July 2025 Voice of the Divine Parent

Vol. 25# 7

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Goshinmai

This is uncooked rice wrapped in paper that is folded into the shape of a sword and distributed to worshippers. Rice is Japan's traditional staple food and has been given a symbolic meaning of the blessings of heaven and earth. Followers may place the paper in a designated area (i.e. on an injured area of one’s body), eat the rice raw or cooked to receive the blessings of heaven and earth into their mind and body, and as a ritual to worship Kami.

The rice used was first called "Osenmai" (washed rice), as it was washed with clean water, sprinkled with sacred sake, and then dried. Also, due to the shape of the paper, it came to be called "Kensaki" (sword-shaped), and it is said that later, Ieyoshi Konko decided on the current name, "Goshinmai" (sacred rice).

There is a record of the purchase of paper for wrapping the rice during the New Year of 1869, so it is thought that the sacred rice had already been handed out to worshippers before that time.

For Konko Daijin, the word goshinmai, means the body of Tenchi Kane No Kami. It is said that heaven and earth is the body of Kami which should not be enshrined in a shrine or a small altar. At the time, it seems to have been common among believers to worship things such as the "Tenchi Kakitsuke" (Divine Reminder), "Shingo Kakitsuke" (a Reminder which lists the names of various kami), "Goshinmai" (sacred rice), and "Sacred Staff" as divine entities, but Konko Daijin taught that these were objects to worship and pray to, but not the divine body itself. → Kami, Divine Parent of the Universe, heaven and earth or the Universe.

When I went to the Worship Hall for the first time, Konko Daijin had been giving worshippers goshinmai. “To make goshinmai, wash the rice seven times without touching it until the water becomes crystal clear. Dry the washed rice completely, then sprinkle it with sacred sake and dry it again,” he instructed. [GIII Takahashi Tomie 50]

Okumai Rice offering

Okumai or rice offering is also called "Goshinmai," "Osenmai," "Okensaki," and "Oyone." Along with sacred sake, it is a symbol of the blessings of heaven and earth. Since Konko Daijin began Mediation, it has been given to worshippers in blank folded papers in the shape of a sword. It can also refer to rice offered to the altar before being given to the people.

In January 1869, Kami revealed, “Buy new paper for the goshinmai and the Daily Record Book of Worshippers.” [Oboe-cho 13-1]

The Kibitsu deity told Konko Daijin that blessings would be bestowed. When Konko Daijin’s son placed a sacred staff above the rice and bean offerings, the rice and beans stuck onto the staff. [GI Ichimura Mitsugoro v 3, 1-8]

The Kibitsu deity gave forgiveness and said, “Practice faith in Kami, and I will give you rice offerings.” I received rice and beans stuck on a sacred staff. [GII Ichimura Mitsugoro 9-5]

Osenmai

Osenmai is the same as Goshinmai (sacred rice). The word comes from the fact that rice is washed with water, drained, sprinkled with sacred sake, and then dried before use.

In January 1869, Kami said, “Buy new paper for the goshinmai and the Daily Record Book on Worshippers.” [Oboegaki 17-1]

This worship hall gives no amulets, and this kami is different from other kamis. Kami revealed, “People will be saved by receiving goshinmai. If people have to offer money to be saved, the poor will suffer.” [GI Yamanoto Sadajiro 64]

Sacred rice has received Kami’s blessings so you should treat it respectfully. A person who falls seriously ill can receive divine blessings and be saved with just one grain of sacred rice. Konko Daijin once said, “A person will be able to receive divine virtue after receiving a thousand goshinmai while practicing faith.” Isn’t this something to be grateful for? [GIII Jinkyukyogoroku 13]

Konko Daijin said, “Senmai (sacred rice) can also mean one thousand (sen) sheets of paper (mai). If one takes one thousand pieces of sacred rice while practicing faith in Kami, one can receive divine virtue. If an irreverence is made knowingly, seven graves will have to be made, starting with the head of the household. If an irreverence is made unknowingly, seven graves will still have to be made. However, if you depend on Kami single heartedly, Kami will never abandon you. It is always people who abandon Kami.” Since senmai is a measure for counting blessings, it should not be wasted. [GIII Jinkyukyogoroku 142]

Konko Daijin always said, “If you get cut or hurt unexpectedly while in the mountains or on the road, you’d wish you had goshinmai or some sacred sake. But if there is none, it can’t be helped. You may then use water if there is water. Think of it as being from Kami, and it will be the same as sacred sake. If there’s no water, apply soil on the wound. There is soil on every mountain.” [GII Konko Hagio 15]

Okenzaki

“People have been using Kami to make profits. They even sell goshinmai at whatever price. I don’t do such things.” [GI Ichimura Mitsugoro 47]

Episodes about sacred rice- by Rev. Nobuharu Uzunoe

What made me decide to pursue faith training in the church?

Attending church events have been a part of my daily life since I was a child. After I graduated from school, I had a lot of free time, so I started spending some nights at the church as if I was visiting my grandmother.

One morning, a young mother suddenly came running into the church with her crying baby in her arms.

That day, the mother, who was preparing breakfast, left a pot of miso soup on a low table and walked away for a moment. The baby, who was not even one year old, crawled over to the table, grabbed the pot and pulled it towards herself. The miso soup spilled on the baby's body, causing severe burns.

The mother immediately noticed something was wrong and took the baby to a nearby pediatric clinic, but the injury was too severe for them to treat. The baby's skin was raw and peeled off when touched.

Desperate for help, the mother ran to the church and asked for help from Rev. Sue Kajiwara, who was sitting at the meditation seat. Then she took some of the sacred water and rice offered in front of the altar, soaked the rice paper in the sacred water, and gently applied it to the baby's burned area while praying to the Kami.

The baby, who had been crying so loudly, gradually stopped crying and eventually fell asleep peacefully.

After witnessing the whole story, I felt from the bottom of my heart that "Kami really exists." This incident made me decide to practice my faith at the church and become a minister.

The baby subsequently made a full recovery, with no traces of the burns remaining, and is now a mother who continues to practice her faith devoutly.

Rev. Kametaro Nakayama - What is the blessing that Kami desires? - continued from June

I currently work at the student dormitory called "Konkokyo Tokyo Dormitory." We work with approximately 40 students from the churches and the families of believers.

The students are young people attending universities in Tokyo. Some say they have no choice because their parents told them to stay in the dorms, while others have simply chosen to live in the dorms because it's cheaper than living in a boarding house.

However, as you'd expect from someone raised in a religious family, many of the students have this to say: "The dorm is different from an apartment. It has the founding spirit and 50 years of tradition. There's no point in living in the dorm unless I absorb something I can only get here in these four years." They are seriously searching for their "path."

These students meet twice a month to read the Biography of Konko Daijin and discuss this faith. However, many students say they do not like hearing faith stories.

So, I said the following: “When you say you dislike divine blessings, aren't you referring to 'benefits'?”

When I was younger, I also used to think that ‘religions that only preach about worldly benefits are superstitions' and I criticized people who spoke of 'divine blessings' as having faith in benefits.

However, now I continue to pray wholeheartedly every morning to receive blessings. This is because I have come to understand that the "blessings" that the world talks about and the "blessings" taught in Konko faith are completely different things.

Modern society is faced with extremely complex problems, and on top of that, we face unavoidable suffering such as poverty, disease, and disasters.

When living in Tokyo, we see news about accidents and disasters on a daily basis. Even if we follow the rules, we can still get dragged into unexpected accidents.

We don't know when, where, or to whom disaster will strike. That's life, and things don't always go as we want them to. We may resist the occurrences, get impatient, and end up getting into more trouble - this is also human nature.

So, how can we escape from these "troubles" and "sufferings"?

The answer is through the power of "faith."

Receiving divine blessings does not mean that suffering or problems simply disappear, nor does it mean that we give up on them or overcome them.

When we receive true blessings, we will no longer be bothered by the suffering and will be given the strength to endure it. Furthermore, we will be able to feel a sense of purpose and gratitude in it.

Deep in that suffering, we must awaken to the Way of the Universe that "I am being kept alive, I am blessed" -- isn't this precisely what “being grateful for the blessings we receive” should be like?

When Konko Daijin and the successive spiritual leaders mediate about the “path for the salvation and progression of humanity”, I believe this is the way of life they want us to live.

“Salvation and progression” occurs when life itself progresses and is appropriately established. In other words, these “blessings” are Kami’s wish for us.

One student who was listening to me asked me this question:

“I think I'm beginning to understand a little bit about the ‘blessings' that Kami desires. But don't most believers practice faith in the hope that they will be cured of their illnesses or have their problems solved?"

I responded, “That is certainly true. Sick people will pray for recovery, and it is natural that those who are struggling financially hope for material blessings. Many people begin to practice faith because of such wishes and some people have actually received miraculous blessings.

I once gave a talk at a church in Shikoku regarding my own experience.

As a child, I was hit by a train and lost both arms and one leg. I grew up in poverty and strongly believed that I was the most unfortunate person in the world. I even attempted suicide. But thanks to my mother's faith, I now believe that there is no one happier than me. A woman who had been suffering for many years due to her inability to bend her right knee was deeply moved by this story.

"I was always complaining to Kami that even though I had so much faith, my knee had still not recovered. But then I heard a person who had no arms and a leg say they were 'happy.' I cannot believe I complained so much....”

She sincerely apologized to Kami and turned to faith anew. Then, one morning, she woke up to find that her right leg, which had not been able to bend, was bent.

Not only the woman, but the people around her were overjoyed, saying it was a miracle and a blessing.

What does this mean?

Complaints, dissatisfaction, and worries can have a negative effect on the body. However, when our mental anguish is relieved, it can sometimes heal physical ailments.

This is supported by Ivan Pavlov's theory of conditioned reflexes and the research done on the relationship between the mind and bodily processes. There is a deep connection between the mind and the body.

I believe by receiving the “path of salvation and progression of humanity” that Kami desires, it is possible to receive miraculous blessings.

So instead of simply dismissing faith stories as unscientific, I challenge you to think for a moment about Kami’s desires for human salvation and how to progress in this way of life.

I concluded my talk with these words:

Young people in their early 20s are able to talk to each other about the most important things in life. I feel that there is something precious in that Kami.

Exercises for the Mind/Heart/Spirit

015 Becoming the Bad Guy

When something bad happens, we tend to blame others, but try blaming yourself instead. Your son carelessly spilled tea on the table and got your clothes wet. Instead of saying "What are you doing?", you say "I'm sorry I put the cup on the corner of the table," and the son may respond, "I'm sorry, I wasn't careful either." You can now say "I'm sorry" to each other.

Konko Church of Gardena and Los Angeles Announcements

Morning Service

On Sunday, July 6, we will be holding a morning prayer at 10:00 a.m. Please note the different time.

Monthly Service

On Sunday, July 13, we will be holding the Monthly service at 10:00 a.m.

Gardena Church Work Committee

GCWC will be held on July 20 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.