Izo also did forestry work on top of farming. One time, when he went to the hills of Toyoda with Yosaburo Miyamori and Naokichi Takai, Izo playfully suggested, “Yosaburo, won’t you carry Naokichi and me with that basket you’re holding?”
Continue reading Anecdotes of the Honseki Izo Iburi 22
After Izo stopped working as a carpenter, he began to work in the fields. Despite the fact that he was unaccustomed to using a hoe, he worked alongside Shinnosuke Nakayama, the first Shinbashira, in doing physical labor and polishing rice grains. Although he was aware he was not good at farm work, he resolved to work at least half the amount of a typical farmer and worked no matter how hot or cold it was.
Continue reading Anecdotes of the Honseki Izo Iburi 21
In February 1886, during the harshest Yamato winter in 30 years, Oyasama was imprisoned at Ichinomoto Station for 12 days. But despite such oppression by the authorities, Oyasama continued to hasten Her followers to conduct the Service.
Continue reading The Life of the Honseki Izo Iburi, Part Eight
One night, Oyasama turned to Izo and Sato to say:
Continue reading Anecdotes of the Honseki Izo Iburi 20
About 1883 when Oyasama’s Resting House was completed, Izo made wooden shrines at night for followers as a side job to raise money for his children’s education. Oyasama took Izo aside one day and gently said:
Continue reading Anecdotes of the Honseki Izo Iburi 19
Matsue passed away for rebirth on November 10, 1882. Only those who lived at the Residence were allowed to attend the funeral.
Continue reading Anecdotes of the Honseki Izo Iburi 18
The following is a translation of Part 10 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the October 2003 (No. 418) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is tentative and may require further revision.
In 1883, plasterer and head of Meishin-gumi Confraternity, Shirobei Umetani, stayed several days at the Residence and poured his heart and soul into the final touchups during the construction of Oyasama’s Resting House. The Resting House was completed in mid-November.
Oyasama waited for the proper time before making Her move from the South Gatehouse into the newly built Resting House that still emitted the fragrance of fresh timber. At midnight on November 25 (or 10/26 according to the lunar calendar), followers of confraternities such as Meishin-gumi and Shinmei-gumi held paper lanterns bearing the names of their confraternities and welcomed Her when She made Her move. Shirobei received a set of Oyasama’s red clothes the following day.
The following is an excerpt from Omichi no joshiki [Tenrikyo Fundamentals] (pp. 32–36) by Koji Sato (佐藤浩司), assistant professor at Tenri University and instructor at Tenri Seminary. Note: This translation is tentative and may require further revision.
Chuzaburo Koda 鴻田忠三郎, a learned man who successively held several agriculture-related posts, began to serve at the Residence in 1883. At the time, the police considered Oyasama’s teachings as an aberrant faith and they often summoned Oyasama for questioning or arrest. Chuzaburo was also once summoned with Oyasama in March 1884 to Tanbaichi Branch Station and was sentenced to serve ten days of imprisonment with Her at Nara Prison.
Continue reading A Humble Mind
The year 1881 was a year when there was much interference by the police at the Residence. It was the year when the two sections of the stone Kanrodai and some of Oyasama’s red clothes were confiscated.
Continue reading Anecdotes of the Honseki Izo Iburi 17
When the Iburis were in the process of moving into the Residence, Oyasama said,
“You may think your family consists of five people, but six shall move in and serve.”
At first it was a mystery to Izo and Sato what Oyasama’s words meant. They were only a family of five. Who could this sixth person be that Oyasama was referring to?