(This is a post recycled from 2008)
Ho! Ho! Ho! I hope everyone out there is having a Merry Christmas or other year-ending holiday of their choice — be it Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Newtonmas, or even Honseki-mas! (More on this last one below.)
Post-26 Report (Oct 2008)
Okay, here it is, after much delay, my “Post-26 Report” for the month of October.
Seventh Installment of “Savoring the Realm of the Mikagura-uta” Lecture Series
The seventh installment of “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 October 25. The lecturer in October was Yomei Mori sensei and he was assigned to discuss Song Two (Ni Kudari-me) of the Mikagura-uta. The title of the lecture was “Muhon no nē o kirō” (“I will cut off the root of rebellion”). Continue reading Post-26 Report (Oct 2008)
The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 63
The following is a translation of Part 63 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the March 2008 (No. 471) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision
Part 63: “Record It In Your Mind”
A Mankichi Miyoshi lived across the street from the home of Tokichi Ueda, the head of a Tenrikyo confraternity in the section of Imadezaike in Kobe. While Mankichi’s vision was incapacitated for 18 years, he regained vision in the corners of his eyes due to Zenkichi Tachibana’s salvation work (o-tasuke).
Question no. 5: What goes on in the Foundress’ Sanctuary?
Q: Recently I had the opportunity to pass through Tenri City. (It was quite a nice place.) As we drove past the Foundress’ Sanctuary , my teacher—a Zen monk—told me that there is a television in the sanctuary in case Oyasama gets bored. Is this true? More generally, what is believed to go on in the sanctuary, and is it meant to resemble Kukai’s sanctuary at Koyasan?
submitted by Avery M.
A: Thank you for the interesting questions, Avery! Only designated individuals are allowed inside what is called the “Foundress’ Residence” portion of the Sanctuary, so while I haven’t seen this with my own two eyes, because Oyasama is treated as though She is still physically alive there, she allegedly gets the daily paper, she is served cooked meals, her bath plus bedding is prepared every evening, and I have heard she does have a television.
I am not sure how her attendants can tell whether she is “bored” or not or even know what kind of programming she enjoys, but whaddya know?
Continue reading Question no. 5: What goes on in the Foundress’ Sanctuary?
Blog (03 Dec 2008)
First things first — I admit the posts aren’t coming at a pace as they once did before I went to Honolulu for a translation conference at Hawaii Dendocho (Tenrikyo Mission Headquarters of Hawaii).
The trip and the conference itself were not bad at all (it was nice seeing friendly familiar faces I had not seen for some time); it was returning and catching up to everything once I came back that threw me in a loop for a while. I will eventually get to the “Post-26 Reports” for October and November 2008. I was mulling over stopping this monthly feature altogether, but I figured better late than never. So they will be coming. I can’t say soon but hopefully before the year ends.
The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 62
The following is a translation of Part 62 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the February 2008 (No. 470) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.
Part 62: A Resolution to be Single-Heartedly Dedicated to God
The Shiwaku Islands in the Seto Inland Sea comprise 28 islands of various sizes. The islands are renowned for their panoramic, scenic beauty. The name “Shiwaku” is said to have derived from “shio-waku” (literally, “gushing current”), which describes the swift ocean currents that flow between these islands. One of the central islands of Shiwaku is Honjima. In 1896, the man who transmitted the path to this island was a missionary named Eisa Sato.
The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 61
The following is a translation of Part 61 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the January 2008 (No. 469) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.
Part 61: Causality (Innen)
Masayoshi and Fuku Ando were blessed with three children. However, they were gravely concerned over their children’s health: the two eldest were sickly since birth and their youngest suffered from seizures and from being underdeveloped, both caused by whooping cough.
The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 60
The following is a translation of Part 60 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the December 2007 (No. 468) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.
Part 60: A Bridge Between Countries
In autumn 1870, Risaburo Yamamoto of Kashiwara Village, Kawachi Province, injured his chest at a sumo wrestling match at the age of 21 and became bedridden for the next three years. Although he had various doctors treat him and healers pray for him, he failed to recover from his injury. Instead, his condition worsened to the point where his life was hanging in the balance. Such were the circumstances in summer 1873.
The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 59
The following is a translation of Part 59 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the November 2007 (No. 467) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.
Part 59: A Church Construction Lays the Basis for Salvation
In 1908, the year after Fujinosuke Tanabe became the second head minister of Konohana Shikyokai, the criteria of organizing churches was renewed in accordance with Tenrikyo’s attainment of sectarian independence. As a result, Yuasa, a subsidiary church of Konohana, now met the criteria to be promoted to a shikyokai.1 Konohana, which had been a shikyokai itself until then, now found itself being required to become a “bunkyokai“2 that befitted its position of being the supervising church of Yuasa by increasing its membership and going from leasing its building and property to owning it outright. Since Konohana had just recently relocated and there were a number of Konohana church officials (yaku-in) who were not happy with the fact that Fujinosuke, their new head minister, came from Yuasa (in Wakayama), the prospect of a relocation and construction appeared impossible. However, despite the fact that he was disowned by his family, Fujinosuke worked to persuade his mother to sell the home in Yuasa where she was born and raised and borrowed money from his in-laws (his younger sister’s family).
The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 58
The following is a translation of Part 58 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the October 2007 (No. 466) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.
Part 58: “God the Parent Will Prepare Everything for You Beforehand”
Sakujiro and Tsushi Ueno left for Hawaii in 1929. They decided to dedicate themselves to the overseas mission when they were nearing their 50s. While a normal couple may have had trepidation about the future, Rev. and Mrs. Ueno had faith in the words of the Rev. Yoshizo Katayama, the head minister of Honjima Daikyokai, who told them that, “God the Parent will prepare everything for you beforehand,” and they left for Hawaii with only enough money to cover immediate accommodations on their arrival.
As soon as they arrived, they met a young Chinese sweets confectioner who sought relief from his debilitating asthma. Rev. and Mrs. Ueno immediately left to administer the Sazuke on this young man. Although they could not communicate with him because of a language barrier, with their diligent administering of the Sazuke, the young man could see how they were fervently praying for him and he clasped his hands in prayer together with them.