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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 47

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47. Be Joyful of the Future

On the evening of June 18, 1876, Gisaburo Nakata said, “Oyasama often says:

‘The pine tree may die, but do not worry.’

We were wondering which pine tree She meant.” Rin Masui then told of the prevailing superstitions among the people: “A pine tree that has been exorcised will die. The pine tree in the Masui residence has been exorcised, so the pine tree will die and the family is doomed. It will die out. This is what the people are saying.” Hearing this, Nakata immediately went and asked Oyasama the meaning of this talk about pine trees. Oyasama said:

“Sah, sah, do you understand? Do you understand? Although you cannot see anything today, be joyful of the future. Be joyful! The pine tree may die, but do not worry. No matter what people say, no matter what people may say, do not pay any attention to what people say.”

A few moments later, Oyasama added:

“The pine tree in the residence, the pine tree may die, but do not worry. There is joy in the future. That residence is to become an uchiwake-basho, a place of salvation.”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, p. 41

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 42

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42. By Saving Others

Early in April 1875, Eijiro Enomoto of Sugahama, Sando Village in Fukui Prefecture, visited the goddess of mercy of Hase, the eighth temple on the pilgrimage route through the western provinces. His purpose was to pray that his daughter Kiyo be cured of insanity. From the old woman of a teahouse he happened to hear that a living god resided in Shoyashiki Village. He then hurried to Shoyashiki through Miwa and visited the Residence. He asked an intermediary for an audience with Oyasama, who told him:

“You need not worry. Never! Go home quickly, as something wrong has happened in your home. Visit houses in your village one by one and save forty-two persons. Pray to God earnestly at each house, chanting, ‘Namu, Tenri-Ō-no-Mikoto,’ and pressing your hands together in prayer. By saving others you yourself will be saved.”

Eijiro left Shoyashiki lightheartedly and, going through Kizu, Kyoto and Shiozu, arrived at Sugahama on April 23rd.

His daughter was hopelessly insane, but while he was praying, “Namu, Tenri-Ō-no-Mikoto,” pressing his hands together in prayer, incredibly, she became calm by degrees. Then as Oyasama had instructed him, he visited every house in his village, spreading the fragrance of the teachings of God. He visited the homes of the sick repeatedly, praying for the healing of forty-two people.

Wonderfully, his daughter was completely cured. Also, people came from many homes to express their gratitude. Restored to sanity, his daughter married a man adopted into her family. Eijiro and the young couple returned to Jiba to offer their thanks and were granted an audience with Oyasama.

Later, they expressed their impression that Oyasama, wearing pure red garments and with Her snow-white hair plaited in the shape of a tea whisk, was a beautiful and noble figure.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 36–37

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