Vol. 22 # 11
Ikigami Konko Daijin Grand Ceremony
The Ikigami Konko Daijin Ceremony is a service performed not only for the Founder’s memorial anniversary, but also to commemorate Kami’s wish for Konko Daijin to save humanity. It is also a time for us who live today to put into practice the eternal workings of Konko Daijin through our services and mediation.
In his early twenties, the Founder experienced the loss of many of his family members over a period of a few years. At 42, he acquired a serious illness, but he unwaveringly devoted himself to Kami. He was the first person to demonstrate a life of mutual interdependence between Kami and people. Many people began visiting the Founder for mediation after observing his mutual relationship with Kami. In November of 1859, the founder followed Kami’s request to quit his farming business and performed mediation at his home to save other people who suffered from hardships.
IKIGAMI KONKO DAIJIN
This is the title given by Kami to signify Konko Daijin’s work and way of life which expresses the working relationship of mutual interdependency (Aiyo Kakeyo) between Kami and people. Although the practices of this faith would not exist without Ikigami Konko Daijin, the work as mediator between Kami and people is especially crucial.
Kami appears through Ikigami Konko Daijin, and through this appearance, the work of Ikigami Konko Daijin becomes meaningful.
The relationship between Kami and people is described as “Kami exists because of people, and people exist because of Kami.” When mutual interdependence between Kami and people occurs depending on one’s faith, that is when both Kami and people are fulfilled. Needless to say, it was Konko Daijin himself who showed this to the human world for the first time.
Kami gave our Founder, Konko Daijin, the title of "Ikigami Konko Daijin" to signify his way of life and work. Kami reveals the working of the Universe in our daily life through Konko Daijin, and in turn, our life is continually grounded in the life of Kami through our encounter with Konko Daijin.
The work of Ikigami Konko Daijin led to the awakening of the true relationship between
Kami and people and the actualization of mutual interdependency between the two. To put it succinctly, the work of Ikigami Konko Daijin connects Kami and people as they should be. With this connection, people will not suffer when faced with hardships but instead will be saved.
Mediation brings Kami and people together. In this sense, the work of Ikigami Konko Daijin is also referred to as the "work of Mediation.”
The following teaching is a simple description of this Mediation work.
Through Konko Daijin’s mediation, Kami, as well as people, will be fulfilled. Kami exists because of people, and people exist because of Kami. Parents pray for their children and children pray for their parents. Like Heaven and Earth, with “Mutual interdependency” (Aiyo Kakeyo), pray for one another. (353)天地は語る
Here, it is shown that through the Meditation of Konko Daijin, we can embrace the relationship that "Kami exists because of people, and people exist because of Kami" and the "mutual interdependency" between Kami and people. The goal of mediation is not only the fulfillment of both Kami and people, but for people to realize Kami’s wishes and for Kami to realize people’s wishes. The workings and prayers of Konko Daijin are essential in understanding the reasons for human struggles, the meaning of human fulfillment, and the approaches to human fulfillment.
Konko Church of Gardena
Morning Service, Cleaning, and Shinto-kai meeting
On Sunday, November 6, the morning service will be held at 9 am. After the service, everyone will clean the inside and outside of the church. After lunch, we will have a Shinto-kai meeting. Everyone is welcome to attend the meeting.
Ikigami Konko Daijin Grand Ceremony
The Grand Ceremony will be held on Sunday, November 13 at 10 am. We are very grateful to be able to hold the ceremony together with everyone. We would like to invite you to join us. Please bring something for the potluck afterwards.
Directory update
The Gardena church Shinto-kai will be updating the church’s directory which can be opened to other Southern California churches. If you would like to add your photo in the directory, please see Akira Sato to take your picture after the Grand Ceremony on Sunday, November 13.
From Farmer to Founder Study Group
The study group will not meet for the next few months due to scheduling conflicts. The next meeting date will be announced in a future newsletter.
Konko Church of Los Angeles
On Saturday, November 26 at 10 am, please join us for a clean-up service to prepare for the Ikigami Konko Daijin Grand Ceremony to be held on Sunday, November 27 at 11 am. We are very grateful to be able to hold the Ikigami Konko Daijin Grand Ceremony together with everyone at the Konko Church of Los Angeles Service Hall. We would like to invite you to join us. Please bring something for the potluck afterwards.
News from the Southern California churches
The 2023 KCNA Conference Committee meeting will be held on Saturday, November 12 at 10 am at the Konko Church of Gardena. We look forward to seeing you there.
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