The following is a translation of an excerpt from Ishizue: Kashihara Genjiro no shinko to shogai (Cornerstone: The Faith and Life of Genjiro Kashihara) by Teruo Nishiyama. Note: This translation is a provisional one and may need to undergo further revision.

Note: This translation is presently incomplete.

Self-Reflection and Progress

Instances of people standing make up a prominent majority of entries in Kiseki daicho. Genjiro himself came to be known as the “minister who shouts, ‘Stand!’” Yet not everyone who requested the Sazuke administered were cured. Even some who were able to stand once did not experience a permanent improvement in their condition.

Genjiro’s nephew Hajime Tosa, who later went on to serve for a time as head minister of Hofu, once shared Main Sanctuary duty with his uncle. A missionary brought a man who couldn’t stand to him and said: “I heard Rev. Kashihara was on duty today so I’ve come with this man. Please, administer the Sazuke on him.”

Hajime went to the Attendants’ Room where his uncle was. Genjiro immediately went to the Main Sanctuary. Genjiro spoke a few words and immediately administered the Sazuke. He silently waited. Watching pensively, he touched the man’s legs. There was no sign that any change had occurred.

“Well, take care of yourself.”

A disheartened Genjiro went back to the Attendants’ Room. He was silent. At dinnertime, Hajime spoke to him, “Shall we go eat?”

“No, I cannot eat dinner tonight. A person engaging in salvation work does not deserve to eat if there is not even the slightest sign of a blessing after having administered the precious truth of the Sazuke.”

When they were alone, Genjiro spoke again: “Nothing like this ever happened until today. God the Parent always worked on my behalf when I administered the Sazuke despite how serious the person’s condition was. I always saw a sign when administering the Sazuke such a twitch of a toe.

“So it is important not to overlook even the slightest movement. People think that there is no blessing if they overlook this. But blessings are sure to appear.

“This is what one has to look for when administering the Sazuke

“But I couldn’t see that today. I am terribly ashamed.”

In a majority of cases, people come to the Main Sanctuary or the Foundress’ Sanctuary after having already tried all kinds of ways to attain a cure at their regional churches. The hardships of the person in question, their families, and the missionaries who bring them here is extraordinary. I administer the Sazuke only after they have dedicated their sincerity. Yet I am not omnipotent. Without seeing some kind of sign, I cannot bring myself to say, “Stand!”

At these times, Genjiro would refrain from eating and undergo self-reflection about the way he carried himself until that moment. He pondered until he felt he found an explanation he was satisfied and pondered until found a way to mover forward.

Even though he failed to see a blessing of a cure, Genjiro did not lose confidence or begin to have doubts.

When the blessing of a cure was evident, he rejoiced like a three-year-old child. He would then go to Doyusha and described what happened that day. He would then promise to tell the details after he returned to Myodo Followers Dormitory.

When a Tenri jiho reporter went to visit, Genjiro would merely talk about how a person stood when he told them to and the reporter would go back flustered about how he was going to write it up into an article.

• Next installment in this series: The Source of Miracles