Tenrikyo is a Japanese new religion believing in “God” - Tenri-O-no-Mikoto - which has its headquarter in Terni, Nara. Their practices are characterised by cleaning.
“Evil” is like dust on our mind which has to be swept away. Every individual is supposed to work towards a polished mind, thus against the accumulation of dust.
Dust stands metaphorical for wrong thinking and acting, and god as a "broom" can help us to remove these residues.
Practitioners of the new religion apply these believes literally and clean in and around the temple continuously, but especially before early morning and evening services.
Dust is broomed away from every possible spot, the floor is then swept and finally polished with a white towel.
Tenrikyo's crest is comprised of a five-petal plum blossom. While visiting their Church we had the luck to see their plum tree flowering.
