The Truth That I Do Not Tell and Cannot Tell

Tenrikyo Fundamentals, Translations, ,

The following is an excerpt from Omichi no joshiki [Tenrikyo Fundamentals] (pp. 137–142) by Koji Sato, professor at Tenri University and instructor at Tenri Seminary. Note: This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.

The Truth That I Do Not Tell and Cannot Tell

There are times when people are able to understand each other without saying anything out loud. In a majority of cases, it is likely an unspoken agreement to help one another, ala, “You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.” There is also the Japanese proverb, “The eyes speak as much as the mouth.” Words between lovers can often seem unnecessary.

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The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 38

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations, , ,

The following is a translation of Part 38 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the February 2006 (No. 446) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.

Part 38: A “Whole” Offering

Kanzo Nakadai was born in 1840 and was the eldest son of Kaneshime Kimuraya, one of the leading fish wholesalers in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, at the time. He converted to the faith when he was 47 years old after Sasuke Uehara spread the fragrance of the teachings to him, which helped him experience a vivid recovery from a physical disorder.

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Anecdotes of the Honseki Izo Iburi 57

Honseki: Anecdotes, Translations

57. A Scene from a New Year’s Day

Four a.m., New Year’s Day. The sliding doors between the Honseki’s eight-mat bedroom and the hallway are opened. Rin Masui and a seinen (male attendant) enter. The seinen massages the Honseki’s shoulders; Rin Masui his feet. The morning drum signaling everyone to assemble at Church Headquarters sounds.

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A Pair of Folding Fans

Tenrikyo Fundamentals, Translations, , ,

The following is an excerpt from Omichi no joshiki [Tenrikyo Fundamentals] (pp. 130–134) by Koji Sato, 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 Pair of Folding Fans

Isaburo Masui married Naragiku Nisho in 1876. Oyasama arranged the marriage. They were both from Izushichijo Village, and since they also frequently visited the Residence from a relatively early time, they knew each other quite well. Oyasama proposed the marriage after discerning the sincerity of each.

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The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 37

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations, , , , ,

The following is a translation of Part 37 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the January 2006 (No. 445) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.

Part 37: Conveying the Teachings through Her Actions

Shinako Takane was born in Yamanashi Prefecture in 1899. When Shinako’s mother was pregnant with her, the nausea was so severe that it endangered her life. The fragrance of the teachings was sprinkled to Shinako’s mother by missionary Sentaro Hattori and she was cured through his efforts. Shinako was guided into the realm of faith through the influence of her mother’s devout faith.

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Work (Hataraki)

Tenrikyo Fundamentals, Translations

The following is an excerpt from Omichi no joshiki [Tenrikyo Fundamentals] (pp. 126–129) by Koji Sato, professor at Tenri University and instructor at Tenri Seminary. Note: This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.

Work

There are times when we may ask ourselves as we endure a long commute and toil each day, “What on earth am I working for?” Such a question comes close to home and ranks equal to other fundamental questions such as, “What is the meaning of life?”

Setting aside those who consider their present job as their calling and work each day with enthusiasm, it is possible that it may not be unreasonable for a person who works to provide for their families and make ends meet to consider their occupation as a source of drudgery.

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The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 36

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations, ,

The following is a translation of Part 36 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the December 2005 (No. 444) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.

Part 36: “I Dedicate My Life”

Genjiro Fukaya, the first head minister of Kawaramachi Daikyokai who was beloved by many as “All’s well Gen-san” was born in Kyoto in 1834. Members of the Fukuya household had been blacksmiths for many generations, and reputation of Genjiro’s craftsmanship had even reached all the way to Nagoya.

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Anecdotes of the Honseki Izo Iburi 54

Honseki: Anecdotes, Translations, , , ,

54. During the Hakobi

As mentioned previously, the Honseki changed all his clothes, down to his undergarments, before the Hakobi (the act of bestowing the truth of the Sazuke and granting sanctions regarding church matters). Among the garments he would wear were:

A black crested formal coat (montsuki) made from habutae silk, a brown or pale yellow kakuobi with a design in the middle, a haori coat decorated with the Iburi family crest in five places, and white tabi (foot size: ten mon or 24 centimeters). The Honseki would not wear a hakama or carry a folding fan with him.1

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  1. This account of the Hakobi procedures seems to contradict another account that I posted earlier. But further checking suggests that the Honseki only wore silk during the Hakobi procedures and would only wear cotton on other occasions.

    The implication of his action of changing before the Hakobi suggests that the Honseki was making a clear distinction between his own affairs and the Hakobi, which, in effect, were “God’s affairs” or “business.” As one of the tasks of the Shinbashira at present includes the Hakobi (beginning from the second Shinbashira onward), the present Shinbashira too changes his clothing before bestowing the truth of the Sazuke to prospective Yoboku. The clothing he changes into are more formal than what the Honseki wore; the Shinbashira wears a hakama. In fact, he wears a kimono in a style not unlike what he wears in his New Year’s greeting picture.

    Here is a site (unfortunately, only in Turkish, I believe) that has a nice illustration of how such a male formal attire would like. The same page also has an illustration of how a man would wear a kimono without a hakama ala the Honseki during the Hakobi (with the significant difference being the man in the illustration is not wearing a haori coat like the Honseki did). Unfortunately, I am not quite sure of the significance of the Honseki not wearing a hakama during the Hakobi.

    Actual pictures of the Honseki and Shinbashira in such attire would of course get the point across better, but no dice (at least for now). Will have to do with the above link for now. ↩