🍀How to Worship at the Jiba🪷

When you come to Tenri, first let's worship at the Main Sanctuary (Jiba). If you are unsure how to worship or are wondering how to explain it to those you have brought with you, please visit the Information Center located on the grounds. The staff will guide you carefully. Please rest assured that no solicitation will take place.

🍀Etiquette for Worship and Prayer

1. Place both hands on the floor and bow once.
2. Raise your head, clap four times, place both hands on the floor, and bow in worship.
3. Offer your daily thanks and requests.
4. After worship, clap four times.
5. Place both hands on the floor and bow once.

🌸Order of Worship

1. Sanctuary / God the Parent

At the Headquarters, there are four worship halls: East, West, South, and North. You may worship from any of them.

In the worship halls, sit facing the 'Jiba/Kanrodai' at the center of the sanctuary and offer your prayers.

2. Foundress' Sanctuary / Oyasama

After worshipping God the Parent, proceed to the Foundress' Sanctuary. Although we cannot see the Foundress, she remains alive, watching over and guiding us even now.

The Foundress' Sanctuary is where the Foundress resided. There is a large courtyard on the north side of the main sanctuary, and the Foundress' Sanctuary is located to the north of that. Please proceed to the Foundress' Sanctuary via the 'corridor' that connects from the East Worship Hall, and offer your prayers from the Goyo-ba (service area) and the Aidono (adjoining hall).

3. Ancestral Shrine / Ancestral Spirits (Mitama-sama)

In Tenrikyo, death is called 'Denaoshi' (a fresh start). The Ancestral Shrine enshrines those who dedicated themselves to saving others, and we honor their virtues.

After finishing your worship at the Foundress' Sanctuary, head to the 'Ancestral Shrine' located on the west side of the Foundress' Sanctuary. There are three shrines at the Headquarters Ancestral Shrine; please worship them in the order of center, right, and left.

Once you have finished your worship at the Ancestral Shrine, pass through the west corridor to return to the worship hall where you first entered.

🍀Recommended Worship

First, take your time and follow the order of worship for one full circuit. One circuit of the corridor is about 800 meters. During this time, please try actively greeting the people you pass. Those who are worshipping are familiar with the teaching of 'all humans are brothers and sisters,' so they will surely return your greeting pleasantly. While keeping this feeling of universal brotherhood in mind, please walk slowly around the corridor. You may also see people wiping the floor of the corridor. This is the reason why the corridor is so shiny.

Finally, return to the sanctuary once more, face the 'Jiba,' and try spending a little time there with your eyes closed in a relaxed manner.

You can feel wonderful energy🍀

I recommend it from the bottom of my heart🪷