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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 167

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama,

167. Through Saving Others (hito tasuke tara)

On September 1, 1885, Hyoshiro Kami’s eldest daughter, thirteen-year-old Kimi, suddenly lost the sight of both eyes. Hyoshiro, too, on October 7th of the same year, went blind. This was divine guidance. On November 1st, Hyoshiro asked his wife Tsune to return to Jiba in his place. Oyasama said:

“This eye condition is not serious. It is just that God’s fingers are keeping them closed. Keeping them closed means God is testing him and guiding him.”

She continued:

“A message sent through people is just a message. A favor asked of people is just a favor. Words pass through one person, then there is one more person. Words pass through two persons, then there are two more persons. The more people words pass through, the more the words become distorted. If distorted words are imparted, error will be committed in the world. If an error is committed, then it is too late. It is best for the person to return himself. Thereupon, I shall teach him well.”

Tsune returned home and related these words to Hyoshiro. He was deeply impressed and said, “Indeed, that is right.” On the morning of November 3rd, he traveled the distance of sixteen kilometers from Kasama and returned to the Residence, cane in one hand and his wife guiding him by the other. Oyasama began by saying:

“Sah, sah,”

and for two hours thereafter She taught him the story of the creation.

Oyasama’s voice at that time was so forceful that it made the household fixtures tremble. As soon as Oyasama had finished speaking, Hyoshiro suddenly realized that his sight had returned without his knowing when or how. When he came home, he found that the eldest daughter Kimi’s eyes had also been marvelously cured. However, thereafter for some reason until about eight o’clock every morning, he could not see very far, and everything was a blur to him. No matter how much he reflected, he did not receive God’s blessing. Therefore, in January of the following year, 1886, he returned to Jiba again, and asked for guidance. Oyasama instructed to him:

“God has finished guiding you, but has not finished testing you. Testing means that through saving others you yourself shall be saved. You must not think of yourself. If you single-heartedly turn yourself to the thought, ‘I must at any cost save others and have others be saved,’ then your illness will be completely cured.”

Accordingly, thereafter, he ardently strived to save others and before long he had completely recovered from his illness.

Anecdotes of Oyasama pp. 134–135

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 166

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama,

166. A Mark on the Body (mijō ni shirushi o)

In October of 1885, eight-year-old Naramume, daughter of Ujiro Tanioka of Chishawara Village, about four kilometers due east of Jiba, went to pick chestnuts and sprained her ankle when she jumped from a tree. This led to an attack of rheumatism which was so painful that she kept crying for three days and three nights.

She received a doctor’s care, and incantations were made at a nearby place. However, the pain did not ease at all; on the contrary, it became more severe.

Then, the teachings of God the Parent were told to Ujiro by Omitsu Matsuura of the same village. Omitsu instructed Ujiro to offer a sacred light by burning rapeseed oil in a small dish, and to face toward Jiba and pray, “Please stop the pain before this light burns out.” Without a moment’s delay, he offered the sacred light and firmly resolving, “If she is saved, I will follow the path and transmit the path to my future generations,” he prayed fervently. His daughter, who had been crying uncontrollably from the agonizing pain in her arms and legs, instantly received a divine blessing and was healed.

The parents were so happy with this blessing that they decided to pay a visit to thank God. Thus, Ujiro, carrying his daughter Naramume on his back, returned to the Residence for the first time. Ujiro was received by Oyasama through the arrangement of Chusaku Tsuji. Ujiro thanked Her for saving his daughter.

Soon afterward, Ujiro fell ill with tuberculosis and lost so much weight that he was a pitiful sight to see. So he returned to the Residence and was granted an audience with Oyasama. Her words were:

“By putting a mark on your body, I have drawn you here.”

He was instructed to change his clothes and come back again without delay. The next day, when he changed his clothes and returned, Oyasama bestowed on him the truth of the sazuke.

His tuberculosis, which had been thought to be incurable, was soon cured. Deeply moved, Ujiro thereafter walked here and there among the houses in the mountain village to save others. By and by, while Oyasama was still physically present, he left Chishawara Village and moved to the Residence, where he did farm work.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 133–134

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 165

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama, ,

165. Buy Dearly (takō kōte)

Zenzo Miyata was so moved by a talk at the Shimmei-gumi [Confraternity] that he became a follower in the summer of 1885. Led by Seijiro Imagawa, he returned to Jiba soon thereafter and was received by Oyasama. Zenzo was then thirty-one years old, and running a hosiery shop at Shiomachi Street in Semba, Osaka.

Oyasama taught him with painstaking care. However, in the beginning, since Zenzo was a newcomer who had not experienced a marvelous cure himself, he listened to the teachings very casually while smoking his pipe. Then, without realizing it, he had put down his pipe and had slid forward into a deep bow. Among the words being spoken at that moment, he retained only the following:

“Merchants should buy dearly and sell cheaply.”

Zenzo could not understand its meaning at all. He thought, “If I should do business in such a manner, it would cost me my livelihood. She may be well informed on farming, but She knows little about business.” So saying to himself, he went home.

Later, when Zenzo entered his house after leaving Imagawa, his neighbor, he was struck with a sudden attack of vomiting and diarrhea. A doctor was sent for immediately but he was unable to remedy the situation. Umejiro Izutsu, head of the Shimmei-gumi [Confraternity], was asked to come by Imagawa. Sitting by at Zenzo’s bedside, Izutsu asked him, “Didn’t you complain of something on your first return to Jiba?” Zenzo then replied that he could not agree with what Oyasama had told him. Then Izutsu explained, “What God means is that the ideal of business is to buy dearly in order to please wholesale dealers, sell cheaply in order to please customers, and to be satisfied with a small profit.” Upon hearing this, Zenzo could fully understand the meaning of Oyasama’s words. He deeply apologized for harboring dissatisfaction in his mind and soon was marvelously cured.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, p. 132

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 164

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama,

164. Deep Affection (kawaii ippai)

The following is from the notes of the words of Oyasama as recorded by Ihachiro Yamada on March 28, 1885:

“You say ‘God’ and wonder where God is. God is within the body. Then again there is no discrimination between those within the path and those without; that is, the people of the whole world are all children of God. Think of everything in terms of your own child. Everything is solely from deep affection.

A farmer prays for a rich harvest; God considers how best to do this.

Again, only if the mind of man is accepted, God will exert the utmost strength to protect man forever.”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, p. 131

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 163

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama

163. Brothers Among Brothers (kyōdai no naka no kyōdai)

Oyasama once instructed:

“All of you who are living in this Residence are brothers among brothers. When one of you goes out somewhere, the rest of you should choose the best clothing from among your own, and have the person go out wearing it. Furthermore, those who happen to have money should put it together, even if it is only one or two sen from each, and give it as pocket money. And you should see him or her off in high spirits. This is what brothers and sisters should do.”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, p. 131

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 162

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama,

162. In Her Children’s Stead (Oya ga kawari ni)

Oyasama usually did not leave the Residence, so it was not likely that Her legs would get tired. But Oyasama now and then said:

“My legs feel heavy.”

Or:

“My legs are tired.”

On such days, without fail, followers returned to Jiba in good spirits. And all of them would say with joy, “We are so blessed that we do not feel tired at all after the long walk up here.” They did not feel tired because Oyasama had taken their fatigue from them and suffered their weariness for them. This She did because of Her love for Her children returning to the Residence, the place of single-hearted devotion to God.

Once, Iye Murata helped to farm the fields of the Residence for several days. Hard though she worked, to her surprise, she did not feel pain in her hands or lower back nor did she feel tired at all. She then told Oyasama, “I am not feeling tired although I have worked hard and long.” Oyasama said:

“Indeed not. But my own legs felt heavy every day while you worked in the fields. Your fatigue had all come to Me.”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 130–131

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 161

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama,

161. To See Children’s Enjoyment (kodomo no tanoshimu no o)

Kiku Masui made it a rule to visit the Residence every day. However, there were some days when she could not go there for various reasons. On such days, she never failed to abstain from eating salt or cooked food for the whole day. When she returned to the Residence one day after she had abstained from eating salt and cooked food, Oyasama told her tenderly:

“Okiku, you need not do such things. The Parent never wants to give children hardships. This God is never happy to see the beloved children suffer. You need not do such a thing any more. God is pleased only to see children enjoy themselves.”

Oyasama knew everything, even things which She had not seen.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 129–130

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 160

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama,

160. Selecting a Persimmon (kaki erabi)

It was autumn, the season of persimmons. Osame Masui happened to be in the presence of Oyasama and there was a tray full of persimmons in front of Her. In trying to select a persimmon from the tray, Oyasama looked at them from this angle and that. Observing this, Osame thought, “Even Oyasama chooses the best in selecting a persimmon.” But the persimmon that She selected appeared to be the worst of the lot. She then offered the tray with the other persimmons to Osame and said:

“Now, please take one.”

Observing Oyasama’s actions, Osame thought, “It is true that Oyasama makes Her selection, but what She chooses is different from that which we humans choose. She chooses the worst one for Herself. This is Oyasama’s parental love. She leaves the tastiest ones for Her children, wishing them to have the pleasure. This is truly the parental love of Oyasama.” Osame was impressed by Oyasama’s thoughtfulness and she ate her persimmon as told by Oyasama, while Oyasama ate another.

Osame said that she would never forget for the rest of her life the way Oyasama was on that day.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, p. 129

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 159

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama,

159. The Residence: The Place for Single-Hearted Devotion to God (Kami-ichijō no yashiki)

One day, Shirobei Umetani, who had been sitting by Oyasama‘s side listening to the teachings of the path, unintentionally began to speak of worldly pleasures. “Right now,” he said, “there is a very popular play being presented at Dotombori and…,” Oyasama interrupted him here and admonished him:

“From the age of forty-one until today I have never spoken of anything worldly. God says there is no need in this Residence for any talk other than the talks of single-hearted devotion to God.”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 128-129

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 158

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama

158. Monthly Period Is the Flower (tsuki no mono wa na, hana ya de)

Once when Rihachi Yamamoto was in attendance of Oyasama, he was asked by Her:

“Rihachi, won’t you go and look outside?”

In those days, the Residence was under heavy surveillance by the police; therefore, thinking that Oyasama was concerned, he looked around carefully but saw no one. He returned and reported, “Oyasama, there is no change outside. There are pumpkins in the field yonder and in the field hither there are many eggplants.” At that, Oyasama patted Her knee and taught him:

“That is it. Did you notice those pumpkins and eggplants? They are big, aren’t they? The plants bear fruit because the flowers bloom. Not a single plant bears fruit without its flower. Now ponder deeply. The world says woman is unclean, but there is nothing unclean about woman. Man and woman are equally children of God and there is no discrimination. Woman has a duty, a duty to bear children. Her monthly period is the flower. Without the flower there is no fruit. Understand this well. Take the pumpkin; if its big flower is gone, that is the end of it. In many things, there are flowers that bear no fruit. But to bear fruit without any flower is impossible. Ponder deeply. There is nothing unclean about it.”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 127-128

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