Oyasama once said to someone, “Merchants should buy dearly and sell cheaply” (Anecdotes of Oyasama, the Foundress of Tenrikyo, no. 165, “Buy Dearly”). Some of you may immediately raise an objection, saying: “That would cause a huge loss. The key to success in business is to buy things cheaply and…
“Work (hataraku) makes those close to you comfortable; for that, it is called hataraku (hata: those nearby, raku: comfortable)” (Anecdotes of Oyasama, the Foundress of Tenrikyo, no. 197, “Hands That Work”). These words, which Oyasama is said to have spoken, are very well known among Tenrikyo followers. In society, an…
In Tenrikyo, an effort to convey the teachings of God the Parent to others is referred to as “sprinkling the fragrance of the teachings.” In general terms, it is missionary work. When people who were saved by Oyasama asked Her what to do in return, She always told them to…
We are taught that God the Parent created human beings and the world with the intention of seeing us live the Joyous Life and sharing in that joy. We are therefore all supposed to be able to live happily; however, we all face obstacles in our lives. In the Tenrikyo…
Hinokishin is one of the Tenrikyo terms that are relatively well known to the public. There seem to be many people who have seen Tenrikyo followers in happi coats cleaning public facilities such as parks. Although some may regard hinokishin as volunteer service, it is significant that the motivation for…
These days, our everyday thinking seems to be becoming more rational and less superstitious. However, there are still certain occasions, such as weddings and funerals, about which people become superstitious. For example, they prefer particular days for weddings and avoid certain days for funerals based on old customs. In regard…