Tag Archives: Oyasato

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 182

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama,

182. The Residence of Origin (Moto no yashiki)

Naka, wife of Denshichi Oura of Kasama Village in Yamato Province, suddenly felt an acute pain in her forefinger which would not abate. She asked their neighbor, Hyoshiro Kami, to pray for her. When Hyoshiro prayed for her, the pain stopped. But a short while later, her finger became painful again. Again, she had Hyoshiro pray, and then again the pain stopped. After this happened three or four times, Hyoshiro said, “Let’s return to Jiba and ask Oyasama.”

So Naka, accompanied by Hyoshiro, returned to the Residence and was received by Oyasama. At their request, Oyasama breathed three times upon Naka’s forefinger. At that moment, the acute pain stopped instantly. Naka was deeply moved by this instantaneous blessing and thought, “What a truly marvelous God!” On this occasion, Oyasama said:

“This is the Residence of Origin where human beings were first created. In the future, people will come here from all over the world and say, ‘This is indeed the place of man’s origin, the parental home.’ This village will be a busy town where you can buy anything by just taking a step outside the Residence.”

Note: The incident related in this anecdote is said to have taken place in 1885 or 1886.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 143-144

Continue reading Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 182 →

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 101

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama, , , , , ,

101. Do Not Stop on the Way

In the spring of 1882, Koiso Yamada, who was expecting a baby, returned to Jiba. Oyasama told her:

“This time, it is a test. When you come back to Jiba after childbirth, do not stop at Mamekoshi (where Koiso’s parents, the Yamanakas, lived), or at any other place. Come straight to this place. This is the true parental home.”

At eight in the morning of May 10th, while the rest of the family were out in the fields, Koiso suddenly felt labor pains. It was so sudden that she only had time to take off her apron and place it on the tatami-mat to lie upon as she gave birth to a chubby girl. It was a wondrously easy and clean delivery followed only by the afterbirth. When the family returned home for lunch, the baby, newly-clothed, was already in bed.

The husband and wife, as instructed by Oyasama, returned straight to Jiba two days after the childbirth. It had rained heavily the day before and the roads were still muddy. Her husband, Ihachiro, carried the baby in his arms and Koiso wore rain clogs. They passed by Mamekoshi but did not stop even at her parents’ home. Although they walked more than twelve kilometers, Koiso had no discharge nor any other physical suffering. It was a marvelous pilgrimage without mishap.

Waiting for them, Oyasama said:

“It is time for Koiso to arrive.”

She was so pleased to see them that She personally held the baby in Her arms, saying:

“I will name her.”

Further:

“As this baby grows up, the path shall prosper, and keep on prospering forever. Thus with the meaning of prosperity for eternity I will name her Ikue.*”

And so the baby was named Ikue.

*’Iku‘ from ‘ikusue‘ meaning ‘eternity,’ and ‘e‘ from ‘ei‘ meaning ‘prosperity.’

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 85–86

Continue reading Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 101 →

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 93

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama, , , ,

93. Eight Cho* Square

One day Oyasama was gazing out of the south window of Her room in the Nakaminami-Gatehouse and looking at the vast expanse of bamboo thickets and rice fields. Suddenly She said to the attendants:

“Someday this neighborhood will be filled with houses. Houses will line the street for seven ri** between Nara and Hase. One ri square will be filled with inns. The divine Residence will become eight cho square.”

 

* Eight cho equals 872 meters.

** One ri equals about four kilometers.

 

Note: It is taught in the Osashizu:

“It will not do to think of small things. You do not understand that when the years accumulate step by step, this place will become eight cho square.”

November 17, 1894

“I have said, ‘It is necessary to go through many years, many years.’ I said, ‘One ri square must become inns.’ I also said, ‘One ri square is still too narrow.'”

Timely Direction: February 6, 1893.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 78–79.

Continue reading Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 93 →

Anecdotes of the Honseki Izo Iburi 66

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.

66. A Cherry Blossom Viewing in the Honseki’s Front Garden

There is the saying, “Cherry blossoms in full bloom in the third lunar month.” This would fall in early or mid-April according to the Gregorian calendar. Continue reading Anecdotes of the Honseki Izo Iburi 66 →