Monthly Archives: September 2009

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 46

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama,

46. Everything from This to That

One day a follower brought a large fish for an offering. After the fish was offered, Shuji asked Rin Masui to prepare it. Rin looked for a carving knife but could not find one. Then Shuji said, “Orin, is it a carving knife you are looking for? There is a large vegetable knife in the kitchen. Use that to prepare the fish.” There was no carving knife.

Rin thought, “How inconvenient,” and one day asked to have the day off, and returned to Kawachi. As that day happened to be the day of Otaiya at Yao,* she immediately went to Yao and bought a carving knife, a thin fish-slicer, a pair of scissors, and other useful household items. She returned to the Residence and presented them as a gift from her. Shuji and Matsue were so delighted with the presents that Shuji said, “Such nice things! I want to show them to Grandmother.** Come along with us,” he urged. When they met Oyasama, Rin first thanked Her for the day off. Oyasama accepted the presents and said:

“Orin, you have given thought to everything from this to that. Oh, I am grateful. Oyasama was very pleased.”

It is said that Rin, overwhelmed with the graciousness of Oyasama, bowed, pressing her forehead against the tatami-mat and shed tears of gratitude.

 

* Otaiya at Yao refers to a string of roadside stands which open between the Temple of Yao and the Temple of Kyuhoji on the eleventh and twenty-seventh of each month.

** Oyasama.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 40–41 Continue reading Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 46 →

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 45

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama,

45. Wrinkles of the Mind

Oyasama did not waste one sheet of paper, not even an old scrap of paper. She carefully smoothed the wrinkles even out of the paper that had been used as gift wrappings and placed them under Her cushion to be used again. Oyasama taught:

“If wrinkled paper is left as it is, it can be used only as toilet paper or as paper to blow one’s nose, but if its wrinkles are carefully smoothed out, it can be used in many ways. Once it is used as toilet paper or paper to blow one’s nose it cannot be retrieved and used again.

The saving of a man also follows this principle. It is to smooth the wrinkles of man’s mind with the truth of the teachings. When the mind becomes completely wrinkled, it becomes like the toilet paper. Saving such minds, rather than discarding them, is the principle of this path.”

Once when Rin Masui came to see Oyasama and asked for permission to copy the Ofudesaki, Oyasama said:

“Do you have any paper?”

When Rin answered, “I will go to Tambaichi and buy some,” Oyasama said:

“It will be late if you do so. Let Me bind some for you.”

She then took some sheets of paper out from under Her cushion and disregarding the difference in their sizes, She selected those that had no writing on them, and bound them Herself. Then saying:

“Sah, I will read it to you. Write it on this,”

Oyasama read the Ofudesaki. Rin picked up the writing brush and wrote. It was a copy of Part IV of the Ofudesaki, and to this day it is preserved as it was originally bound, with the paper irregular in size.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 39–40

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 44

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama,

44. A Snowy Day

After Rin Masui entered the faith, she diligently visited the Residence during the years 1875 and 1876.

One of her visits was on January 10th. It had been snowing heavily since the morning. Rin was on the way to the Residence from Kawachi. When she entered Yamato Province the snow began to fall in a whirl as a storm gathered. She was crossing Taka Bridge of Nukatabe. The bridge at that time was less than one meter wide and there was no railing on it. She was afraid that she might fall so she crawled barefoot on the snow-covered bridge.

She had struggled along to the middle, when a sudden blast of wind struck her, causing her to sway dangerously, almost falling off the bridge. This happened many times. Each time she clung to the bridge, pressed against the snow, and crawled like an ant, praying earnestly, “Namu, Tenri-Ō-no-Mikoto, Namu, Tenri-Ō-no-Mikoto.” She was just barely able to cross the bridge. Then, going through Miyando and Nikaido, she arrived at the Residence around four o’clock in the afternoon. When she slid open the door and entered the Place for the Service, Iye Murata told her, “Just this moment Oyasama was looking out of the window, and said:

‘Well, well. Someone is coming on this stormy day. How sincere she is! She must be having a hard time of it.’ “

Rin was overjoyed with her safe return to the Residence, saying, “Ah, thank God!” Her hands and feet were numb after walking about thirty kilometers from Kawachi to the Residence in the snowstorm. Those people who happened to be there helped her take off her traveling attire, took good care of her in many ways and warmed her with three braziers until warmth returned to her body. Then she went into the presence of Oyasama to pay her respects, and Oyasama said to her:

“Oh, I am so glad to see you have come. God the Parent lent a hand to bring you home. You had a hard time, slipping at many places. However, you were joyful. Sah, sah, God the Parent accepts fully, fully. Whatever you ask, it is accepted. God protects you. Enjoy it, enjoy it, enjoy it!”

So saying, Oyasama grasped Rin’s cold hands with both Her own. It was something more than warming them over the brazier. Rin was moved with gratitude and awe at the inexpressible warmth of Oyasama.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 38–39 Continue reading Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 44 →

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 43

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43. That Will Do

September 27, 1875, is the date when Oyasama’s daughter, Kokan, departed for rebirth. The people of Shoyashiki Village had often come to comfort her while she was ill in bed, and had rushed to her when her condition worsened. On the day of the funeral service, they came and helped from early morning.

On the following day, during the after-funeral dinner, they talked about their memories of Kokan, and recalled Oyasama’s words. In the course of their talk, one of them tearfully said, “Indeed, we have been doubtful of God until now and have no word to excuse ourselves.”

On hearing this, one of the seniors who worked at the Residence suggested, “Why don’t you form a [confraternity]?” Whereupon, the villagers talked, and agreed among themselves to form their own [confraternity]. When this was reported to Oyasama, She was very pleased.

Then they had to name the [confraternity], but at first the farmers could not think of a good idea. In the meantime, someone suggested, “Since this is the place of origin where God resides, how about naming it Tengen(divine locale)-ko?” Everyone agreed to this name, and they inquired of Oyasama about it. She said:

“That will do.”

And She took off Her red formal coat and gave it to them, saying:

“This shall be enshrined as the symbol of faith.”

In this way the Tengen-ko [Confraternity] was born. Without naming anyone in particular as head of the [confraternity], they held the monthly service on a fixed day each month at a different member’s house, bringing the red garment to that place.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, p. 37.

Continue reading Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 43 →

Fifth Installment of “Savoring the Realm of the Mikagura-uta” Lecture Series, part 2

Twelve Songs Commentary

The fifth installment of part two of the “Savoring the Realm of the Mikagura-uta” lecture series, sponsored by the Oyasato Institute for the Study of Religion, was held at 13:00 on August 25. The lecturer was Akihiro Inoue sensei and he was assigned to discuss Song Nine (Kokono Kudari-me) of the Mikagura-uta. The title of the lecture was “Kami no kokoro ni motare tsuke” [“So lean closely on the mind of God”].


Continue reading Fifth Installment of “Savoring the Realm of the Mikagura-uta” Lecture Series, part 2 →

September 2009 Tenrikyo news headlines

News / Blog

September 6–8: Tenrikyo participates in Vatican’s “The Spirit of Assisi in Krakow” (from Tenri jiho newspaper, September 20, 2009 issue, cover and p. 2)

Tenrikyo was one of the many religious organizations represented at “The Spirit of Assisi in Krakow.” The official Tenrikyo retinue included the Shinbashira (seen in this photo on the far left) and Rev. Masahiko Iburi, Director-in-Chief of Administrative Affairs.

Rev. Iburi gave a presentation for Panel 22, themed “Faith and Science.”

(Link to English article at Tenrikyo Online)

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 42

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42. By Saving Others

Early in April 1875, Eijiro Enomoto of Sugahama, Sando Village in Fukui Prefecture, visited the goddess of mercy of Hase, the eighth temple on the pilgrimage route through the western provinces. His purpose was to pray that his daughter Kiyo be cured of insanity. From the old woman of a teahouse he happened to hear that a living god resided in Shoyashiki Village. He then hurried to Shoyashiki through Miwa and visited the Residence. He asked an intermediary for an audience with Oyasama, who told him:

“You need not worry. Never! Go home quickly, as something wrong has happened in your home. Visit houses in your village one by one and save forty-two persons. Pray to God earnestly at each house, chanting, ‘Namu, Tenri-Ō-no-Mikoto,’ and pressing your hands together in prayer. By saving others you yourself will be saved.”

Eijiro left Shoyashiki lightheartedly and, going through Kizu, Kyoto and Shiozu, arrived at Sugahama on April 23rd.

His daughter was hopelessly insane, but while he was praying, “Namu, Tenri-Ō-no-Mikoto,” pressing his hands together in prayer, incredibly, she became calm by degrees. Then as Oyasama had instructed him, he visited every house in his village, spreading the fragrance of the teachings of God. He visited the homes of the sick repeatedly, praying for the healing of forty-two people.

Wonderfully, his daughter was completely cured. Also, people came from many homes to express their gratitude. Restored to sanity, his daughter married a man adopted into her family. Eijiro and the young couple returned to Jiba to offer their thanks and were granted an audience with Oyasama.

Later, they expressed their impression that Oyasama, wearing pure red garments and with Her snow-white hair plaited in the shape of a tea whisk, was a beautiful and noble figure.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 36–37

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 41

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41. To Eternity

One day Oyasama visited the home of Gisaburo Nakata in Toyoda Village. Oyasama hummed as She walked around the house:

“Step in firmly. Step down firmly. Step down firmly to eternity.”

After that, Oyasama told Nakata:

“God has entered this residence and hardened the ground. Never let go of this property, no matter how poor you become. Continue your faith to eternity.”

Years later during the time of Gisaburo’s grandson, Kichizo, a portion of the land was to be exchanged at the village’s request. When the final approval was to be made, a boil suddenly appeared on Kichizo’s face and it became swollen. The family members were astonished and they tried to discover the cause through self reflection and consultation. Whereupon, the elders of the family* told them how the ground had been hardened by Oyasama Herself. They immediately apologized to God the Parent and sent a formal notice to the village withdrawing the exchange offer. When this was done the illness was completely cured.

 

*By elders was meant Shiho Nakata and her youngest sister, Katsu Uyeshima. Shiho was the wife of Gisaburo’s eldest son.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, p. 35

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 40

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama, ,

40. Stay Here

The year was 1874. Yonosuke Okada (later known as Yosaburo Miyamori), at the age of eighteen, had a severe pain in his arm. He visited this and that doctor but the pain did not ease at all. He leaned against the bedding and suffered day and night. Looking at his suffering, Wasa, his married sister from Miwa, conveyed the teachings to him, suggesting, “Why don’t you try to go to Shoyashiki?”

Yonosuke had heard about the living god of Shoyashiki before, but at this time he decided to return to the Residence. When he had an audience with Oyasama, She said to him:

“Yonosuke, welcome home.”

Upon receiving these words, the pain in his arm instantly stopped. He spent all that day at the Residence and went back to Higai Village that night.

However, when he returned home, he began to feel pain in his arm again. He waited impatiently for daybreak and returned to the Residence. Then, incredibly, the pain in his arm stopped.

These same events occurred repeatedly and during three years he returned to the Residence almost every day. Toward the end of this period, Oyasama said gently:

“Yonosuke, stay here.”

And so, in accord with Her words, he stayed at the Residence and helped with the work there. He remained there because unless he did so, the pain in his arm would return.

It was in this way that Yonosuke began to work at the Residence.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 34–35 Continue reading Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 40 →

In Memoriam: Rev. Jiro James Morishita – A Farewell to a “Giant”

News / Blog

Left to right: Ben Tadokoro, Rev. Zensuke Nakata (Shinbashira’s brother), and the GIANT himself, Rev. Jiro Morishita.

 

 

 

Rev. Jiro James Morishita, head minister of Tenrikyo Brotherhood Church in Los Angeles, passed away for rebirth at 9:45 p.m. P.S.T. on August 30.

To quote his peer Rev. Marlon Okazaki: “We have just lost a Giant, we have just lost a dear friend. We will miss him dearly. Let us keep his light alive in our mission. I know that’s what he would want.”

Even though in the last days it was sadly apparent that there would be no miraculous recovery for Jiro sensei, I still feel numb and am at a complete loss of words. Roughly 72 hours after we heard the news, I am still in the process of digesting the reality that he has gone into the embrace of our Divine Parent.

He was a man of enormous spiritual and physical strength. I allowed myself to become too awed by his presence and intensity to open myself fully to him, so I unfortunately have little stories to share here. And besides, I honestly cannot begin to give his memory due justice in a single website post.

I instead offer two links to his writings which we have the fortune of having on the web:

  • PDF of Tenri Forum 2006 Unit 2-2 (Contains Rev. Morishita’s Plenary Address: “The Tenrikyo Church and the Community: Connecting with the Teachings, Connecting with the Community”)

I consider it to have been an honor of knowing him and basking in his presence on a number of occasions. I hope everyone who was inspired by his hot, bright flame of faith will keep it burning for generations to come.

I offer my deepest condolences to his family and the congregation of Brotherhood Church and pray that they will arise from this “knot” stronger than ever.

Update: I also include the following link to one of Rev. Jiro Morishita’s sermons: