The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 23

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations, ,

The following is a translation of Part 23 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the November 2004 (No. 431) issue of Taimo 大望, pp. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.

Part 23: Praying on a Streetcorner in Beijing

Gunki Sato 佐藤軍紀 was part of the first graduating class of Tenri Foreign Language School in 1925.1 In 1928 he went to Beijing and began propagating the teachings of Tenrikyo.

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  1. Tenri Foreign Language School is the precursor of the present Tenri University. ↩

Returns

Tenrikyo Fundamentals, Translations, ,

The following excerpt is from Omichi no joshiki [Tenrikyo Fundamentals] (pp. 80–84) 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.

Returns

We have been kept alive by God the Parent’s constant protection ever since human creation. Beginning with the protection that sustains our bodies, there is also the protection that sustains nature and the immediate world around us.

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The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 22

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations, ,

The following is a translation of Part 22 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the October 2004 (No. 430) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.

Part 22: Oyasama as “Daruma”

One day, in the year 1884, Shirobei Umetani brought his third son Umejiro with him to worship at the Residence. Umejiro was seven or eight years old at the time. Umejiro was like his father Shirobei in his youth, a rascally and energetic child who knew no fear and said exactly what was on his mind.

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Anecdotes of the Honseki Izo Iburi 40

Honseki: Anecdotes, Translations,

40. Using God’s Blessings in a Precious Manner

The following story is from the April 1947 issue of Michi no tomo by Keitaro Nakayama (1884–1964), the grandson of Masa Nakayama and great-grandson of Oyasama:

“The Honseki always walked from his home and worshiped at the Kanrodai each day. He would usually do so around three or four o’clock in the afternoon. He would stop by at the Church Headquarters dormitory for a rest and then proceed to the Kanrodai, the Foundress’ Sanctuary, and the Memorial. He would then always return to the dormitory for some tea.

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Efforts That Are Consistent With One’s Words

Tenrikyo Fundamentals, Translations,

The following excerpt is from Omichi no joshiki [Tenrikyo Fundamentals] (pp. 76–80) 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.

Efforts That Are Consistent With One’s Words

Human beings can freely use speech as a means of communication. We can share our thoughts with others thanks to this ability. Yet when we come to think of it, it is a miracle for spoken language—which is nothing more than a simple series of sounds—to have an effect on people’s minds. What once began as a meaningless series of sounds came to be assigned with value and meaning after an extended process.

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The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 21

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations, ,

The following is a translation of Part 21 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the September 2004 (No. 429) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further polishing and revision.

Part 21: “By Saving Others, You Yourself Shall Be Saved”

In early April 1875, Eijiro Enomoto of Sugahama, Sandoson, in Fukui Prefecture (currently known as Sugahama, Migata-cho in Mihama-gun, Fukui Prefecture) embarked on a temple pilgrimage in the western provinces (saigoku junrei)1 in hopes to have his daughter Kiyo be saved from madness. Continue reading The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 21 →

  1. The saigoku junrei is a well-known pilgrimage of 33 sites dedicated to the Buddhist goddess of mercy, Kannon. There is actually ink-brush art accompanying this article that shows a man bowing (presumably Eijiro) dressed in Buddhist pilgrimage garb with the words “Namu Kanze Bosatsu” (variant of Kannon/Kanze’on) inscribed on his back. It would be really great if I could get permission to post this art with these translations (which I have been posting sans permission or notification, since, I would argue, these stories belong in the public domain). Maybe some day it will happen. ↩

Anecdotes of the Honseki Izo Iburi 39

Honseki: Anecdotes, Translations, ,

39. Calligraphy on a Glass Plate

The Honseki would not even let the smallest thing go to waste. When the Honseki began practicing calligraphy in 1891 when he was 60 years old, at first he thought it was wasteful to actually write on paper. So he practiced on a glass plate and wiped the ink off each time.

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Reconciliation

Tenrikyo Fundamentals, Translations,

The following excerpt is from Omichi no joshiki [Tenrikyo Fundamentals] (pp. 73–76) 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.

Reconciliation

People each have their individual traits and different ways of thinking and perceiving. One comes to the conclusion that society is made up and held together by such gatherings of people. Yet a society cannot hold together if every person refuses to meet others halfway after asserting their opinion or point of view. Laws and courts function to find ways to settle conflicts between two opposing parties that have exhausted all means of finding a solution on their own. Continue reading Reconciliation →