Anecdotes of Oyasama 7
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Anecdotes of Oyasama 7 presents the contents of "Offering with a Sincere Heart," a selection from Anecdotes of Oyasama, published by Tenrikyo Church Headquarters in 1976. The content below appears between page 3 and 4 of the print edition.
Text: English translation and original Japanese
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7. Offering with a Sincere Heart The following occurred at a time when the Nakayama family was living in the depths of poverty. One day at the end of the year, a follower brought some small, beautifully made rice cakes in the finest of boxes and said, "Please, offer this to Oyasama." Kokan, Oyasama's youngest daughter, promptly took it to Her. Oddly, Oyasama only said:
and did not seem to be particularly pleased. About two or three days later another follower came. She brought out a package in a plain kerchief and said, "Please, will you offer this to Oyasama?" In it were only a few sweetened rice cakes in a bamboo wrapping. Kokan as usual took it to Oyasama. Thereupon, Oyasama said:
and seemed very pleased. The following fact became known later. The follower who had brought the finely made cakes was well to do. She had made some rice cakes for New Year's, and as there were some left over, she took them to the Residence as an afterthought. The follower who had brought the plain cakes was poor, and barely able to make enough rice cakes for New Year's. However, her family said, "This is also the blessing of God the Parent. First of all, let us make an offering." They took the first freshly made rice cakes to the Residence. Oyasama had known what was in the heart of each of these two persons. There were many such incidents. Later, many followers began to bring the rare seasonal foods grown in their localities to Oyasama when they visited Her. Oyasama always appreciated the sincere heart with which the followers brought these offerings more than the offerings themselves. Further, when things were presented to Her with arrogance, She often gave them to those nearby. When, on occasion, She did eat them, She said:
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七 真心の御供 中山家が、谷底を通っておられた頃のこと。ある年の暮に、一人の信者が立派な重箱に綺麗な小餅を入れて、「これを教祖にお上げして下さい。」と言って持って来たので、こかんは、早速それを教祖のお目にかけた。 すると、教祖は、いつになく、
と、仰せられただけで、一向御満足の様子はなかった。 それから二、三日して、又、一人の信者がやって来た。そして、粗末な風呂敷包みを出して、「これを、教祖にお上げして頂きとうございます。」と言って渡した。中には、竹の皮にほんの少しばかりの餡餅が入っていた。 例によって、こかんが教祖のお目にかけると、教祖は、
と、非常に御満足の体であらせられた。 これは、後になって分かったのであるが、先の人は相当な家の人で、正月の餅を搗いて余ったので、とにかくお屋敷にお上げしようと言うて持参したのであった。後の人は、貧しい家の人であったが、やっとのことで正月の餅を搗くことが出来たので、「これも、親神様のお蔭だ。何は措いてもお初を。」というので、その搗き立てのところを取って、持って来たのであった。 教祖には、二人の人の心が、それぞれちゃんとお分かりになっていたのである。 こういう例は沢山あって、その後、多くの信者の人々が時々の珍しいものを、教祖に召し上がって頂きたい、と言うて持って詣るようになったが、教祖は、その品物よりも、その人の真心をお喜び下さるのが常であった。 そして、中に高慢心で持って来たようなものがあると、側の者にすすめられて、たといそれをお召し上がりになっても、
と、仰せられた。 |
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