The Religions Book

310

See also: Living the Way of the Gods 82–85 ■ Escape from the eternal

cycle 136–43 ■ Let kindness and compassion rule 146–47

T

enrikyo is one of the

so-called Japanese New

Religions that appeared

in the 19th century and were

regarded as sects of Shinto.

Tenrikyo was founded by a peasant

woman, Nakayama Miki, following

revelations to her from Tenri-O-no-

Mikoto, God the Parent, during

a Buddhist exorcism ritual in 1838.

She recorded the substance of these

revelations in the Ofudesaki (“Tip

of the Writing Brush”), Tenrikyo’s

sacred text, and became known

to her followers as Oyasama (“the

Parent”) or the Shrine of God.

Tenrikyo followers believe in a

single, benevolent God, who wishes

humans to find happiness in their

lives on earth. A major part of

Tenrikyo practice is to follow the

Joyous Life, avoiding what are seen

as negative tendencies. What other

religions consider as sins, Tenrikyo

describes as mental dust that

needs to be swept away by

hinokishin—the performing

of acts of kindness and charity.

Believers identify eight mental

dusts that need to be swept away

in order to follow the joyous life

successfully: oshii (miserliness),

huoshii (covetousness), nikui

(hatred), kawai (self-love), urami

(grudge-bearing), haradachi

(anger), yoku (greed), and koman

(arrogance). Hinokishin is also

practiced to give thanks to Tenri-

O-no-Mikoto for allowing believers

to borrow their bodies in a cycle of

reincarnation based on the notion

of kashimono-karimono (“a thing

lent, a thing borrowed”). ■

BRUSH AWAY THE

DUST OF SIN

TENRIKYO AND THE JOYOUS LIFE

IN CONTEXT

KEY FIGURE

Nakayama Miki

WHEN AND WHERE

From 1838, Japan

BEFORE

6th century Buddhism

spreads to Japan, bringing

with it ideas of reincarnation

derived from Hinduism.

8th century In response to

increasing Buddhist influence,

traditional Japanese beliefs in

gods and spirits are codified

in the Kojiki and the Nihon

Shoki, the first texts of Shinto.

AFTER

Late 19th century Tenrikyo

believers attach themselves

to a Buddhist sect to avoid

persecution, but Tenrikyo is

forcibly incorporated into the

official state religion of Shinto.

1945 After World War II, State

Shinto is disestablished and

Tenrikyo is classified as a

separate religion.

Throughout the world,

God is the broom

for the sweeping of

the innermost heart.

The Ofudesaki