The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 3

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations, , ,

The following is a translation of Part 3 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the March 2003 (No. 411) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35.

Part 3: “I Placed a Bridge That Leads Eight Hundred Kilometers Ahead”

In April 1880, Osaka Prefecture recruited Chuzaburo Koda and dispatched him to the Niigata Prefecture Agricultural Experiment Station and put him in charge to oversee its tilling and cultivation activities. He was 54 at the time. He left for Niigata on a one-year contract and returned to his home province of Yamato on his year-end vacation. During this time his second daughter Riki had contracted an eye disease and it was considered only a matter of time before she lost her eyesight.

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The Life of the Honseki Izo Iburi, Part Two

Life of the Honseki

“A Carpenter Will Appear”

Before Izo arrived, Oyasama had uttered the following prediction,

“A carpenter will appear, will appear.”

Also, upon seeing Izo, Oyasama proclaimed:

“Tenri-O-no-Mikoto, the God of the eight directions, has been waiting. God is overjoyed that the greatest carpenter of Japan has arrived.”1

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  1. Shinpan Iburi Izo den, p. 24. ↩

Anecdotes of the Honseki Izo Iburi 3

Honseki: Anecdotes

3. Izo’s Sandal Stew

Izo had a playful side to him. One of the stories that prove this is “Izo’s Sandal Stew.” One night he gathered with his young colleagues for a night of fun. They played a traditional game known as yamijiru, or night stew. In this game, each person adds an ingredient to a simmering stew pot in the dark. Because each person is unaware of what the others have brought, there is no knowing what is in the stew when a lamp or candle is lit and everyone begins eating.

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The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 2

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations, , , ,

The following is a translation of Part 2 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the February 2003 (No. 410) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35.

Part 2: “I’m Not Doing the Saving”

In 1882, Tokichi Izumita established the Fourth Ten’e Confraternity in Minami Ward of Karahori. After converting to the faith in 1877, he spent some time engaging in missionary work in the Hokuriku region of Japan. After building his confidence after spending many snowy days there, he returned concentrate his missionary efforts in Osaka.

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A personal instance of divine guidance in action

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A personal example that may shed some light on how Tenrikyo followers think.

I have a six-month old infant son. The other day my wife and I noticed that a portion of flesh near the nail of his left thumb was green. I first thought was: Oh no, my son is turning into the Hulk. I then imagined how amusing it would be to see my little baby Hulk wrecking havoc throughout Tenri. I quickly snapped back into reality, however.
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Tenri Forum Presentation on July 17, 2006

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Taking Cues from Oyasama’s Divine Model in Creating an Environmentally Conscious Culture

(This is my manuscript from my presentation at Tenri Forum 2006 at the Section Meeting Tenrikyo and Its Approach to the Environment)

Introduction

Hello everyone. Although I fear that I am by no means an expert and lack a background in environmental activism which our two previous presenters—Mr. Cedric Noto and Ms. Amira Dali—have, I hope to use the best of my limited background in what I call “Tenrikyology,” or Tenrikyo studies, to approach the subject of this section meeting.

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Anecdotes of the Honseki Izo Iburi 2

Honseki: Anecdotes, Translations,

2. “It’s Delicious, It’s Delicious”

From a young age Izo proved to be different from others. When he was at work and saw that the people of the household who had hired him were very busy, he would stop to help draw water from the well or watch the fire at the stove. He never once complained about the meals he was served.
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Anecdotes of the Honseki Izo Iburi 1

Honseki: Anecdotes, Translations, ,

1. Lost in the Mountains of Mukoji

A mysterious incident happened before Izo moved to Ichinomoto. The following is an anecdote from a carpenter named Tozo, who often worked with Izo when he still lived in his home village of Mukoji.

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“When Izo was about 20 years old, a mysterious incident occurred when we went to dig a new water reservoir for the village above Izo’s home. When I think about it, it may have been a sign from God that he would gain such distinction later in life. Continue reading Anecdotes of the Honseki Izo Iburi 1 →