Tag Archives: Hirano Tora

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 198

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama, ,

198. With Any Flower (donna hana demo na)

Once Yonosuke Shimizu, Shirobei Umetani, and Tora Hirano had gathered before Oyasama and were talking with each other about how their [confraternities] were not advancing as they had hoped. Oyasama said:

“With any flower, there are years when it blooms and there are years when it does not bloom. Even if it does not bloom one year, when the year changes it will bloom again.”

It is said that Oyasama comforted them in this way.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 155–156

Continue reading Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 198 →

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 189

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama, , ,

189. The Hearts of Husband and Wife (fūfu no kokoro)

In the summer of 1886, Narazo Hirano and his wife, after abandoning the family occupation, were devoting themselves to missionary work in utter poverty with the resolve, “When we think of Oyasama, we never mind going for four or five days without food.” As it was summer, they had no possessions with them except the light summer clothing they wore: one cotton kimono each and a summer kimono for Narazo.

One day, when they returned to the Residence, Oyasama gave them these words:

“In this path the hearts of husband and wife are the foundation. I have discerned your sincerity which could thrust through a great tree or pierce a huge stone. One year from now, I will grant you an uchiwake-basho, a place of salvation.”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, p. 149

Continue reading Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 189 →

Nurturing Our Youth

Tenrikyo Fundamentals, Translations, , , ,

The following is an excerpt from Omichi no joshiki [Tenrikyo Fundamentals] (pp. 52–58) 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.

Nurturing Our Youth

In the 1950s, a dashing young actor appeared on the Hollywood movie scene and touched a chord with young audiences with his portrayal of an adolescent rebelling against the establishment and its sense of values. This was of course none other than James Dean in East of Eden and Rebel Without a Cause, which have since become classic films. Continue reading Nurturing Our Youth →