Articles and exerpts from a variety of books, on the teachings of Tenrikyo
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…
The Anecdote In the summer of 1877, nine-year-old Narazo Yaoi of Izushichijo Village, Yamato Province, was playing with two or three neighborhood children in the Saho River, which flowed on the west side of the village. Somehow his penis was bitten by a leech. It did not hurt much…
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…
The Anecdote One time, while Sadahiko Izutsu was on duty at the Main Sanctuary, he said to Tsuchisaburo Itakura, “You have undergone hardships many times in police stations and jails. It’s a wonder that you were able to continue in your faith under such circumstances.” Tsuchisaburo Itakura replied, “During…
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…