All posts by roykoogee

Saki Matsuda was born in Gojyono Village of Yamato Province. She had married once before but had divorced her husband, and later remarried at the age of twenty-three.

In 1883, at the age of thirty, she came to follow the path because of her convulsions. Sometime during the following year, a boil broke out on her right arm. The swelling had become so painful that she returned to the Residence and asked to be saved. She was received by Oyasama who said:

“The end of a relationship is the end of a life. You must not think of wanting to slip away.”

With these words, Saki resolved, “I will never slip away.” Then Oyasama breathed upon the boil three times. At that very moment, the pain in her right arm stopped and the swelling went down. Saki had been blessed with God’s marvelous providence.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 126-127

Continue reading Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 156 →

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 155

January 17, 2011Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasamasalvation narrativeroykoogee

155. If You Are Saved (jubun ga tasukatte)

Sometime in 1884, at the age of thirty, Tsurumatsu, the eldest son of Matashiro and Seki Moriguchi of Kaichi Village in Yamato Province, had very painful nodules of anthrax on his back. He went to see a doctor because they had begun to form pus. The doctor, giving up on him, said, “This is the end of this man’s life. Let him eat anything he likes.” Tsurumatsu returned to the Residence where he had come to worship before, and received a blessing directly from Oyasama, who affixed to his sores a piece of sacred paper on which She had breathed.

Two or three days later, Tsurumatsu called out from his bed, “Will someone take a look? The bedding has stuck to my body and will not come off.” The family came and saw that the nodules had opened and the pus had drained all over the bedding. Then, the family replaced the sacred paper with another which Tsurumatsu had received from Oyasama. This was repeated several times and the anthrax healed completely.

When he returned to the Residence to thank Oyasama, She gave him these words:

“So it is. How wonderful to be saved from death. If you are saved and are very grateful, then go out to save others.”

Tsurumatsu was deeply impressed by these words and thereafter devoted himself to spreading the teachings of God and saving others.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, p. 126

Continue reading Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 155 →

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 153 and 154

January 10, 2011Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama"hardship" narrative, outside interferenceroykoogee

153. The Day of Release (o-demashi no hi)

This incident took place around 1884. When the date of Oyasama‘s release from prison was known, people began gathering in front of the prison gate long before the release was to take place. In spite of the police prohibition against worshiping Oyasama, they clapped their hands in reverence each time they caught a glimpse of Her. Police officers with drawn swords tried to stop them from doing so, saying, “We do not allow worship of a human being as a god.” But they clapped their hands behind the officers’ backs. There was no way of stopping them from worshiping Her. When the officers left, the worshipers said to each other, “We cannot refrain from worshiping Her, as we were saved from death. We will worship even if we are thrown into prison.”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, p. 125

154. God Brings Them to the Residence (Kami ga tsureta kaeru no ya)

Some of Oyasama’s words are as follows:

“When police officers come, it is God bringing them home to the Residence. When I go to the police, it is God taking Me there.

“They constantly come boisterously to interfere. This is like coming to dig for a precious jewel buried in the ground.

“It is not that police officers come here to interfere. It is God bringing them to the Residence.”

Anecdotes of Oyasama. p. 125

Continue reading Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 153 and 154 →

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 152

January 7, 2011Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasamacontest of strength, Tosa Unosukeroykoogee

152. Twice as Strong (bai no chikara)

It was rare to be admitted to an audience with Oyasama around 1884 as the police exerted very strong pressure in those days. On one occasion, Unosuke Tosa returned to Jiba with twenty-five or six followers. An intermediary told Oyasama, “He is here from Awa.” Oyasama appreciated Tosa’s effort and said:

“Welcome back from a distant province.”

Continuing, She said:

“Tosa, you are here from a distant place, but if you do not realize the true strength of God, you will feel uneasy in bringing back many followers. Why don’t you try God’s strength today?”

Oyasama told an attendant to bring a hand towel and, holding its border between Her thumb and index finger, She asked Tosa:

“Now try and pull it.”

After bowing respectfully, Tosa tried to pull it toward himself with all his might, but he could pull it no closer. Oyasama said, smiling:

“Now, pull it harder. Pull with all your might. Do not hesitate.”

Tosa pulled, his face reddening with the effort. However strongly he pulled it, he was unable to draw it close to himself. Tosa was a strong-armed man by nature, and proud of the strength which he had gained as a sailor, yet he could not draw the towel closer to himself. At last he bowed his head and said, “I am overwhelmed.” Then, Oyasama stretched Her right hand toward him and said:

“Try once more. Now hold Me by the wrist this time.”

Tosa said, “Pardon me,” and respectfully gripped Oyasama’s hand. Oyasama said:

“Now more strongly. More strongly.”

The more strongly he grasped, the more painful his hand became. So he admitted his defeat at last, and bowed deeply before Oyasama, saying, “I am overwhelmed.” Then, Oyasama said to him with a pleasant smile:

“This is God’s strength. Twice as strong as yours.”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 124-125

Continue reading Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 152 →

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 151

January 5, 2011Blogging Anecdotes of OyasamaMoroi Kunisaburoroykoogee

151. Grant for Safe Childbirth (obiya yurushi)

In the autumn of 1884, Kunisaburo Moroi requested the Grant for Safe Childbirth for the sake of his fourth child. Oyasama was going to wrap the small sugar candies in a sheet of paper Herself to prepare the Grant when Naokichi Takai, who happened to be there, said, “Please allow me to do it for you.” He cut the paper and folded it, but it was crooked. As Oyasama watched him fold the paper, She said neither that it was good nor bad. Then, Oyasama took out a sheet of paper quietly and said:

“May I have a pair of scissors?”

One of the attendants handed a pair to Her, and Oyasama cut the paper squarely. Then She brought out about one hundred and fifty grams of small sugar candies. She put three candies on each of the three sheets of paper and wrapped them, saying:

“This is for the Grant for Safe Childbirth. A high pillow or a binder is not necessary. And, as this is the season of persimmons, do not be afraid to eat them.”

Oyasama then granted Moroi the rest of the candies, saying:

“These are also sacred gifts. Wrap them with three pieces each and give them to anyone who wishes to have them.”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, p. 123

Continue reading Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 151 →

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 149 and 150

December 25, 2010Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasamared clothes bestowal, Tosa Unosukeroykoogee

149. When It Strikes Six This Morning (u no koku o aizu ni)

In the autumn of 1884, Unosuke Tosa returned to Jiba and stayed at the inn owned by Tsurukichi Fukui which was located in front of the Residence. The following morning, before dawn, someone called out loudly, knocking at the shutter of the inn. “Is Tosa from Awa staying here? If so, come out at once.” It was Risaburo Yamamoto who was calling. When Unosuke came out, Risaburo told him, “Tosa, something very important has happened. God says that when it strikes six this morning, God is going to give you everything that the Shrine of Tsukihi wears. You should be the happiest person in Japan.” Risaburo then started to walk toward the Residence. Unosuke followed him with excited anticipation, thinking it must be a dream.

Led by Risaburo, Unosuke entered the room of Oyasama’s Resting House, and there he saw a neatly folded pile of red garments on the tatami-mat. There was a complete set of clothing, which included a new crimson kimono, a formal half-coat, kimono-undergarments and socks which Oyasama had worn up until the previous evening. Unosuke was sitting, staring blankly, unable to believe his eyes and thinking that it must be a dream. “Do not hesitate. God has given them to you,” the seniors brought to his attention. Then he came to his senses, knelt, and bowed deeply before the paper sliding-door of the raised chamber. Tears ran down his cheeks. There were no words from the chamber; time went by in silence. “This is too much of an honor for a man like me to accept,” he said, overwhelmed. But at the kind persuasion of the people present, he finally said, “I will accept only the honor of receiving the kimono-undergarment which was worn next to Her body.” Holding the red garment tightly to his heart, he rushed back to the inn and wept aloud for joy.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 121-122

150. Persimmons (kaki)

Unosuke Tosa, who was then returning to Jiba almost every month, departed on October 23, 1884, as head of a pilgrimage party of thirty-three persons, and arrived at Jiba on the twenty-seventh. The party was granted an audience with Oyasama, and as they were about to withdraw, She said:

“Wait a moment,”

and detained Tosa. Oyasama asked Hisa Kajimoto, Her granddaughter:

“Ohisa, please bring some persimmons.”

Hisa brought a basketful of ripe persimmons. Whereupon, Oyasama selected one, peeled the skin and cut the fruit into halves.

“Now, help yourself,”

Oyasama said as She presented one half to Tosa and She Herself ate the other half with keen enjoyment. Tosa next began to eat his half of the persimmon.

Oyasama seemed to be very pleased as She watched him eat, but before he was finished, She peeled another persimmon. Oyasama said:

“Now have another one. I shall have one also.”

She gave half to Tosa and ate the other half Herself. Oyasama gave him one after another in this way. Tosa was moved with emotion because he felt that Oyasama was eating the persimmons so that he would not hesitate in deference to Her. Again She said:

“Do not hesitate.”

Tosa said, “I have eaten till my stomach is full. The followers are waiting at the inn so I will take this piece and let them share it.” So saying, he politely accepted the last piece that was offered and as he was about to wrap it in a piece of tissue paper, Oyasama signaled Hisa with Her eyes. Hisa filled both of his hands and his kimono sleeves with persimmons. In this manner, Tosa received as many persimmons as he could carry.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 122-123

Continue reading Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 149 and 150 →

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 148

December 22, 2010Blogging Anecdotes of OyasamaFukaya Genjiroroykoogee

148. To the Clear Place (kiyoraka na tokoro e)

As the Shido-kai [Confraternity] started functioning and the members of the Meisei-sha [Confraternity] withdrew one after another to join the newly established one, a senior of the Meisei-sha [Confraternity] directed someone to go to Genjiro Fukaya to persuade him to return, thinking that if Genjiro should return, all the others would follow him. When the messenger started to go down the stairs in order to leave, he suddenly fell to the floor and began to writhe in great pain. A doctor was called in at once and he diagnosed the man’s illness as cholera. The patient was sent to a hospital immediately, but he died on the way. A man named Fujita returned to Jiba and asked Oyasama about this situation. Oyasama’s words were these:

“Because, without repenting his previous innen, he was going to try to pull that one back into the muddy water, that one who had been pulled out of the muddy water to the clear place, so I cut him down.”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 120-121

Continue reading Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 148 →

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 147

December 19, 2010Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasamacausalityroykoogee

147. True Salvation (hontō no tasukari)

In 1882, Isa, wife of Yohei Yamamoto of Kurahashi Village in Yamato Province, who was then forty years old, received such marvelous salvation that she was completely healed of a leg ailment of long duration. At the moment of her healing, as she rose to her feet, her leg and hip joints gave out cracking sounds from the long disease.

Yet the trembling of her hands did not cease. She worried about it very much, even though it did not seem serious. She returned to Jiba in the summer of 1884. When she was received by Oyasama, she begged, holding out her trembling hands, “May I ask you to breathe upon these?” Then Oyasama instructed Isa:

“It would be very easy to breathe upon them. But your trembling hands seem of little inconvenience since you have already been saved from your serious leg ailment. Rather than being cured completely, it is better that you have some trouble left to be healed; then you will understand the innen of your previous lives and be continually reminded of it. This will lead to your true salvation. People tend to wish nothing but to be completely cured. But what is most important is to gain virtue that will lead to true salvation. So I lend you this book instead of breathing upon your hands. Have this book copied and read it every day.”

Oyasama lent her a complete set of the seventeen parts of the Ofudesaki. From that time on her trembling hands no longer bothered her. For the rest of her life, she read the Ofudesaki which had been copied for her by her own father, and she spread the teachings to whomever she met. She was so blessed that she lived to be eighty-nine.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 119-120

Continue reading Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 147 →

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 146

December 17, 2010Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasamaconversion storyroykoogee

146. Thank You for Your Work (go-kuro-san)

In the spring of 1884, twenty-three-year-old Tokijiro Saji enlisted in the army and was in the Third Company, First Battalion of the Ninth Regiment stationed in Osaka. During that time his company marched to Yamato Province and was quartered at the Masuya Inn in the Imamikado section of Nara City.

At that time, many people were going in and out of the detached room of the inn. The inn master pointed to Oyasama, who was wearing Her red garments, and said, “That person is the living god of Shoyashiki.” And Tokijiro heard the teachings of the path from him.

Shortly thereafter, when Oyasama passed near where Tokijiro was standing, he was deeply moved by Her presence, and politely bowed his head. Oyasama quietly acknowledged this and spoke to him:

“Thank you for your work.”

The instant Saji saw Oyasama, he was awestruck with reverence at Her divine nature. The moment he heard Her voice, he was touched by a feeling of intimacy and great yearning to follow after Her.

In later years, Saji always told people about his experience, “I decided at that moment to follow the path. The reason why I, who had no mental or physical problems, came to believe in this path was entirely due to the deep impression which I received at that time.”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 118-119

Continue reading Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 146 →

Tenrikyology

Presenting, analyzing, and occasionally scrutinizing the faith on the Web since September 2007.