What is the Besseki?
Besseki, or the Besseki lectures, are lectures on God the Parent's teachings. These lectures are given specifically at Jiba; its purpose is to allow those who listen to the Besseki lectures nine times to receive the truth of the Sazuke.
Through receiving the Sazuke, one may pray for those who are in pain and suffering of any illness so that they may receive the blessings of God. "The Sazuke, the Divine Grant, is the truth of effectiveness bestowed in the cause of single-hearted salvation on those whose minds God the Parent has determined as being sincere" (The Doctrine of Tenrikyo, p. 18).
The term "Besseki," literally meaning "separate seat," refers to a specially provided place where one may listen to these lectures.
For more information about the Besseki, see https://www.tenrikyo.or.jp/en/newsletter/html/tt7/besseki.html
How can I attend a Besseki lecture?
To attend a Besseki lecture, one must first return to Jiba.
Please have your church/fellowship's head minister prepare the applications for the Besseki lecture. With these applications in hand, go to the Besseki Lecture Hall. You will first need to take the Besseki Pledge before attending your first lecture, often referred as "Hatsu seki" (literally, "first sitting").
What else should you know about the Besseki?
One must be at least seventeen years old during the month when attending the first Besseki lecture.
Generally, one can attend only one Besseki lecture per month. Those who live away from Tenri, Nara, may listen to more than one (the number depends on how far one lives from Tenri). Those who return from abroad may listen to all nine lectures consecutively; however, there must be one day of rest in between the nine lectures.
Is translation available for those who do not speak Japanese?
Yes.
Translation is available for both the Besseki Pledge and the Besseki lectures, either as a live lecture or a recording.
When taking the Besseki Pledge, an interpreter will be provided by the Translation Section of the Overseas Department. Please call the Translation Section to arrange for the interpreter. Their phone number is 0743-63-2433 extension 5364 or 5365.
An interpreter for the Besseki Pledge is available for the following languages: English, Chinese (Mandarin, Minnan, Cantonese), Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Thai, Nepalese, Indonesian, Filipino, Hindi, Bengalese, Laotian, Vietnamese, Mongolian.
For the Besseki lectures, either a live lecture given in your language or a recording will be provided.
A live lecture is available in English, Korean, Chinese (Mandarin), French, Spanish, Portuguese, Indonesian, and German. The Besseki staff will seek to make arrangements to have a live lecture available. Please contact the Besseki in advance to see if a live lecture can be arranged. Their phone number is 0743-63-1671 extension 3421. However, please be aware that a live lecture may not be available on any given day. The calendar for currently scheduled live lectures can be viewed through this link.
A recording is available in English, Chinese (Mandarin, Minnan, Cantonese), Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Thai, Nepalese, Indonesian, Filipino, Hindi, Bengalese, Laotian, Vietnamese, Mongolian.
*Language availability noted above may change: please contact the Besseki office at 3743-63-1511 extension 3421 for the most current list.
Sources
Tenrikyo Newsletter (online version) The Besseki Lecture
Tenrikyo.or.jp 別席
Tenrikyo Overseas Department 別席外国語スケジュール