51. Rin Masui Becomes the Honseki’s Personal Attendant

After the passing of Izo’s beloved wife Sato on March 18, 1893, the need for find someone to wait on the Honseki arose. A request for Divine Directions was already posed on March 24, asking, “Is the personal attendant of the Honseki to be a man or a woman?” Yet God the Parent gave no clear answer, only encouraging everyone to put their minds together and come to a collective agreement on the matter.

The same question was posed once again on May 17. The next day, an inquiry was made again, this time naming Rin Masui as a potential candidate. The final decision was made by the Shinbashira, Shinnosuke Nakayama, that night.

The Service for Safe Childbirth happened to be conducted that night. Once it was over, it was Narazo Hirano’s task to convince Rin to take the position.

Rin first declined: “There are many others who are far more qualified for the task than I am. I fear someone as inexperienced as myself could not even dream to accept.”

Rev. Hirano pressed on, saying: “An attendant of the Honseki must not only have a solid understanding of the teachings. Since the position requires being at his side night and day, only someone who is unattached as yourself can fulfill this important task.” (*Note: Rin Masui was a widow.)

Unable to decline in the face of Rev. Hirano’s argument, Rin Masui came to be the Honseki’s attendant in this way.

(From Ten no jogi p. 75)

• Next installment in this series: 52. Scenes from Nighttime Timely Talks

*Note: This post has been revised since its original publication.

Comment

This is what I call a “raw” translation: a translation that has not been proofread by someone other than myself, somewhat rare for Anecdotes of the Honseki since I had most of them checked by my superiors (senpai) at the Translation Section. The only raw translation I have posted so far in this series is No. 24, Oyasama’s Protection After the Service for Rain.

By the way, posts from other ongoing series on Tenrikyology, such as Footsteps and Fundamentals happen to be “raw” translations.