yoboku in today’s ever-changing world.
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