The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 1

The following is a translation of Part 1 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (The Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the January 2003 (No. 409) issue of Taimo, pp. 20–21.

Part 1 “If You Listen To God’s Teachings”

After Risaburo Yamamoto experienced firsthand an instance of miraculous salvation in the summer of 1873, he is said to have spread the fragrance of the teachings among his acquaintances and relatives. He undoubtedly did so around his hometown of Kashiwara Village (currently Kashiwara City, Osaka Prefecture). Continue reading The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 1

The Life of the Honseki Izo Iburi, Part One

The Early Years: From Mukoji to Ichinomoto

Izo Iburi was born the fourth son of Bunyemon and Rei Iburi on 12/28/1833 (lunar calendar). In all, Izo’s mother Rei gave birth to seven children: eldest brother Shobei, elder sister Iye, elder brother Juhei, younger sister Ina, and younger brother Kumejiro. (The Iburis’ had a third son who died in infancy.) Izo grew up in the mountain village of Mukoji in Yamato (present day Nara Prefecture), some 20 kilometers southeast of Jiba. The surname “Iburi” (literally, “falling rice”) is thought to have come from the Iburi stone located in the mountains of Mukoji Village. Its name comes from a legend that claims when Emperor Shomu (reigned 724–749 A.D.) visited the area, rice fell from the heavens upon this stone.

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Fusekomi (Sowing Seeds of Sincerity)

*The following is a translation of an excerpt from Omichi no joshiki (Tenrikyo fundamentals) by Koji Sato, assistant professor at Tenri University and instructor at Tenri Seminary.

Fusekomi (Sowing Seeds of Sincerity)

In the path, the act of serving with sincerity without seeking any tangible results is held in high esteem and described with the verb fusekomu or the noun fusekomi.

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