#konkokyo

Today I finished preparing 60 Goshinmai (Sacred rice pouches) for the December month and New Years season 🙏🏼 When I finished, I humbly requested they be blessed by Kami-sama.

While I was making them, I felt deeply moved.

As in doing this sacred task, I, as a Canadian, who met this faith just 14 years ago, was doing the same action done by generations of people before me carrying on the same traditions.

I thought about how one of our past head priests 100 years ago here at the Yokosuka shrine was doing the exact same thing I was doing.

I know of course logically speaking I was taught how to make these Goshinmai by my sensei's who are alive now.

But it never really struck me the reality that generations before of priests carried it to now, the present.

I thought, someone's Great Grandparents, and their children, and then grandchildren.. recieved a Goshinmai the very same as I was making today.

Made by priests who carried over the tradition to me today too.

And maybe someday I will be able to pass this way down too.

There has been a renewal for the Konkokyo in Russia website! Please take a look here, and please feel free to share.

For further information about the Kyoha Shinto faith Konkokyo in Russian, as well as if you'd like to join a Russian-language group and possibly as well a worship group, please email:

[email protected]

Resource: 御神米入 | https://okamotoshinki.com

Goshinmai(御神米 "Sacred Kami Rice", "Divine Rice") is an envelope of rice paper with a dozen of consecrated uncooked rice. Tenchi Kane No Kami prayers are performed over the rice. It is then washed with consecrated water and dried under the sun before being left to rest under the moonlight. The next morning, the rice is sprinkled with sacred blessed sake and placed in a small triangular white rice paper envelope.

Rice is a symbol of life and Goshinmai symbolizes the blessings of Tenchi (天地, Universe). Rice is grown because everything in nature works in harmony with each other, including humans. It represents the virtue of Tenchi Kane No Kami and the wish that these blessings are never forgotten.

Goshinmai can be forward by visiting a church and making a donation at the Toritsugi Mediation Desk, but it is also given to believers who ask for a blessing with a sincere heart. Goshinmai is believed to help with illness, recovery from injury, childbirth or difficulties in life.

One who receives Goshinmai can eat it either raw or cooked. The rice can be kept in a special pouch on one's altar, in one's purse, or on the windshield of one's car. All of this reminds us of Kami-sama's blessings and that He is constant presence with us.

The main thing is to take care of Goshinmai and cherish it, remembering Kami-sama's daily blessings.

When sharing Konkokyo with others, the goal isn’t to make them a Konkokyo believer but rather to present the ideas and beliefs of Konkokyo that can potentially enrich their life. 

Konkokyo isn’t forcefully evangelical like other religions that I’ve witnessed. The founder, Konko Daijin-sama, emphasized that all people are children of the Divine Parent and that we should respect other religions. 

“Instead of worrying, practice faith.”