102. I Myself Will Call on Her
On June 18, 1882, hearing that Matsue Nakayama’s elder sister, Saku Matsumura of Kyokoji Village in Kawachi Province was suffering from gout, Oyasama said:
“Since this is the suffering of the elder sister, I Myself will call on her.”
Oyasama, dressed in red, accompanied by Izo Iburi and one other attendant, set out by rickshaw. Traveling the Kokubu Road, Oyasama arrived at the home of Eijiro Matsumura and stayed there for three days, tenderly taking care of Saku.
However, when word of Oyasama’s stay spread, many followers gathered at the Matsumura residence. So great was their number that officers were sent from the Kashiwara Branch Police Station, who ordered the gates closed and then maintained guard. In spite of this, many followers managed to get inside the house and pay their respects with coin offerings. Oyasama said:
“Those who come will come no matter how they are stopped. This will become a place of worship. It will become an uchiwake-basho, a place of salvation.”
Three days after Saku heard the teachings from Oyasama she returned to Jiba, and was completely cured in less than three weeks.
Anecdotes of Oyasama, p. 86