Sazuke

The Sazuke (おさづけ, Osazuke) refers to a prayer in which a Tenrikyo follower asks for divine intervention to heal an ailment.

The kanji most commonly associated with the term is 授, meaning "give, grant; impart, teach" and "be granted/taught.

The follower who administers the Sazuke to the suffering person acts as a mediator through which Tenri-O-no-Mikoto grants the blessing of a cure.

Initially, followers who distinguished themselves during Nakayama's physical lifetime would receive the Sazuke spontaneously as a divine direction.

The person administering this grant chants Ashiki harai tasuke tamae, Tenri-Ō-no-Mikoto (あしきはらいたすけたまい てんりわうのみこと, "Sweep away evils and save us, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto") three times with accompanying hand movements and then chants Namu tasuke tamae Tenri-Ō-no-Mikoto (なむたすけたまい てんりわうのみこと, "Please save us in the name of Tenri-O-no-Mikoto") three times while stroking the afflicted area.

Increased demand for the Sazuke led to the creation of a standard lecture system known as the Besseki (別席) in 1889 or 1890.

Nowadays, members who wish to receive the Sazuke are asked to attend nine lectures lasting 90 minutes each, which cover Nakayama Miki's life and teachings.

We are taught that the Jiba is the place where God the Parent resides and where the Service for universal salvation is performed.

おぢばでお仕込み頂く親神様のみ御教をしっかり心に治め、教祖をお慕い申し、そのひながたを辿り、親神様にご満足して頂き、人様に喜んで貰うよう、つとめさせて頂きとう御座います。 After completing the nine lectures, the attendee receives the Divine Grant of Sazuke and is henceforth considered to be a Yōboku (lit.

During Nakayama Miki's lifetime, the Sazuke was a generic term that referred to any grant that she bestowed on her followers.

[8] The Sazuke of Fertilizer is mentioned in the Ofudesaki, Song One of the Mikagura-uta, as well as Anecdotes of Oyasama (story #12).

In December 1874, Nakayama Miki began to bestow grants that allowed followers to petition the divine to heal physical ailments.

Third, the Grant of Hand Dance to Tsuji, which is to be performed with an innocent heart like that of a three-year-old child.