Category Archives: Teachings and Stories of Tenrikyo Forebears

A Single Vegetable Leaf

Tenrikyo Fundamentals, Translations

The following excerpt is from Omichi no joshiki [Tenrikyo Fundamentals] (pp. 102–105) by Koji Sato 佐藤浩司, assistant professor at Tenri University and instructor at Tenri Seminary. Note: This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.

A Single Vegetable Leaf

Most people are aware of the importance of the balance between production and consumption in economic pursuits. This is also evident when we observe prehistoric hunter-gatherer societies, agrarian societies, and even animal societies.

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The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 27

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations, , , , ,

The following is a translation of Part 27 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the March 2005 (No. 435) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.

Part 27: Applause in a Prison Cell

Chujiro Otake immigrated to Brazil in 1929 and settled in Tietê, São Paulo state, where he labored to clear virgin forests and cultivate coffee. After much adversity and hardship, he began to concentrate on missionary work in the city of Bauru. He returned to Jiba with a large number of followers for the 50th Anniversary of Oyasama in 1936. Bauru Kyokai (church) was established in February of the same year and Chujiro was installed as the first head minister.

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Anecdotes of the Honseki Izo Iburi 45

Honseki: Anecdotes, Translations,

45. Encouraging a Spirit of Kindness

There was a particular seinen (young male attendant) who would fall asleep and miss making the rounds while on night duty. This became a hot topic of conversation and the Honseki walked in when a few seinens were in the middle of discussing it. He then asked them:

“Who do you think is at fault? The person who fell asleep or the person who is awake?”

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Mind of Sincerity

Tenrikyo Fundamentals, Translations, , , ,

The following excerpt is from Omichi no joshiki [Tenrikyo Fundamentals] (pp. 94–97) by Koji Sato 佐藤浩司, assistant professor at Tenri University and instructor at Tenri Seminary. Note: This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.

Mind of Sincerity

In the summer of 1883, rain was scarce throughout Japan and this deeply affected the harvest that year. The absence of a major river in Yamato Province especially made the region susceptible to drought. It was a matter of life-or-death for many farmers.

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The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 26

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations,

The following is a translation of Part 26 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the February 2005 (No. 434) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.

Part 26: Like Sliding On Water

In 1879, Umejiro Izutsu, a cotton salesman from Honden 本田, Osaka, converted from Omine Shugendo to become a fervent devotee of the path when his newborn daughter Tane was blessed with a recovery from illness. Oyasama bestowed his confraternity with the name “Shinmei-gumi” and many followers would gather at the confraternity assembly hall located in Honden.

Between 30 to 50 followers would gather every night to worship and dance the Twelve Songs. Their devotion was so great that the tatami mats wore out and needed to be replaced in three months.

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Anecdotes of the Honseki Izo Iburi 44

Honseki: Anecdotes, Translations

44. “It Is to Be Done by Everyone Coming Together”

Once when a construction was being planned at Church Headquarters, the ministers of a certain branch church expressed their wish to be allowed to undertake and complete the construction solely on their own. They also promised to supply the lumber for the project. In response, the Honseki warned:

“To undertake a construction on your own is against the spirit of the path. It is to be done by everyone coming together.”

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Buy Dearly, Sell Cheaply

Tenrikyo Fundamentals, Translations,

The following excerpt is from Omichi no joshiki [Tenrikyo Fundamentals] (pp. 91–93) by Koji Sato 佐藤浩司, assistant professor at Tenri University and instructor at Tenri Seminary. Note: This translation is a provisional one at the moment and will most likely require further revision.

Buy Dearly, Sell Cheaply

Denjiro Tomita 冨田伝次郎 was a minister among several others who helped build the foundation of Heishin Grand Church 兵神大教会 in Kobe. Denjiro returned to Jiba for the first time to express his appreciation after his eldest son Yonetaro was saved from a life-threatening stomach disease.

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The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 25

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations,

The following is a translation of Part 25 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the January 2005 (No. 433) issue of Taimo, p. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.

Part 25: Under the Same Roof; On the Same Dirt Floor

Circa 1894, five Tenrikyo missionaries in their late 20s found a place in Hirosaki from where they went out to sprinkle the fragrance of the teachings day and night. In time, they sprinkled the fragrance of the teachings to Iwanosuke Jin 神石之助, who they had met at the entrance of Hirosaki Hospital. Continue reading The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 25 →

Festival

Tenrikyo Fundamentals, Translations, , ,

The following excerpt is from Omichi no joshiki [Tenrikyo Fundamentals] (pp. 88–91) by Koji Sato 佐藤浩司, assistant professor at Tenri University and instructor at Tenri Seminary. Note: This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.

Festival

In Jiba, “Grand Services” are held on January 26 and October 26. The “festivals” falling on 26th of the remaining months of the year are called “Monthly Services.”1

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  1. A note on translation: the same Chinese character is used to write “matsuri” (festival) and “sai,” in the Japanese words for “Grand Service” (tai-sai) and “Monthly Service” (tsukinami-sai) ↩

The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 24

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations, , ,

The following is a translation of Part 24 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the December 2004 (No. 432) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.

Part 24: “Destined to Be Saved”

Kozaburo Murakami was born in a rich farming household in Izumi Province and was known for his honesty and his strict, hard-working nature. He was trusted by the people around him as a reliable man who never refused his assistance.

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