Category Archives: Teachings and Stories of Tenrikyo Forebears

Anecdotes of the Honseki Izo Iburi 74

This is an excerpt from the 2006 September Monthly Service Sermon by Honbu-in Toshimi Imamura (All have I done here is post the excerpt here. I have no knowledge of who did the actual translation of this sermon.)

74. Source of an Abdominal Pain

One cold winter day, the Honseki was awkwardly plowing one of the fields that had been returned to the Nakayama family after being mortgaged. While taking a short break and leaning on the plow, all of a sudden he experienced a sharp pain in his abdomen. While ruminating on possible causes as well as possible repentances to make, one thing came to his mind. During that time, people visiting the Residence were few and far between, and the circumstances made it impossible to provide financial assistance for those dedicating themselves at the Residence. Although Izo’s family ate their meals with the Nakayamas, they had trouble getting by without any money of their own. Yoshie Nagao reportedly commented, “There were times when we children asked for allowances, and our parents did not even have a two sen coin.” Therefore, Osato griped about the family’s hardships on more than a few occasions. On one of those occasions, she said: “Considering our present difficulties, we would be so much better off if you went back to carpentry; that way, instead of filling our minds with complaints day after day, we could joyously make financial contributions to God the Parent.”

Continue reading Anecdotes of the Honseki Izo Iburi 74

The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 54

The following is a translation of Part 54 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the June 2007 (No. 462) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.

Part 54: Repaying His Indebtedness to God

In late 1884, Ito Hayamizu gradually began to lose her eyesight and in three years she was barely able to see at all. Her condition failed to improve even with hospitalization and was told her case was beyond medical help. Since Ito’s husband Kyujiro was an itinerant merchant, he was usually away on business. Their adopted daughter Noe was responsible for looking after Ito in her disabled state.

Continue reading The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 54

58 Selected Writings 7: Surrendering Yourself Allows Life to Go Smoothly

The following is a translation of “Jinsei umaku iku tame no hosoku” by Katsuzo Nishimura from Ohanashi goju hassen, published in 2004 in Japanese by the Tenrikyo Young Men’s Association. Translation originally posted at Tenrikyo Forum on March 12, 2007.

Continue reading 58 Selected Writings 7: Surrendering Yourself Allows Life to Go Smoothly

The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 53

The following is a translation of Part 53 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the May 2007 (No. 461) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.

Part 53: Ihachiro and Koiso Yamada

Three months after Ihachiro Yamada (from Deyashiki of Kurahashi Village, Yamato Province) married Koiso Yamanaka on August 22, 1881, Koiso’s father Chushichi Yamanaka accompanied them when Ihachiro had his first meeting with Oyasama. Oyasama said to Ihachiro, “Thank you for coming, thank you for coming,” and welcomed him as if he were a child coming home from afar and explained the teachings to him.

Continue reading The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 53

Anecdotes of the Honseki Izo Iburi 72

This is an excerpt from the 2006 September Monthly Service Sermon by Honbu-in Toshimi Imamura (All have I done here is post the excerpt here. I have no knowledge of who did the actual translation of this sermon.)

 72. Giving Priority to the Affairs of the Residence over His Own

For the nine years starting in 1866, the Honseki always came to spend the last day of each year at the Residence, making sure to complete the preparations for the worship to be held on New Year’s Day before going home. On the last day of one particular year, he completed all of the preparations for the New Year’s Day worship at the Residence, as he had done before, and then went back home. Since he had no savings, preparations for New Year’s Day could not be made at his house.

Continue reading Anecdotes of the Honseki Izo Iburi 72

58 Selected Writings 6: Words that Benefit Others

The following is a translation of “Hito o ikasu kotoba no tsukai-kata” by Koichiro Iwai from Ohanashi goju hassen, published in 2004 in Japanese by the Tenrikyo Young Men’s Association. Translation originally posted at Tenrikyo Forum on March 12, 2007.

Continue reading 58 Selected Writings 6: Words that Benefit Others

The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 52

The following is a translation of Part 52 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the April 2007 (No. 460) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.

Part 52: The Path of Repayment to God

Sailor Unosuke Tosa had been told at an Osaka hospital that his heart condition that arose from beriberi was beyond medical help. Yet, after hearing the teachings of the path spread to him from the proprietress of a sailor’s inn, he received the blessings of a vivid cure and returned to Jiba to express his appreciation.

Continue reading The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 52

Anecdotes of the Honseki Izo Iburi 71

This is an excerpt from the 2006 September Monthly Service Sermon by Honbu-in Toshimi Imamura (All have I done here is post the excerpt here. I have no knowledge of who did the actual translation of this sermon.)

 71. “God is Taking the Day Off Today”

When my father was young, he recorded in his notebooks some of the stories narrated to him by Yoshie, the Honseki’s daughter. According to one of those stories, one day when the Honseki visited the Residence as usual after work, he noticed that the altar was empty of offerings such as rice and vegetables. When he commented to Kokan, “There are no offerings on the altar,” Oyasama, who was listening nearby, laughed and answered, “God is taking the day off today.” On a later occasion, he noticed that the altar lantern was not lit. When he commented on this, Oyasama replied with a laugh, “God is taking another day off today.”

Continue reading Anecdotes of the Honseki Izo Iburi 71