October 2026 Voice of the Divine Parent

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Vol. 26# 10

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With a gentle, rounded heart

Our Founder has taught us:

Place your faith within hearts grateful and caring, in harmony and joy.

But when we hear the term “Waga-kokoro,” it may sound a little formal.

What if we express it as “a gentle, rounded heart” instead?

It is a simple and easy phrase that anyone can understand.

“The light that the sun shines upon us is a divine blessing.

The rain that falls is a divine blessing as well.

All humans are allowed to live in the midst of divine blessings. “

Whether or not things work out exactly as we hoped,

if we can feel that everything happens within Kami's will,

Kami will show us blessings right away

Exercises for the Mind/Heart/Spirit

030 Taking Medication

You may take medication when you're not feeling well, or perhaps you take it daily for treatment or to maintain your health.

Before you take the medication, hold it in your hands, bring your palms together, and say, "Kami, please heal me with this medicine."

It will surely help you.

For those who don’t need medication, express your gratitude for your health.

Daily Renewal of the Heart

Poem by Rev. Matsutaro Yasutake (Founder of Amagi Church)

「ものみなは神の恵ます賜ものぞ

あだにはならじわずかたりとも」

monominwa kaminomegumasu tamamonozo adanihanraji wazukatari

“Monomina wa” is quite broad; it refers to all things / all beings in the world. (Note that in the above furigana, the “wa” is “ha”)
The particle “wa” sets the topic, indicating that the entire world is under Kami’s grace.
“Megumasu” and “tama mono zo” are both polite, old-fashioned expressions.
The ending “〜zo” firmly concludes the sentence and conveys a strong sense of certainty. In other words, it assumes as a premise that what we receive is given by Kami.
“Ada” is an old Japanese word that carries nuances such as:
a grudge / harm in return wastes a weak or insufficient “return”
In this context, the most natural meaning is a determination not to waste Kami’s grace.
“Wazuka” means a little / a small amount.
“〜tomo” means “even if only”—it emphasizes that the size or quantity does not matter. The message is: even a very small grace should be treated as precious as it has been bestowed upon us.

Overall Interpretation

This poem teaches us not to take Kami’s grace for granted, but rather receive it thankfully, and live in a way so that we do not waste it. It is a poem of gratitude and commitment, and teaching offers one of the most important principles in the life of faith.

It is with great sadness

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Mr. Randy Nakayama, who passed away on September 22 at the age of 84. Mr. Nakayama was the son of Jiro and Harue Nakayama. He grew up as the youngest of four siblings. After being born in Japan, he moved to the United States, guided by a connection through his grandmother, Ms. Fumi Niiyama. He worked at Toyo Trading, where his father had been the managing executive, and after his father’s passing, he took over the company. After the business closed, he spent his time enjoying golf with friends. A private family funeral was held on September 25. Please accept our deepest condolences, and we pray for his peaceful rest.

Announcements from the Konko Church of Gardena

Morning Service, cleanup, and Shinto-Kai meeting

On October 4, at 9:00 a.m., we will hold the morning service. After the service, let us clean the inside and outside of the church and purify our hearts. The Shinto-Kai meeting will be held after the cleanup. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Monthly Service

The monthly service will be held on October 11 at 10:00 a.m.

Gardena Church Work Committee Study Group

GCWC will be held on October 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Please contact Rev. Uzunoe if you would like to participate.

Chicken Teriyaki Sale

The Chicken Teriyaki Sale was held on September 20, organized by the Gardena Church Shintokai. Many people volunteered during the two-day preparation. With everyone’s support and prayers, we were able to complete the event safely. We would like to express our sincere gratitude.