Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 8

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8. By a Slight Illness

On May 6, 1861, Koto Nishida had a toothache. She left home to visit an Inari temple in Senzoku. Senzoku lies to the north of her house, but she was walking to the east without intending to do so, and happened to meet a friend of about the same age. This friend had married into the Okuda family in Bessho. She asked Koto where she was going, and then told her that if she would pay a visit to Shoyashiki, any illness could be cured. So Koto made a pilgrimage to Shoyashiki at once. She arrived toward evening. Oyasama greeted her:

“Welcome home. I have been waiting for you.”

Further:

“I have given you guidance by a slight illness only.”

Then, telling her the divine teachings, Oyasama gave her the sacred powder of roasted grain. By the time Koto got home after listening to the divine teachings, the toothache had completely stopped. She did not pay a visit to Shoyashiki for some days. Then, her eyes began to hurt violently. Immediately, she visited Oyasama, who said to her:

“I have given you guidance through an illness.”

Oyasama taught Koto the divine teachings step by step, and prayed for her. The pain stopped by the time Koto left to go home.

For the following three days Koto visited Shoyashiki to clean the Residence, bringing her lunch with her. That was the beginning of her faith in Tenrikyo. Koto was thirty-two years old that year.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 4–5

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The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 71

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations,

The following is a translation of Part 71 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the November 2008 (No. 479) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.

Part 71: Offer What Happens to Flow Down (Part 2 of 2)

In 1922, Yasu Yoshifuku, a student enrolled in the six-month Bekka course at Tenri Seminary, obeyed Rev. Michioki Masuno — the headmaster of Tenri Seminary and the head minister of Shikishima Daikyokai — who instructed her to “Collect donations in three days and three nights.”

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The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 70

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations, ,

The following is a translation of Part 70 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the October 2008 (No. 478) issue of Taimo , pp. 36–37. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.

Part 70: Offer What Happens to Flow Down (Part 1 of 2)

In 1922, Yasu Yoshifuku enrolled in the six-month Bekka course at Tenri Seminary. Since it was a year after the official inauguration of the preparatory period leading to the 40th Anniversary of Oyasama (that was to be held in 1926), the Tenrikyo congregation as a whole was passionately occupied in pre-anniversary activities. The words “40th Anniversary” were deeply inscribed in the mind of every follower, with Yasu being no exception. She willingly forewent sleep, waking every morning at 2 a.m. to head to the offering preparatory room at Church Headquarters and frantically devoted herself to hinokishin until her dormitory finished their daily toilet-cleaning sessions that began at midnight.

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 7

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7. Offering with a Sincere Heart

The following occurred at a time when the Nakayama family was living in the depths of poverty. One day at the end of the year, a follower brought some small, beautifully made rice cakes in the finest of boxes and said, “Please, offer this to Oyasama.” Kokan, Oyasama’s youngest daughter, promptly took it to Her. Oddly, Oyasama only said:

“Oh, is that so?”

and did not seem to be particularly pleased.

About two or three days later another follower came. She brought out a package in a plain kerchief and said, “Please, will you offer this to Oyasama?” In it were only a few sweetened rice cakes in a bamboo wrapping. Kokan as usual took it to Oyasama. Thereupon, Oyasama said:

“Please, offer it to God the Parent at once,”

and seemed very pleased.

The following fact became known later. The follower who had brought the finely made cakes was well to do. She had made some rice cakes for New Year’s, and as there were some left over, she took them to the Residence as an afterthought. The follower who had brought the plain cakes was poor, and barely able to make enough rice cakes for New Year’s. However, her family said, “This is also the blessing of God the Parent. First of all, let us make an offering.” They took the first freshly made rice cakes to the Residence.

Oyasama had known what was in the heart of each of these two persons.

There were many such incidents. Later, many followers began to bring the rare seasonal foods grown in their localities to Oyasama when they visited Her. Oyasama always appreciated the sincere heart with which the followers brought these offerings more than the offerings themselves.

Further, when things were presented to Her with arrogance, She often gave them to those nearby. When, on occasion, She did eat them, She said:

“It has no taste at all. It tastes as though we are forcing ourselves to eat when we do not want to eat.”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 3–4

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The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 69

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations, ,

The following is a translation of Part 69 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the September 2008 (No. 477) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.

Part 69: “If the Spirit Lives, the Body Will Live”

In 1893, Kichitaro Matsumura contracted a severe case of dysentery. He suffered from diarrhea several times a day, which left him emanciated in a blink of an eye. Although he went to see a number of doctors, they all concluded that his case was beyond help. The first Shinbashira took the time to visit Kichitaro and said: “Matsumura-san, you’ve really lost weight. Do you have anything to tell me while you have the chance? I’ll listen to anything you have to say.”

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 6

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6. Seeing His Heart

In 1852, Okoyo, the elder sister of Chusaku Tsuji of Toyoda Village, while going to the Residence for sewing lessons from Oyasama, noticed an especially gentle nature in Okimi, the third daughter of Oyasama. Because the mother of Sojiro Kajimoto was from the Tsuji family, Okoyo recommended Okimi highly to the Kajimoto family of Ichinomoto. The Kajimoto family accepted the idea and proposed marriage between Okimi and Sojiro. Chusaku Tsuji was to act as matchmaker. To this proposal Oyasama replied:

“If it is Sojiro, there is no need for a meeting between the two. I see the fine quality of his heart. Take her.”

It is said that Sojiro was called “Sojiro the Buddha” by the villagers because he had been a kind and gentle person from childhood.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 2–3

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 4 and 5

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4. I Will Return Ten Thousandfold

“Fall to the depths of poverty. Unless you fall to the depths of poverty, you cannot understand what sufferers feel. Even water, once fallen to the bottom, will rise again. I will return ten thousandfold.”

5. The Same as Flowing Water

Among the words that Oyasama told Shirobei Umetani were these:

“When I was in a trance, the divine voice said within me, ‘It is the same as flowing water. Fall to a low place. Fall to the bottom. You cannot save others if you live in a mansion with a stately gate. Live in poverty. Live in poverty.'”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, p. 2 Continue reading Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 4 and 5 →

The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 68

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations, ,

The following is a translation of Part 68 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the August 2008 (No. 476) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.

Part 68: In the Face of a Knot

In 1912, Masayoshi Ando enrolled himself in the eighth session of the six-month Special Course (Bekka) at Tenri Seminary. One day at the seminary, one of his classmates received a telegram saying, “Mother is critically ill.”

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 3 (part two: Insight from Inoue Akio sensei)

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama, ,

Happy Valentines Day, everyone!

Last time, I cut short my discussion on Anecdotes 3 before going into it too deeply; I’d like to pick up where I left off by summarizing an article (2003) from Tenrikyo theologian and intellectual heavyweight, Akio Inoue sensei. (Please refer to the previous post for the actual content of Anecdotes 3 itself.) Continue reading Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 3 (part two: Insight from Inoue Akio sensei) →

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 3 (part one)

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3. The Storehouse

After Oyasama had become the living Shrine of God the Parent on October 26, 1838, She often confined Herself in the storehouse according to the will of God. However, when in the same year pain returned to Shuji’s leg, becoming so acute that he had to be moved on a stretcher, Oyasama breathed on his leg and applied a piece of paper to the affected area. The pain was gone in about ten days.

It is said that Oyasama continued to confine Herself in the storehouse for a period of three years.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 1–2

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