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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 187

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama,

187. Solely to Jiba (Jiba ni hitotsu ni)

Kunisaburo Moroi was so saddened by the passing of his three-year-old fourth daughter, Hide, that he returned to Jiba in June 1886. “I may have been mistaken about some things, so please let me know my shortcomings,” he said to Oyasama. Oyasama gave him these words:

“Sah, sah, concerning your child, three years was the life of the child. For the rest of your life, the heart of a three-year-old child. Unite your heart solely to Jiba. If you unite your heart solely to Jiba, then roots will spread to four sides. If the roots spread to four sides, even if one side decays, three sides will remain. If two sides decay, two sides will remain. Strong buds shall sprout.”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, p. 147

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 186

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama

186. Such a Fine Present (kekkō na mono o)

About the middle of March 1886, Kinjiro Nakanishi, who had just begun to follow the path, returned to Jiba for the first time with Tokichi Izumita, and was granted an audience with Oyasama.

Oyasama was resting at that time, but when it was announced, “Kinjiro Nakanishi of Ten’e Fourth [Confraternity], a follower of Tokichi Izumita, has returned,” Oyasama’s voice was heard:

“Yes, yes,”

and She immediately made Her appearance.

When Kinjiro returned on August 17th of the same year and was granted an audience with Oyasama, She sipped one third of the sweet rice wine in a sake-cup with the moon and sun design, and gave the rest of the wine as well as the sake cup to him.

On September 20th of the same year, Kinjiro and his wife brought and presented a cushion which they had made, wishing to have it used by Oyasama. They were unable to meet Her at that time, but later Oyasama asked:

“Such a fine present! Who is it from?”

When the person in attendance answered, “It is from Kinjiro Nakanishi,” Oyasama was pleased. The next day, on the twenty-first, while Kinjiro and his wife were staying at an inn, there was a messenger from Oyasama. They received one of Her red garments. It was Her kimono-undergarment.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 146–147

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 185

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama, , ,

185. You Do Not Know Where I Work (doko i hataraki ni)

On March 12, 1886, Chushichi Yamanaka and Ihachiro Yamada returned to the Residence together. Oyasama would stay in bed for most part of the day ever since She returned from the Ichinomoto Branch Police Station. When they said to Her that they had returned, Oyasama gave them these words:

“No one knows where I intend to work. If I am awake, it may hinder My work. So I will sleep until I wake up by myself. Do never think that I have grown weak or that I am losing strength.

Now, I will prove this with my fingers. Anyone can poke with one’s fingers. But, see the strength of My fingers with which I pick things up, and consider for yourselves.”

She pinched the hands of the two persons at the same time, and Her fingers were so powerful that their hands hurt very much. They were amazed. She went on to give them the following words:

“Would anyone who is too old to turn over in bed have as much strength as I?

To live to be two hundred or three hundred years old without becoming ill or feeble—would not the joy of man be great? If children were never to suffer from measles or smallpox? If there were no diseases of the head? If an are could yield fifty-six or seventy kilograms of rice? For all these things, God hastens.

Oh, how I regret that the authorities have stopped Me again and again. I cannot help but clear away My regret.

In this world, there is nothing at all for which God does not care or work. There is no knowing what you will hear, or when, or where. I tell you that you must be convinced that whatever you hear, it is the working of Tsukihi. Tell it to those who have sincere minds.

Now is like a time when farmers sow their seedbeds. If you sow the field with unhulled rice, the rice will all sprout in due time. It is just like that.”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 145–146

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 184

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama,

184. A Way of Perceiving (satori-kata)

On February 6, 1886, Shirobei Umetani, while at the Residence, received a message from home that his second daughter Michie, who had been sick for some time, had died. When he was granted an audience with Oyasama, in the course of the conversation he mentioned this. Oyasama responded:

“How fortunate.”

Umetani, thinking Oyasama had misunderstood, repeated once more, “My child is dead.” Oyasama only said:

“Fortunately, it was not the elder one.”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, p. 145

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 183

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama

183. A Stormy Wind (akufū to iū mono wa)

About 1885 or 1886, opposition from Buddhist and Shinto priests and other people became stronger in proportion to the rapid expansion of the path. Some of the followers lost their patience to such an extent that they suggested active resistance. One day during such a period, Kuyemon Hayashi, head of a [confraternity] in Kire Village, Settsu Province, returned to Jiba to seek counsel on the matter. Then, an intermediary consulted Oyasama, who said:

“Sah, sah, I will tell you, comparing it to a stormy wind. A stormy wind never lasts forever. Therefore, wait by crouching down when it is blowing and set out after it stops.

If you try to walk against it, you might stumble or fall to the ground. So stay still. If you set out slowly after the storm stops, you can go.”

A few days later, a request for support came from followers in Wakasa Province who were caught in the same persecution. Oyasama answered to an inquiry:

“Sah, it is the flash flood, the muddy water. Try to pour a glass of clear water into it. Even if you wish to try to purify the muddy water with it, the muddy water will not be cleared.”

The people, it is told, calmed themselves after hearing Oyasama’s words.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, p. 144

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 182

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama,

182. The Residence of Origin (Moto no yashiki)

Naka, wife of Denshichi Oura of Kasama Village in Yamato Province, suddenly felt an acute pain in her forefinger which would not abate. She asked their neighbor, Hyoshiro Kami, to pray for her. When Hyoshiro prayed for her, the pain stopped. But a short while later, her finger became painful again. Again, she had Hyoshiro pray, and then again the pain stopped. After this happened three or four times, Hyoshiro said, “Let’s return to Jiba and ask Oyasama.”

So Naka, accompanied by Hyoshiro, returned to the Residence and was received by Oyasama. At their request, Oyasama breathed three times upon Naka’s forefinger. At that moment, the acute pain stopped instantly. Naka was deeply moved by this instantaneous blessing and thought, “What a truly marvelous God!” On this occasion, Oyasama said:

“This is the Residence of Origin where human beings were first created. In the future, people will come here from all over the world and say, ‘This is indeed the place of man’s origin, the parental home.’ This village will be a busy town where you can buy anything by just taking a step outside the Residence.”

Note: The incident related in this anecdote is said to have taken place in 1885 or 1886.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 143-144

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 181

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama

181. Oyasama’s Rice Bowl (Oyasama no chawan)

“Among the rice bowls used by Oyasama was a chipped one that had been repaired. I saw the bowl: a patterned, ordinary rice bowl which had been repaired with a colorful chip of porcelain. It is now a treasure of the Church Headquarters. When people see it, they will not be able to be extravagant.

Also, among the flat dishes that Oyasama used was one that had been repaired.”

The above is a recollection of Narajiro Kajimoto.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, p. 143

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 180

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama

180. A Reluctant Offering of Rice Cakes (oshimi no mochi)

Once a family quarreled about the rice cake offering. “Let’s give six pounds.” “No, let’s give nine pounds.” “It is too much but let’s make the offering anyway.” When the offering was made, Oyasama tried to eat one of the cakes with chopsticks. But the chopsticks flew up violently. She could not eat it no matter how many times She tried.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, p. 142

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 179

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama

179. God is Laughing (Kami-sama, warōte gozaru)

Once Iye Murata had palpitation of the heart. It became so severe that it troubled her a great deal. So she asked Oyasama for instructions. Oyasama told her:

“Your palpitation of the heart is God laughing. God is saying that you do not understand the divine will.”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, p. 142

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 178

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama

178. Our Body is of Prime Importance (mijō ga moto ya)

Oyasama said:

“Where there is life, there is hope, it is said. The body is the foundation. Money is secondary. In the case of fire, one would take out as many valuables as possible, but one would not do so at the risk of burning one’s body. In the case of flood, it is the same. In the case of robbery, because life is important, one lets the robber have the money, even though one does so reluctantly.

“The same thing is true in the case of illness. One should give quickly to charity the things that are of secondary importance, and have one’s illness cured. But when the dust of miserliness is strong, it is like removing money from a fire even though one is in danger of death from burns. One saves the money and treasures but throws away one’s life. This is in accord with one’s mind. If by giving to charity what is of secondary importance one’s illness is cured, this is the principle of a disaster turning into a smaller misfortune. Understand well.”

This instruction has been handed down by word of mouth from Jirokichi Kita.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 141–142

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