Organization and activities of Oomoto
Organization and activities of Oomoto
Headquarters:
- Ayabe headquarters, Baisho-en ==> Spiritual Center
- Kameoka headquarters, Ten'on-kyo ==> Spiritual Center
- Tokyo headquarters, Toko-en
- 2-1-44 Ikenohata, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-0008 Japan
- Phone:+81-3-3821-3701
- Fax:+81-3-3821-5283
- 15 min. on foot from JR Ueno Station or Okachi-machi Station.
- 10 min. from subway Yushima Station or Nezu Station of Chiyoda Line.
- Phone:+81-3-3821-3701
- Kameoka headquarters, Ten'on-kyo ==> Spiritual Center
Organization and activities
- Founders:
- Nao Deguchi (1836-1918) ==> Founders & Leaders
- Onisaburo Deguchi (1871-1948) ==> Founders & Leaders
- Onisaburo Deguchi (1871-1948) ==> Founders & Leaders
- Spiritual Leader: Kurenai Deguchi (1956-) ==> Founders & Leaders
- Birth place: Baisho-en, Ayabe-shi, Kyoto-fu, Japan ==> Spiritual Center
- Scriptures:
- "Oomoto Shin'yu (Divine Revelations)" ==> Teaching and Scriptures
- "Reikai Monogatari (Tales from the Spirit World)" ==> Teaching and Scriptures
- "Reikai Monogatari (Tales from the Spirit World)" ==> Teaching and Scriptures
- "Oomoto Shin'yu (Divine Revelations)" ==> Teaching and Scriptures
Oomoto aims at the construction of a Heavenly Kingdom on earth based on the Divine Love and Divine Truth of the Creator of the universe. Oomoto preaches that the source of all evil is selfishness, and emphasizes the awakening of humankind to the basic principles of "The Four Teachings" which are "Harmonious Alignment with Life and the Universe; Revelation of Celestial Truth and its Lessons; Innate Patterns of Behavior for Man, Society and the Cosmos; and Instinctual Creative Drives".
Humans should put into practice in their lives "The Four Principles", which are "Purity, Optimism, Progressivism, and Unification." Oomoto is active in interfaith activities and interreligious cooperation because it preaches that all heavenly religions spring from the same source, the Ultimate Being (the Highest Power).
The Four Grand Oomoto Festivals
Setsubun Grand Festival, February 3, Ayabe
On February 3, 1892, Foundress Nao Deguchi became possessed by the Divine Spirit, which marked the beginning of her sacred transcriptions. This grand festival celebrates this Divine Message. On this day, Oomoto followers pray for world peace and the happiness of all humanity. There is a Great Purification Ritual, an all-night event during which followers devote themselves to purifying the entire universe, beginning with purifying oneself and one's family. This winter celebration also includes prayers for a year of fruitful harvests, and honors the birthdays of the Second Spiritual Leader, Sumiko Deguchi, and the Fourth Spiritual Leader, Kiyoko Deguchi.
About the Great Purification Ritual
The Great Purification Ritual on the Japanese Setsubun holiday has been a solemn occurrence within Oomoto since shortly after the religion was founded. Before the ritual, followers write their name and address on a small slip of paper with symbolic human figure printed on it; this paper slip is then used as a representation of the person concerned. These paper slips are collected from all over the country and even from far overseas at Choseiden in Ayabe, where worshippers fill the Hall and spend the night absorbed in ritual prayer. Hundreds of female and male priests pray over each of the slips as they carefully place them into unglazed earthenware jars. More ancient Shinto prayers are recited as these slips are later floated in the pure waters of Wachi River, which courses through Ayabe City. In this way, purification takes place and potential misfortunes are averted
Spring Grand Festival, May 5, Ayabe
This festival was inaugurated on March 3, 1928, when Co-Founder Onisaburo Deguchi had reached the age of 56 years and 7 months [Shakyamuni Buddha determined the number '567' as a significant one for Maitreya], to pray for the realization of the Age of Maitreya or Heavenly Kingdom on earth. This great festival gives followers the occasion to pray for the attainment of the virtues of Maitreya.
Summer Grand Festival, the 12th day of the 7th lunar month, Kameoka
This summer festival celebrates the birth of the Co-Founder Onisaburo Deguchi, and recalls and extols his role in the salvation of the world. On the previous night (of the 11th day of the 7th lunar month), a Poem Festival is celebrated in ancient-style rituals, during which participants pray for world peace and the happiness of all humanity. After these two events, Oomoto followers take time to enjoy some lively dancing, including the "Miroku Dance" based on local folk dances.
Autumn Grand Festival in commemoration of the Foundress, November 6, Ayabe
This celebration is in praise of the virtues of the Foundress Nao Deguchi, and the trials that she endured in her calling for the salvation of humanity. Joined together with the great autumn festival, services also show thanks for the new rice and that year's harvest.
Structure
- Major local chapters: 58
- Substructures: 657
- Overseas headquarters: 1 (Brazil)
- Overseas chapters: 14
- Number of followers: 182,613 (1997)
- Substructures: 657
Associated organizations:
- Corporation Aizen Mizuho Kai (organic farming)
- Organization for Social Welfare Aizen Shinko Kai, including Kameoka Nursery School
- Jinrui Aizen Kai, Universal Love and Brotherhood Association
- Publishing company Tensei-sha
- Esperanto -Propagation Association of Oomoto
- Organization for Social Welfare Aizen Shinko Kai, including Kameoka Nursery School
New Contents Thu, May 20, 2010
- Oomoto participates in Sant’Egidio conference : Dialogue among religions and cultures : On divided island nation of Cyprus By Bill Roberts
- Photo Album : Portraits of three branches: Shoko, Tanegashima and Aomori By Bill Roberts
- Oomoto FAQ
- A Letter from Oomoto : Of mountains and myths By Bill Roberts
- Polyglot poem festival The Utamasturi is going international — what’s next? By Bill Roberts
- Ethics education program captures the spirit of Bankyo Dokon By Bill Roberts
- A Letter from Oomoto : A year’s worth of adventure in a summer of branch visits By Bill Roberts
- In Kumamoto, it’s all about water – and fire By Bill Roberts
- A speech by Nevada Taylor at the Kii Branch in Wakayama Prefecture on April 13, 2008.:An Encounter With Oomoto Through Aikido
- Utamatsuri, Poem Festival, in Tokyo(on April 17, 2008)
- A speech by Neil Ryan Walsh at the Kobe branch on Mar. 9th, 2008.:Planting the Seeds of the Soul
- Meeting with the Fifth Spiritual Leader of Oomoto, Madame Kurenai Deguchi by Neil Ryan Walsh
- A speech by Neil Ryan Walsh at the Nagoya branch on Feb. 17th, 2008.:The Japanese Arts beyond National Boundaries
- To the Oomoto branch in Nagoya: City of Eel and Toyota by Neil Ryan Walsh
- A Speech by Nissim Ben Shitrit, Ambassador of Israel on the occasion of the Oomoto Setsubun Grand Festival in Ayabe February 3rd, 2008 : Japan and Israel : Two Lands Balancing the Needs of Traditional Culture and Modern Life. r
- A permanent memorial to Onisaburo (A Speech at the Autumn Grand Festival , November 6, 2007 : )By James Parks Morton, Founder and Chair, Emeritus of The Interfaith Center of New York
- Israel, Palestine and the Power of Poetry(Oomoto believes small efforts can have lasting ripple effects on people and peace)By Bill Roberts
- “Something Great”(This genetics pioneer, a friend of Oomoto, offers a clue to the mystery of life)By Bill Roberts
- Kamishima Cleanup (Harima branch members regularly visit this sacred island to keep the shrine tidy)By Bill Roberts
- Kyotaro Deguchi was one of six recipients of the 2007 James Parks Morton Interfaith Award
What is Oomoto?
- What is Oomoto?
- Spirtual Centers
- Founders and Spiritual Leaders
- History
- Organization and activities
- Teachings and scriptures
- Art Works of Founders and Leaders
Opinions[Archive]
- Statement of regret for the outbreak of war against Iraq (March 20,2003)
- Jinrui Aizenkai dispatched the "Urgent Appeal for a World (Global) Crisis" on March 14.
Grappling with Bioethics[Archive]
- Oomoto’s support for abolishing the death penalty (12, June 2003)
- The Oomoto Foundation protests any birth of a human clone baby. (5, January 2003)
- OOMOTO'S VIEW REGARDING JAPAN’S PERMITION TO THE RESERCH OF HUMAN EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS (ES cells)(12, June 2000)
Vistor’s Review[Archive]
- A speech by Bill Roberts at the Oomoto branch in Hiroshima after its monthly service on March 18, 2007:Encounters with war and peace
- How Bankyo Dokon changed one life by Linda Macphee
- A speech by Bill Roberts at the Hokuriku (Kanazawa) branch on Dec. 3, 2006:Ritual and myth -an encounter with ‘divine madness’
- A speech by Bill Roberts at the Himeji Cultural Center on Feb. 25, 2007:Mesmerized by the Japanese Arts
- A speech by Bill Roberts at the Kobe branch on Feb. 11th, 2007.:There are just human tears and human joy
- A Speech on the occasion of the Oomoto Setsubun Grand Festival in Ayabe February 3rd, 2007 : Egypt's role in Middle East peace
- Keynote Speech for the 28th World Federation Japanese Religionists Conference for World Peace in Tokyo (at Kokugakuin University, Novermber 29, 2006):Vision for Peace in the Middle East By Dr. Munther S. Dajani, Professor Dean, Faculty of Arts, Al Quds University, Jerusalem
- A speech to the Kyoto branch:Spiritual adventures in researching Oomoto leaders
- A Speech at The Oomoto Foundation on Monday, November 6, 2006 : Jordan's role in Middle East By Samir Nouri, Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
- A letter from Oomoto:The Young People of Tottori
- A speech by Bill Roberts on the occasion of the dedication ceremony for the new shrine of Tottori Branch By Bill Roberts Oct. 8, 2006
- A speech by Bill Roberts at the Oomoto branch in Hiroshima after its monthly service on March 18, 2007:Encounters with war and peace
- How Bankyo Dokon changed one life by Linda Macphee
- A speech at Setsubun : A Portrait of Oomoto By Bill Roberts Feb. 3, 2006
- New Publication ! By Bill Roberts Feb. 3, 2006 A Portrait of Oomoto
you can read this book in html => http://www.jinruiaizenkai.jp/English/en-kolumno/en-bill/en-sugao/billbook1en.html
E-mail below to order brobert1@ix.netcom.com
Current Topics
- Prayer Offering and World Religious Forum II
- Living the art of dialogue
- Kyotaro Deguchi was one of six recipients of the 2007 James Parks Morton Interfaith Award
Books
Online Books
- Divine Signposts by Onisaburo DEGUCHI
- The Creation of Meaning by Hidemaru Deguchi
- Bankyo Dokon(Seventy years of Inter-Religious Activity at Oomoto)
- Nao Deguchi — A Biography of the Foundress of Oomoto
- The Great Onisaburo Deguchi published by Aiki News
- Bankyo Dokon Seventy Years of Inter-Religious Activity at Oomoto
- Insearch of Meaning
- Nao Deguchi A Biography of the Foundress of Oomoto
- A Portrait of Oomoto By Bill Roberts
Oomoto international Archive
- The History of Oomoto (Jan.– Mar. 1980 — Apr.– Jun. 1982)
- The Ancestors; Friends or Foes? (Apr.– Jun. 1987)
- Tsukinamisai; The Sabbath of Shinto (Jan.– Jun. 1983)
- The Poem Festival at Oomoto; An Ancient Rite Lives Again (Oct.– Dec. 1981)
- Purification of the Universe ; Oomoto's Setsubun Festival (Apr.– Jun. 1981)
Links
Flowers at Ten'on-kyo & Baisho-en (photographs)
Contact
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