November 2025 Voice of the Divine Parent

Rev. Nobuharu Uzunoe
18 hours ago
13 min read

Vol. 25# 11

"We, the Konko Church of Los Angeles and Konko Church Gardena, invite you, your family, and friends to this sacred Grand Ceremony of the Ikigami Konko Daijin. We hope you will join us for worship."

The Konko Church of Gardena and the Konko Church of Los Angeles will be holding the Grand Ceremony of Ikigami Konko Daijin on November 9th at 10:00 am. This ceremony is a celebration of gratitude to Konko Daijin, the founder who opened this path amidst various hardships, and also a celebration of gratitude to Ikigami Konko Daijin, who continues to mediate for us eternally. Additionally, it serves as a reminder for each of us believers to engage with Kami and to manifest the workings of "mutual support between Kami and people" in the world.

The "Ikigami Konko Daijin Ceremony," which acknowledges that Konko Daijin served Kami during his lifetime, is a day to express gratitude for the workings of Ikigami Konko Daijin, who saves and helps people through mediation.

On October 10, 1873, Kami stated, “Though they live between Heaven and Earth, people are unaware of Kami’s blessings. Shrines, temples, and homes stand on Kami’s land but people are unaware of this and continue to consult the Days and Directions, committing irreverence to Kami. As a result, they encounter hardships due to their accumulated offenses. People should receive divine blessings by practicing faith. This Kami now has Ikigami Konko Daijin to reveal teachings and blessings in order for people to prosper forever. Kami is Kami because of people, and people are people because of Kami. Both continue to uphold each other.” This clearly indicates the divine wish to send Ikigami Konko Daijin to save the world and people who are suffering, aiming to realize a world where Kami and people support each other in mutual intercession.

Konko Daijin conveys the earnest wish of Tenchi Kane No Kami, which is to realize the mutual support between Kami and people. To fulfill this purpose through mediation, Kami said to Konko Daijin on October 21, 1859, “There are many people who are troubled. A person like you who has sincere and conscientious faith in Kami should help them through Mediation. Kami will be fulfilled, and people will be saved. Kami exists because of people, and people exist because of Kami. Everyone will become forever prosperous through the relationship of mutual reliance between Kami and people.” This is a request for Kami to help those who are suffering and in difficulty.

For those who follow the teachings of Konko Daijin and try to put them into practice, it is most important to realize the wish that Konko Daijin conveyed: help people, become a kami, broaden the path to the faith, and to follow the path in which Konko Daijin sought throughout his life.

Rev. Mitsuo Tamai - Grandma Carrying a Bag - continued from October

Faith without a choice

I would like to share a story from my younger days. I have a faith companion named Suu. The first time she visited was during a very cold winter. By chance, I was sitting in the sacred mediation seat. This was coincidental because I usually do not sit there.

At that time, a woman named Suu came in. She did not just casually enter; instead, she walked in confidently, sat firmly at the entrance, bowed her head, and remained still. The worship hall of my church is not large enough to be called a worship hall; it is a small space where one can feel a sense of closeness with those sitting between the mediation seat and the entrance. In any case, she sat at the entrance and did not move at all.

I was in the mediation seat feeling helpless. Normally, a person would greet someone with "hello" or "good evening," but she remained silent and did not say anything. Unable to hold back, I said, "Welcome, thank you for coming." This is a natural response; when a new person arrives, one would typically think, "Ah, a newcomer has come," and say it with a smile. When I said this, the woman replied, "I didn’t come on my own. I was told to come so I had no choice." It was then that I realized she was the bride of that elderly woman’s family. Feeling helpless, I thought I couldn't do anything while sitting in the mediation seat, so I went over to her. Since it was cold, I started a fire in the hibachi (portable heater) and sat down by it.

When I said, "It's cold today," she replied, "I'm not cold." I responded, "But your hands must be cold. Come over here." She said, "No, I’m struggling, so I don’t have the luxury to say I'm cold." When I insisted, "Still, please come here and warm yourself by the fire," she replied, "No, I'm fine." This exchange left me feeling perplexed. In times of trouble, there is always something that the minister of the Konko faith does; that is, they pray to Kami.

With no other option, I returned to the mediation seat and prayed to Kami, saying, "Such a person has come to visit, but this is beyond my control. Please help." After finishing my prayer, I thought she would certainly have left, but when I looked back, she was still there. She slightly bowed her head and left quietly. I wondered what this was all about.

The next day, Suu came again at the same time and sat silently at the entrance, bowing her head. This time, I did not say anything. When she arrived, she immediately turned to Kami and earnestly prayed. After finishing her prayer, she bowed her head slightly and quietly left. This continued for several days and I wondered what would happen.

I began to understand her feelings. This family was currently facing significant difficulties. The husband was a company employee but had fallen ill and was hospitalized. The elderly lady (mother-in-law) had faith but she was so worried that she had become bedridden. Suu was raising her two sons, one in the first grade and the other in the third grade, while working from home to support the family. Additionally, Suu was in poor health and in a precarious situation, so the elderly woman repeatedly asked her to "go to the Konko Church and ask the reverend for help." It was no wonder that she felt she had no choice but to come. It was natural for her to say, "I don’t have the luxury to complain." Understanding this situation and seeing her come everyday without exchanging a word, has made me focus more on my prayers.

Eventually, she began to greet me with "Good evening" and respond to my greetings as well. Gradually, she became more comfortable speaking with me. When she approached, she began to share her daily grievances: "Why am I so unhappy? I haven't done anything wrong." This began as complaints, but steadily shifted into requests for Kami. For example, she would say, "Reverend, what will become of our family from now on?" This was a request, transforming her complaints into pleas.

After that, she started to ask me, "Will my children grow up healthy? I just want them to be healthy and grow well." I was able to discuss various topics with her. In this way, she learned to ask Kami for help in times of trouble and began to join me in prayer, clapping her hands to worship Kami.

Several years later, it was another cold winter day. Snow was lightly falling. At that time, she came in and said, "Reverend, I have something to discuss today." When I asked, "What kind of discussion?" she replied, "Well, it's not a matter of worry. I truly have a request for Kami today." When I inquired what it was, she said, "Thanks to you, my children have grown up, and my older one is now in his third year of middle school. After finishing middle school, he wants to start working and I would like him to do so as well. I thought it was not possible to put him in high school, but last night, his middle school teacher came and said, “He is not going to high school. He plans to go straight to work. Are you, as the parent, aware and agree with this?" I replied, "Yes, I understand." The teacher continued, "Is there no way to change this? Do you know your child's grades? Among the third-year students, he is either the first or second in performance. Given such a capable child, wouldn’t it be better to at least let him go to high school?" I thought about it and reflected, but I felt there was no way to change the situation.

"But, Reverend, please don’t worry; I’m not complaining," she said. When I asked what she meant, she replied, "I realized this while praying. Until now, I have been worrying about what to do tomorrow and what I should do, but without realizing it, I have come to ask whether I should send my child to high school. I think this is truly a blessing. I can no longer complain; I am now able to ask whether my child should get a higher education. This makes me happy. I believe this is Kami’s blessing. When I reflect on this, my heart feels strangely clear." So today, she said, "This is not a complaint. I have truly come to make this request. Thank you."

Hearing her words reminded me of the early days when I said, "Thank you for coming," and she replied, "I didn’t come on my own." As I thought about her current disposition, this indicated that she had developed a heart directed towards Kami and had connected with Kami's heart. It took years, but I believed this was the beginning of her genuine faith. Forgetting to pray to Kami and without thinking, I said, "Let him go, of course. If you have developed such feelings, then let him go. If you don’t, I will make it happen."

At that time, the church was very poor. People around would say, "I wonder when that church will collapse." My parents passed away during the construction of the new church. Although it was called a church, it only had a roof, and when you entered, there were no tatami mats. I was sitting on a woven mat which is where the mediation seat was. When I looked up at the ceiling, there were no ceiling boards. The walls were still rough, and there were no thresholds, so of course, there were no fixtures. Given the state of the church, it seemed difficult to support Suu’s son, but somehow I unconsciously said “I will make it happen."

After that, I prayed to Kami, saying, "This is the situation. Please allow this to happen." This was somewhat a forceful request to Kami. Thereafter, the older son was able to advance to high school.

At that time, Konkokyo had a scholarship program through the administrative office. When I prepared the necessary documents to request the scholarship, the main office kindly provided the funds. Additionally, Suu worked diligently and the son attended high school safely for three years. He went to a prefectural high school for engineering. As a result of his good grades, he was recruited by the headquarters of a major company where he currently holds a significant position.

Reflecting on those days brings me an indescribable feeling. That young man is now 45 years old and has three children. Last year, he called me and said, "Reverend, my child has passed the entrance exam for high school. Thank you very much." This was the most difficult high school in the area. The child wanted a challenge, and I was actually worried. However, he was able to pass the entrance exam. During the phone call, neither of us hung up the phone right away. We didn’t say anything, but our thoughts were the same. I then said, "I remember when you were entering high school; you must feel the same way," to which he replied, "Yes, I have been thinking about that too. Thinking about it, I am truly happy that my son has grown up and entered high school. Thank you very much." He didn’t express his emotions vocally, but I could tell he was crying.

During the Obon-Festival and New Year, the young man and his family always came home and the first thing they did was to visit the church. The children ran around energetically and I thought to myself, "You used to behave like this when you were little, and your children resemble you so much. They are definitely your kids." My wife has a lot to handle, but it’s still a joyful thing. The young man comes back to the church with his wife and children, and they always brought gifts. His company is a manufacturer of undergarments, and he brought back pants or shoes which are items that I never bought before. However, since last year, the situation has changed a bit. He said, "I’m sorry, but I changed jobs, and I can no longer give you underwear." When I asked what he meant, he said, "I can’t give you underwear, but I can give some to your wife." He brought a variety of beautiful women's items and handed them to my wife, which I truly appreciate.

Last night, his mother visited and said, "Reverend, my son is being transferred." I responded, "That’s great! Becoming an important person and getting transferred is good." She replied, "However, it’s far away." When I asked, "When you say far away, you don’t mean overseas, do you?" She said, "Actually, it is." I then asked, "What will happen to the family?" and she replied, "Reverend, he will be transferred away from home."

This morning, he came with his parents and said, "I will be leaving Japan on July 5th. I was thinking of making my request yesterday, but I thought it would be better to ask on July 1st, so I came today." I prayed and handed him sacred rice. Coincidentally, I was planning to talk about this during today’s meeting, and this situation occurred this morning. He has become an important person.

Therefore, it is truly remarkable to see how far humans can grow with the blessings of Kami. I am genuinely grateful for this. By the way, Suu’s husband has recovered remarkably, and now both of them serve as officers in the church. Suu helps my wife and her husband works hard for the church, treating its matters as if they were his own. Additionally, we have built a wonderful house and are living happily. I am truly thankful for this.

To be continued in the next issue.

Bylaws Revision Project

Last month, the revised church bylaws were presented and discussed after monthly service. At that meeting, requests were made for more background and clarity on the new document. The desire was 1) to have an overview of the changes between the 1976 bylaws and the revised set, and 2) to cut through the “legalese” to better understand the meaning and purpose of each section. In this month’s newsletter, the board will briefly explain the purpose of each Article and any significant differences from the original bylaws.

Church bylaws are a set of rules and guidelines for how decisions are made for the church and its membership. They are required in order to operate as a nonprofit religious organization in the United States and must be filed with the State of California. Most bylaws derive directly from state and federal law.

This year, the Board of Directors embarked on a comprehensive review of the current bylaws of the Konko Church of Gardena. Because they have not been updated since 1976 and state and federal laws have changed considerably since then, the board decided to draft completely new bylaws guided by three types of sources: 1) the current 1976 bylaws, 2) examples of bylaws from other churches, and 3) a legal bylaw template for religious institutions. Overall, the new version adds clarity and details not included in the old bylaws. While they may seem wordy and cumbersome, well-crafted, legally-reviewed bylaws protect the church, its directors and its members.

Major Changes to the Bylaws

Preamble added. The Board felt it was important for a church to declare a faith-based statement to undergird the legal guidelines for decision-making. It is not technically a bylaw, but it precedes and supports the bylaws and the philosophy of the church.
Objectives and Purposes added. These are a suggested addition to ensure that decision-making aligns with the church’s stated objectives and purposes.
Number and Terms of Office for Directors changed. The board shall now be made up of 3 to 5 members. Variable-number boards are a legally-approved option for nonprofit organizations. The term of office was changed from one to three years to ensure continuity over time.
Duties of the Secretary and Treasurer expanded. Duties for each office are provided in greater detail to clarify board roles and to reflect required practice.
Financial practices clarified. Article 6 provides more details, absent in the old bylaws, on financial and contractual practices. The new language ensures better oversight of church assets and future actions that involve such. Similar protections are provided through Article 10.
Conflict of Interest section added. Article 9 is a new addition to ensure that church leadership and members comply with laws on conflict of interest. Along with these guidelines, board members will attest annually that they are in compliance with related laws.
Membership sections added. Articles 13 and 14 provide detailed guidelines on how members are defined and how they can participate in the governance process through meetings and board elections.
Updated for the digital age. Additional text was added throughout the document to allow for things like digital storage of minutes, remote meetings (e.g., on Zoom) and electronic communications.

Overall, the new bylaws enhance legal protections, clarify duties to ensure consistent practice and legal compliance, and are updated to reflect changes in governance going forward. The bylaws have been approved by the board and require ratification (a “yes” or supporting vote) from the Membership.

Exercises for the Mind/Heart/Spirit

019 Appreciate Our Homes

The houses where we sleep, wake up and live every day have important components, starting with the foundation, floors, pillars, walls, ceilings and roof, each of which performs an important function.

They protect us from the rain, wind, cold, and heat enabling us to live comfortably. Let us

put our hands together and say “thank you” from the inside and outside of our homes.

Daily Calendar

Day 7. “There are indeed people who speak ill of others. If you encounter such individuals, do your best to avoid them. Instead, help others in the background."

"When you are around those who speak ill of others or spread rumors, do not nod along with them. Instead, try to distance yourself as much as possible and quietly pray for everyone's well-being."

“It’s better to stay away from those who speak ill of others.”

Day 8. “If you sincerely acknowledge your wrongdoing and politely decline, Kami may admonish you, but may not impose any punishment.”

“If you can truly feel from the bottom of your heart that you have done wrong, let’s promptly apologize to Kami. Kami is like a parent; while they may admonish you, they will also forgive you.”

“If you feel you have done wrong, say “I’m sorry.”

Day 9. “When you try to do things on your own, it can become overwhelming. However, if you approach it with the mindset of allowing Kami to guide you, Kami will assist you.”

“If you are with Kami in everything you do, you will feel at ease.”

“If you try to do it all by yourself, it won’t work!”

Konko Church of Gardena and Los Angeles Announcements

Morning Service

On Sunday, November 2, we will be holding a morning prayer at 9:00 a.m. After prayer, let us clean the inside and outside of the church. The Shinto-Kai meeting will follow the cleanup. Everyone is welcome to join.

Ikigami Konko Daijin Ceremony

On Sunday, November 9, we will be holding the Ikigami Konko Daijin Ceremony at 10:00 a.m. We look forward to seeing you with your family and friends.

Gardena Church Work Committee Study Group

The GCWC will meet on Sunday, November 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Please contact Rev. Uzunoe if you are interested in joining this group.