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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 135

135. With Round Minds (mina marui kokoro de)

Around the year 1883 or 1884, Kosaburo Kubo, grateful for the cure of his son Narajiro’s eye disease, returned to Jiba with his wife and son. Oyasama, wearing Her red garments, was sitting calmly in Her room. Kosaburo, his wife, and son, who had been led into the room by an intermediary on duty, knelt before Oyasama. They were awestruck by Her reverent manner and were so overwhelmed with gratitude that they could not raise their heads.

However, Narajiro, being only a child of seven or eight, began to look around without restraint. Soon the grapes placed beside Oyasama caught his eyes. As he was staring at them, Oyasama quietly picked up a bunch and gave it to Narajiro, saying:


“It is nice of you to return. Here are some grapes for you. Like these, in the world, everybody is to relate to each other with round minds. This is a path to be followed joyfully by looking forward to the delight in the future.”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, p. 110

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 134

134. Recollections (omoi-de)

About 1883 or 1884, Tamae, granddaughter, and Moto, great-granddaughter, who was two years younger,’* appeared before Oyasama and begged Her, “Grandma, please give us a snack.” Oyasama shaded Her eyes with Her hand and looked toward them, saying:

“Ah, Tama and Omoto. Wait a minute, dears,”

and She took something out from the small cupboard in the back and placed it in the palm of their hands. It was always sugar candies.

On another day, the two of them went to visit Oyasama as usual, and She said:

“Tama and Omoto, won’t you two come here? Let me carry you,”

and She carried both of them on Her back. In their childlike minds both were impressed with the thought that their grandmother was so strong.

* Tamae was then seven or eight, and Moto was five or six.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 109-110

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 133

133. Consider the Future Long (saki o nagaku)

Tamezo Yamazawa heard the following from Oyasama around 1883:

“If you think the future is short, you must hurry. However, if you think the future is long, you need not hurry.


“Haste will not result in being early. Slowness will not result in being late.


Tanno* is true sincerity.”

* Tanno: to rejoice in the perception of God’s love in all life’s experiences.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, p. 109

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 132

132. To Be Eaten Deliciously (oishii to iute)

Nakata, Yamamoto, Takai and other people who worked at the Residence went to catch small fish in a nearby brook from time to time. There they often caught loaches, chub, shrimps, and other brook fishes. When they cooked them in soy sauce with vegetables and showed them to Oyasama, She picked up the biggest one and said, as if She were talking to a child:

“Allow yourself to be eaten deliciously by everyone, and come back the next time, advanced.”

Then She told the people present there:

“Thus, when you persuade the largest one to consent in this way, it is natural that afterward all will consent.”

She further taught:

“Everyone, when you eat them, please say, ‘delicious, delicious,’ to them. If you eat them with delight, due to the principle of giving joy, the next time they will be advanced. Each time they are reborn, they will progress closer to man.”

Oyasama gave these same instructions whenever there were rabbits, pheasants, mountain fowls and other game given as offerings by various fraternities.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 108-109

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 131

131. On the Side of God (Japanese title: Kami no hō ni wa)

Oyasama said to Naokichi Takai, Yosaburo Miyamori, and others who worked at the Residence:


“Let’s have a contest of strength,”


extending Her arm. She said:


“Press down as hard as you can.”


However, not only were they unable to force Her hand down, but when Oyasama used just a little of Her strength and grasped Her opponent’s arm, his arm became numb and lost all strength. Then Oyasama said:


“Twice as much strength is on the side of God.”


Further, She said:


“Can you do this?”


pinching the skin on the back of a young man’s hand with Her forefinger and her little finger. The skin was pinched so hard that it was very painful and it turned black and blue afterward.

On another occasion, She put Her hands together in perfect prayer position in the middle of Her back as we do in front of our chest.

These are Miyamori’s reminiscences.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 107-108

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