Tag Archives: filial piety

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 104

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104. Faith in God

In the middle of September, 1882, fifteen-year-old Yonetaro, the first son of Denjiro Tomita, then forty-three years old, was in critical condition from a recurrence of stomach ailment. The elder followers in Wadasaki Town sincerely prayed for his recovery. Within three days, he was wondrously saved. In gratitude, Denjiro returned to Jiba for the first time, accompanied by his mother, Jun Fujimura, who was seventy-six years old.

When Denjiro was led by an intermediary to have an audience with Oyasama, She asked him:

“Where did you come from?”

“I came from Hyogo,” he answered. Then Oyasama continued:

“You did? Hyogo is such a faraway place, I am happy that you have come.”

Further, she asked:

“What is your occupation?”

“I am a konnyaku* seller,” answered Denjiro.

Then Oyasama said:

“You are a konnyaku seller, then you are a merchant, aren’t you? A merchant must buy dearly and sell cheaply.”

She further instructed:

“Faith in God is to believe in God just as you do in your own parent who gave you birth. Then your faith will become genuine.”

Denjiro did not understand what was meant by “to buy dearly and sell cheaply.” It seemed to him that he would suffer losses and could not help but go bankrupt if he ever followed Her words. Therefore he asked one of the seniors at the Residence, who explained as follows. “When one lays in a stock of goods from wholesale dealers, one should buy somewhat more dearly than others to avoid risk of their going bankrupt or having some other trouble; when one sells goods one should sell somewhat cheaper than others, making only a small profit; then, one’s wholesale dealers will prosper and one’s customers will be happy; one’s shop will also prosper. This is the principle of mutual prosperity with no suffering of losses in return.” Now Denjiro understood.

On the same occasion, She granted him sacred paper** and sacred powder of roasted grain. He gave these to his mother, Jun Fujimura, who brought them home to the town of Miki. By virtue of these grants, marvelous healings occurred one after another, and the teachings spread all over Banshu Province thereafter.

* Konnyaku: a gelatin-like food made from the root of a certain plant.

** Iki-no-kami: literally, ‘paper of breath;’ paper which has been made sacred through the breath of Oyasama.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 87–88

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 62

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62. East from Here

In December 1878, Togoro, father of Toshiro Yamamoto of Kasa Village in Yamato, came down with a serious eye disease. The father’s condition gradually grew more serious and became beyond the doctor’s help. Even incantations proved to be ineffective. Toshiro, having no other course opened to him, was in a state of deep despair when he heard from his friend, “In Shoyashiki there is a god who saves man from illness.” Toshiro’s only thought was to have his father get well at any cost. Because of weakness from the long illness and the eye disease, it was difficult for his father to walk. Therefore, Toshiro carried him on his back and walked about twelve kilometers of mountainous road. Thus he returned to Jiba for the first time.

They were received by Oyasama, who spoke these words:

“Welcome home ! Soon he will be saved. Out of respect for your devotion to your father, he will be saved.”

They lodged at the house called Inada in Shoyashiki Village and stayed at Jiba for a little over a month. During that time they worshiped day and night and listened to the teachings taught by the intermediaries. The father, even with such a serious illness, received the divine providence and began to recover slowly but steadily each day, and finally recovered completely.

In the summer of 1880, Toshiro’s wife, Shyu, was cured of a stomach ailment and then Kozaburo, his second son, from convulsions; Toshiro continued to follow the faith more fervently.

Also, one autumn when he returned to pray for the salvation of a sick person to whom he had taught the teachings for the first time, Oyasama said:

“Yamamoto from Kasa, how faithfully you always come to worship! About the illness there is no need to worry.”

Upon receiving these words of Oyasama he returned home and found that the sick person already had been cured.

As he continued his devotion in this way, he came to know Chuzaburo Koda quite well. Koda, who admired Yamamoto’s steadfast faith, spoke about it to Oyasama. The words of Oyasama were:

“East from here, at the remote village of Kasa, there shall be worshipers from all directions. Go at once.”

Thereupon Koda went to Kasa Village with Chusaku Tsuji and conveyed these words of Oyasama to Yamamoto. Thus Yamamoto became all the more ardent in spreading the fragrance of the word of God and saving others.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 54–55

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 16

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16. The Child’s Concern for the Parent

Kiku, mother of Isaburo Masui, became ill. Her condition gradually worsened and reached the critical stage. After waiting impatiently for daybreak, Isaburo left Izushichijo Village early in the morning and, walking about five and a half kilometers, he returned to the Residence. When he was received by Oyasama, he asked, “Please, save my mother from her illness.” Oyasama replied:

“I am sorry, Isaburo, in spite of your request she cannot be saved.”

As this reply came from Oyasama Herself, he excused himself from Her presence, saying, “I see, I understand,” and returned home. However, when he saw his mother suffering from illness, he was overwhelmed with the thought, “Oh, I want her to be saved at any cost.”

Therefore, he again returned to the Residence and asked earnestly, “Please, I beg of you, I wish to have my mother saved however difficult it may be.”Oyasama replied again:

“Isaburo, I am sorry, she cannot be saved.”

When Isaburo was so told by Oyasama, he was convinced for the time being that nothing could be done. However, when he came home and again saw his mother suffering, he could not bear to sit by and do nothing.

So again, he trudged back the five and a half kilometers. When he arrived at the Residence it was already dark. He was told that Oyasama was already in bed, but he implored again, “I understand that my mother cannot be saved but somehow, please, save her.” Then, Oyasama said:

“The child comes for the sake of his parent to ask that the life, which cannot be saved, be saved at whatever cost. This is sincerity itself. If sincere, God will accept.”

With these gracious words, Kiku, Isaburo’s mother, was saved from the life that could not be saved otherwise, and lived to be eighty-eight.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 11–12

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The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 48

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The following is a translation of Part 48 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the December 2006 (No. 456) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.

Part 48: Completely Committed to Implementing God the Parent’s Intention

One day in 1887, Genjiro Fukaya, who later became the first head minister Kawaramachi Daikyokai, went to a follower’s home near Ishiyama, Oe Province, with Zensuke Sawada to conduct a home service. The day after the home service was conducted, a finely-dressed man came, saying he wanted ask Genjiro a number of questions.

When the man sat in front of Genjiro, Genjiro said, “Sawada-san, could you bring a rice tub?”

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