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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 149 and 150

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama,

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

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 148

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama

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

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 147

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama

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

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 146

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama

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

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 145

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145. Always in a Comfortable Place to Live (itsumo sumi-yoi tokoro e)

Shobei Masuno’s wife, Ito, visited her intimate friend, Cho, daughter of Yazaemon Koyama of Sannomiya in Kobe, in February 1884. She received the teachings through Cho, who taught her, “Tenri-Ō-no-Mikoto is truly the all-powerful God of wonders.”

Ito had been suffering for three years from an eye disease. Several famous doctors had treated her, but they could not help her. All she could do was to resign herself to the fact that she was destined to be blind. Shobei also had been afflicted with beriberi for many years and medical treatment did not help him at all, so he too was always in a gloomy mood.

The couple decided to try and listen to the teachings of God the Parent. A messenger was sent to Koyama immediately to ask him to teach them. Thus they heard the teachings for the first time on February 15th. They had an altar built at once and God was enshrined. The couple listened together to the talk: “Illness of the body is a manifestation of the eight dusts. By repentance, one’s illness will be cured without fail. Become of a sincere mind and rely on God.” Also, it was said that, “Foods are all gifts of God; there is not a single one that will poison you.” At these words, Shobei, who had quit drinking sake because of his illness, tried drinking the sake which had been offered to God on that day. The next day, he felt invigorated. Similarly, after just one night, Ito’s sight had improved to the point where she could distinguish between black and white.

Together the couple offered their thanks to God. They also went to Koyama’s home to share their joy with him. But when they returned home, Ito was again almost blind even before nightfall.

The couple discussed the matter together. “We were blessed with God’s providence in just one night. God will surely save us if we make a firm resolution to unite our hearts and serve God for the rest of our lives,” they concluded. So the couple united their hearts and prayed for God’s blessing, zealously performing the morning and evening services. Shobei recovered in fifteen days and Ito received God’s blessing in thirty days. Her eye disease was cured and she was able to see.

With joyful hearts, they returned to Jiba for the first time on April 6th. Oyasama was to leave Nara Prison and return home that day. The couple went to Nara to greet Her and accompany Her home. They stayed till the ninth. Oyasama spoke to Shobei gently:

“Shobei, thank you for coming. You were destined to come to the Residence sooner or later.”

He was so deeply moved by these words that he devoted himself to spreading the fragrance of the teachings of God and saving others, traveling back and forth between Kobe and Jiba and neglecting his business. But whenever he was away from Jiba his health was not as good as usual, so he asked Oyasama for instructions. She told him:

“You should always live in a place that is always comfortable.”

Upon receiving these words, Shobei made a firm resolution to live at the Residence.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 117-118

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 144

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama,

144. The Virtue Which Reaches Heaven (ten ni todoku ri)

Oyasama was detained in Nara Prison from March 24 through April 5, 1884. Chuzaburo Koda was also kept in custody for ten days. While imprisoned, Chuzaburo was ordered by a jailor to clean the toilets. When he came back to Oyasama after he had finished cleaning, Oyasama inquired:

“Koda, what do you think of having been brought to this kind of place and even having been made to clean such filthy places as toilets?”

“I think I am serving God whatever I do. So I am very happy,” he answered. Oyasama said:

“You are right. If you do something with gratitude, no matter how hard or unpleasant it may be, your virtue will reach heaven. Virtue which is accepted by God will be turned into joy. But no matter how hard or trying the work that you do may be, if you do it complaining, ‘How hard it is, how I hate it,’ the complaints will also reach heaven and be returned to you in kind.”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, p. 116

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 142 and 143

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama,

142. Narrowness Holds the Promise of Joy (semai no ga tanoshimi)

This is a story about Genjiro Fukaya, who had an undying gratitude for the teachings. He grew more spirited in his devotion as he walked over the land spreading the teachings and healing the sick. In those days, Genjiro had no spare clothes, no charcoal for the fire, nor even food for the day. Despite such narrow circumstances, he often returned to Jiba. Oyasama always said to him:

“Narrowness such as this holds the promise of joy. You should not be dissatisfied because things are yet small. As virtue is accumulated, small things grow great. Even a large pine tree was once small. Be happy with what is small. In the future, a great promising bud will sprout.”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, p. 115

143. Children Are Dear (kodomo kawaii)

Whenever at a loss as to what to do, Genjiro Fukaya sought Oyasama’s instruction. One day, he asked Oyasama through an intermediary and received the following instruction:

“One year passes, and there is one year of virtue. Two years pass, and there are two years of virtue. When three years pass, one becomes a parent. Once one becomes a parent, children are dear. No matter what, treat your children with love and care. It will not do to hate your children.”

After Genjiro received the above instruction, he loved his followers with ever increasing affection. To welcome the followers on service days, he would prepare their meal, making sushi and rice cakes. Though these things may sound like trifles, in this way, with his sincerity, he raised his followers step by step.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 115-116

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 141

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama,

141. Buds Burst Forth from a Knot (fushi kara me ga kiru)

In the beginning of March 1884, Genjiro Fukaya, who had withdrawn from the Meisei-sha [Confraternity], returned to Jiba with Zensuke Uno in order to obtain permission for establishing the Shido-kai [Confraternity]. They left Kyoto in the evening and arrived at Nara around two o’clock in the morning. They reached the Residence in the early dawn. They were granted an audience with Oyasama through the arrangement of Risaburo Yamamoto, and asked Oyasama for permission to establish the [confraternity]. Then, there were these words of Oyasama:

“Sah, sah, you have come to ask Me, to ask Me. Sah, sah, you must understand well. Sah, sah, even here at Jiba, there has been festering and pressing within for the past forty-eight years. There have been cases of festering and pressing. Moreover, from without, they will come again to press. Because there is a knot, there is a bud. Buds burst forth from the knot. Understand well this principle. Step by step, step by step, this path has been cleared through many hardships and trials to the present. I say to you, understand well.”

These words did not clearly give permission. So, Fukaya and Uno asked Her permission again, saying, “The five of us will follow God at the sacrifice of our lives.” Then, Oyasama said:

“Sah, sah, sah, I accept your sincerity. I accept it. The seed of the Shido-kai [Confraternity], sah, sah, from today, sah, sah, is planted. Sah, sah, you cannot imagine how large it will grow from now. Sah, sah, make those of the [confraternity] understand this. Even if they do not, God is watching. Leave them alone, I say,”

and She gave Her approval. The true sincerity of the five persons, Fukaya, Uno, Sawada, Yasura, and Nakanishi was accepted by God the Parent in this manner.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 114-115

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 140

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama

140. Thank You Very Much (ōkini)

Kyuhei Kontani was healed of blindness and returned to Jiba for the first time to offer thanks to God for the cure. On the morning of February 16, 1884, Kontani and his wife, Take, accompanied by Koyemon Murata, were granted an audience with Oyasama.

Take offered some money wrapped in a sheet of paper to Oyasama, who then said:

“You are Otake from Banshu?”

And raising the gift to Her forehead She added:

“Thank you very much.”

Take is said to have told others later, “I would have wrapped more money if I had only known that Oyasama would be so pleased at that time.”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 113-114

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 139

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139. With Flag Flying (furafu to tatete)

Kunisaburo Moroi, with a group of ten persons, started to return to Jiba for the third time on January 21, 1884, and arrived at Toyohashi on the twenty-second. The boat was not scheduled to leave till evening, so he took a walk around town, and caught sight of a lantern maker. An idea occurred to him then, and he bought about a hundred and twenty centimeters of extra wide Indian cotton. With this he placed an order for a flag with the lantern maker.

The flag had a white background with a red sun in the center, within which was written, in bold black letters, “Tenrin-Ō-Kosha.” At the lower left was written in small letters, “Totomi Shimmei-gumi [Confraternity].” Flying the flag at the front of the group, they crossed Ise Bay staying overnight at various places on the way, and arrived at Tambaichi* on the twenty-sixth to spend the night at Shobei’s inn, the Ogiya.

The next morning, the twenty-seventh, Moroi led a procession of six rickshaws. He rode in the first one with the flag and was followed by five rickshaws with two persons in each of them. When they reached the road leading to the main gate of the Residence, a police officer on guard questioned them, but since their answers were very clear, he merely noted their names and addresses.

Arriving at the Residence, they learned that for several days Oyasama had been saying:

“Ah, I feel tired, tired. Children will be coming home from afar. Ah, I can see them coming with a flag flying.”

The people around Her were wondering what it was all about. But when they saw the flag they were deeply impressed by the fact that Oyasama was able to see the flag long before it came into sight.

* Tambaichi is now a part of Tenri City.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 112-113

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