Tag Archives: donations

The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 71

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations,

The following is a translation of Part 71 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the November 2008 (No. 479) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.

Part 71: Offer What Happens to Flow Down (Part 2 of 2)

In 1922, Yasu Yoshifuku, a student enrolled in the six-month Bekka course at Tenri Seminary, obeyed Rev. Michioki Masuno — the headmaster of Tenri Seminary and the head minister of Shikishima Daikyokai — who instructed her to “Collect donations in three days and three nights.”

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The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 70

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations, ,

The following is a translation of Part 70 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the October 2008 (No. 478) issue of Taimo , pp. 36–37. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.

Part 70: Offer What Happens to Flow Down (Part 1 of 2)

In 1922, Yasu Yoshifuku enrolled in the six-month Bekka course at Tenri Seminary. Since it was a year after the official inauguration of the preparatory period leading to the 40th Anniversary of Oyasama (that was to be held in 1926), the Tenrikyo congregation as a whole was passionately occupied in pre-anniversary activities. The words “40th Anniversary” were deeply inscribed in the mind of every follower, with Yasu being no exception. She willingly forewent sleep, waking every morning at 2 a.m. to head to the offering preparatory room at Church Headquarters and frantically devoted herself to hinokishin until her dormitory finished their daily toilet-cleaning sessions that began at midnight.

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The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 65

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations, ,

The following is a translation of Part 65 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the May 2008 (No. 473) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.

Part 65: The Reflection of Sincerity

Yoshi Nakagawa spent her days and nights engaging in salvation work while living outdoors. Talk began among her devout followers to rent a place for her.

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Anecdotes of the Honseki Izo Iburi 71

Honseki: Anecdotes, Translations, , , ,

This is an excerpt from the 2006 September Monthly Service Sermon by Honbu-in Toshimi Imamura (All have I done here is post the excerpt here. I have no knowledge of who did the actual translation of this sermon.)

 71. “God is Taking the Day Off Today”

When my father was young, he recorded in his notebooks some of the stories narrated to him by Yoshie, the Honseki’s daughter. According to one of those stories, one day when the Honseki visited the Residence as usual after work, he noticed that the altar was empty of offerings such as rice and vegetables. When he commented to Kokan, “There are no offerings on the altar,” Oyasama, who was listening nearby, laughed and answered, “God is taking the day off today.” On a later occasion, he noticed that the altar lantern was not lit. When he commented on this, Oyasama replied with a laugh, “God is taking another day off today.”

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Anecdotes of the Honseki Izo Iburi 68

Honseki: Anecdotes, Translations, , ,

The following is a translation of an excerpt from the writings of Eitaro Imamura (1894–1969), who held several positions throughout his career as a Honbu-jun’in (senior official of Tenrikyo Church Headquarters), such as superintendent of Aomori, Akita, Iwate, and Wakayama dioceses, president of Doyusha, head of Publications Approval Office, and first head minister of Jibun Branch Church.

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Anecdotes of the Honseki Izo Iburi 62

Honseki: Anecdotes, Translations, ,

62. Treating Everyone in an Equal Manner

The Honseki treated everyone in the same manner, whoever they happened to be. He showed compassion particularly to those who were not well off. He liked to give things to others, so when he passed away for rebirth he had but only a few coins in his possession. But there was never a time when he failed to offer anything to God the Parent.

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The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 40

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations, , , ,

The following is a translation of Part 40 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the April 2006 (No. 448) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision. (This is part two of a two-part series [see part one])

Part 40: The Faith of Choe Jae-Han (2 of 2)

Choe Jae-Han (the first head minister of Won Nam Seong Gyohae) was brought back to life after Rev. Hideno Kimura’s administering of the Sazuke. Still, he had lost much of his vision and his arms and legs were bent inward, making him look like a cicada nymph.

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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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Offering With a Sincere Heart

Tenrikyo Fundamentals, Translations, , ,

The following is an excerpt from Omichi no joshiki [Tenrikyo Fundamentals] (pp. 123–126) 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.

Offering With a Sincere Heart

We human beings are able to enjoy life because God the Parent works without a single moment of rest to provide us with divine protection. No amount of gratitude we have for the Master Lender is too excessive.

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Anecdotes of the Honseki Izo Iburi 26

Honseki: Anecdotes, Translations, , ,

26. “I Returned Your Contribution Ten-Thousandfold”

In August 1886, a Nobu Nakai from Kobe returned to Jiba and was staying at the Tofuya Inn, owned by Chobei Murata. Izo, who at the time was managing the Nakayamas’ household matters, came by and mentioned to Chobei: “Without 5 yen, we won’t be able to make ends meet this season. But no matter who I go see, no one of them is willing to lend us the money.”

Nobu, who remembered how she had been miraculously saved from a rare case of stomach spasms and a toothache in 1883, overheard this and thought to herself it was an honor to have such an opportunity to help out the Residence. She took out 5 yen (about 47,000 yen in 1995 currency) and said to Izo, “Though this isn’t much, I happened to have it on me.”

Izo was overjoyed, and replied, “I’ll return it to you later.”

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