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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 191

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama

191. Welcome Home (yō, harubaru)

On May 5, 1886, Torakichi Tagawa and people of twenty-six families of Tanokuchi Village in Tajima Province, formed a [confraternity]. He was selected as its head. At that time, he was seventeen years old. This was the start of the Tenchi-gumi Seventh [Confraternity] (later renamed the Ninth).

On August 29th of the same year, Tagawa and eight others set out from the village for Jiba. They arrived in Osaka on September 1st. That evening, while staying at an inn, Tagawa suffered acute stomach pains. He had a continuous attack of vomiting and diarrhea throughout the night. At that time cholera was prevalent in Osaka. The party members were shocked and extremely apprehensive. They performed the prayer service, and prayed all night for his complete recovery. At last his condition began to improve as dawn drew near. They set out that morning before daybreak. With [Tagawa] still in bad condition, the group went through the Jusan Pass and through Tatsuta to Shoyashiki Village and stayed at Jukichi Nakayama’s house. That night, Chusaku Tsuji and Risaburo Yamamoto came from the Residence to give a talk. Chusaku Tsuji administered the Sazuke to Tagawa. After that Tagawa did not suffer from any pain.

The next day, the party visited the Jiba of Origin and worshiped at the Place for the Service. They were led to the Resting House and were granted an audience with Oyasama. When they met Her, She was wearing Her red garments and sitting very erect. She said:

“Welcome home from such a distant place.”

Oyasama’s gracious words moved Tagawa to tears. Never forgetting this feeling for the rest of his life, he actively pursued missionary work with all his heart and soul.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 150–151

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 105

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105. This Is a Place to Be Joyful

Zensuke Uno returned to Jiba about the middle of autumn in 1882 with a group of seven persons including his wife, his children, a couple who were believers, and their child. The purpose was to offer thanks to God for saving the life of his wife, Misa, who had suffered sickness after childbirth.

They left home early in the morning at four o’clock, walked, rode a boat across Lake Ogura, rode rickshaws and then walked again. They arrived at Jiba at eight o’clock that night and were granted an audience with Oyasama through the arrangement of Risaburo Yamamoto. They were all deeply moved beyond description, especially Misa who had been saved from a long illness. Her happiness was so great she could not restrain her tears. Oyasama asked her:

“Why do you cry?”

She answered between sobs, “I feel so thankful for being able to worship a living god. I am so thankful that I cannot help my tears of joy.” Then Oyasama said:

“Jiba is not a place to cry. This is a place to be joyful.”

Oyasama continued, as She turned to Zensuke:

“Your third generation shall have clear water.”

He was overwhelmed with deep emotion at these gracious and undeserved words. He made a firm resolution from the bottom of his heart, “I am so grateful that I will work forever for the sake of the path.”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, p. 89

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 101

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101. Do Not Stop on the Way

In the spring of 1882, Koiso Yamada, who was expecting a baby, returned to Jiba. Oyasama told her:

“This time, it is a test. When you come back to Jiba after childbirth, do not stop at Mamekoshi (where Koiso’s parents, the Yamanakas, lived), or at any other place. Come straight to this place. This is the true parental home.”

At eight in the morning of May 10th, while the rest of the family were out in the fields, Koiso suddenly felt labor pains. It was so sudden that she only had time to take off her apron and place it on the tatami-mat to lie upon as she gave birth to a chubby girl. It was a wondrously easy and clean delivery followed only by the afterbirth. When the family returned home for lunch, the baby, newly-clothed, was already in bed.

The husband and wife, as instructed by Oyasama, returned straight to Jiba two days after the childbirth. It had rained heavily the day before and the roads were still muddy. Her husband, Ihachiro, carried the baby in his arms and Koiso wore rain clogs. They passed by Mamekoshi but did not stop even at her parents’ home. Although they walked more than twelve kilometers, Koiso had no discharge nor any other physical suffering. It was a marvelous pilgrimage without mishap.

Waiting for them, Oyasama said:

“It is time for Koiso to arrive.”

She was so pleased to see them that She personally held the baby in Her arms, saying:

“I will name her.”

Further:

“As this baby grows up, the path shall prosper, and keep on prospering forever. Thus with the meaning of prosperity for eternity I will name her Ikue.*”

And so the baby was named Ikue.

*’Iku‘ from ‘ikusue‘ meaning ‘eternity,’ and ‘e‘ from ‘ei‘ meaning ‘prosperity.’

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 85–86

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 94

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94. Tea Is Ready

One day Zenkichi Tachibana returned to Jiba from Osaka on foot, as was the custom in those days. Crossing plains and fields, he arrived in Nikaido Village after having covered a distance of about forty kilometers. Knowing it was only a little further to the Residence, Zenkichi’s spirits were lifted as he sang one of his favorite joruri ballads. As he approached the Residence, he stopped singing. When he was received by Oyasama, as soon as She saw him, She said:

“Zenkichi, you were singing in good voice, weren’t you? Tea is ready for you, as I knew that you were returning.”

Hearing these words Tachibana was so astonished and so deeply moved with gratitude that he was unable to speak even a word.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 78–79.

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 85

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85. Too Heavy a Load for a Child 

The time was late in the spring of 1881. Kei [Matsui], then thirty-one years of age, had been spending her days and nights in tears for several years because honeycomb-like holes had progressed to the roots of her teeth and had reached the bone. One day the fragrance of the teachings of God was spread to her by a tin-smith and his wife who happened to be passing by. As instructed by them, she poured water into a rice bowl, prayed, “Namu, Tenri-Ō-no-Mikoto,” and drank the water. The pain subsided instantly. After two to three days she received the marvelous salvation of complete recovery from the suffering that had lasted for years.

Walking a distance of about twelve kilometers from Kihara of Miminashi Village in Shiki County, she returned to Jiba to express her gratitude and was granted an audience with Oyasama. Oyasama noticed that Kei’s eldest son, eight-year-old Chusaku, had carried on his back a nine-pound round rice cake for offering, and She said:

“Well! Welcome home! Oh, it is too heavy a load for a child!”

Chusaku took these words to his heart and, remembering them throughout his life, endured all kinds of hardships while striving for the single-hearted salvation of mankind.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 70–71.

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 79

Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama,

79. Children Who Return

Oyasama once told Jirokichi Kita the following:

“Among the many children who return to Jiba some people pack things and take them in carts; some put things in a wrapping cloth and carry them on their backs; some put as many things as possible in a torn wrapping cloth and carry them in their arms; and some lose everything before they reach home.”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, p. 67

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 71

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71. In Such a Heavy Rain

On April 14, 1880, Umejiro Izutsu and his wife, accompanied by their daughter Tane, returned to Jiba for the first time. It had been raining hard when they left Osaka the previous morning but the weather cleared up toward noon. They stayed overnight on the way and arrived at the Residence around four o’clock in the afternoon on the following day. They were granted an audience at once by Oyasama, who patted Tane on the head, saying:

“It is very good of you to have come in such a heavy rain.”

Oyasama added:

“You’re from Osaka, aren’t you? You are drawn here by the marvelous God. God is letting the roots of a great tree take firm hold in Osaka. You need not worry about the child’s illness.”

Afterward She placed a sheet of sacred paper on the affected area of Tane’s body which had not yet been completely cured. Needless to say, she was very soon completely cured.

The deep emotion which Umejiro felt when he met Oyasama and the marvelous cure kindled in him a passion for the faith and inspired him to spread the teachings and save others with single-hearted devotion.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 61–62

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 67

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67. Poor Fellow

Tsurumatsu Nukuto was frail from childhood. In 1879, when he was sixteen years old, his chronic stomach ailment grew worse and soon reached the critical stage. His doctor gave him up as hopeless.

At this time, the fragrance of the teachings was spread to Tsurumatsu by Kiichi Asano through Higashio, a distant relative. At the recommendation of Kiichi, Tsurumatsu firmly resolved to follow the path. So, accompanied by his parents, he returned to Jiba for the first time, carried on a stretcher, over forty-eight kilometers of mountainous road. He rested overnight and the next morning, through the arrangements made by Jyukichi Nakayama, Tsurumatsu was received in audience by Oyasama with special permission to remain on the stretcher. Thereupon, Oyasama said:

“Poor fellow.”

She took off the red kimono-undergarment She was wearing and put it on Tsurumatsu, slipping it over his head.

At that moment Tsurumatsu felt the warmth of the red kimono under-garment and at the same time he felt as if dawn had come. Though his illness had been critical, from that moment he began to recover. He stayed one week; he received marvelous salvation and was soon cured completely.

It is said that all through his life Tsurumatsu recalled that moment and said, “Even now I cannot forget that warmth.”

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 58–59

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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 58

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58. Today from Kawachi

The following incident took place in about 1877. Chozo Yamada of Kawachi Province, then twenty years old, had been confined to bed for several years, suffering from illness.

One day, a tradesman who came to buy cotton told him that there was a wondrous god at Shoyashiki in Yamato. Unable to move, Chozo single-heartedly prayed to the god from his sickbed. Much to his surprise, he gradually began to feel better. He would pray gratefully even when he drank water and this made him feel even better. Within several days, he was able to get out of bed.

Chozo, deeply moved by God’s wondrous providence, made up his mind to visit Shoyashiki to give thanks to the living god. His family thought that in his condition it was still too early to do so and opposed the plans. He insisted, however, and set out on his pilgrimage on crutches, accompanied by his brother, Yosakichi. As they reached Minamikashiwara, about four kilometers away from his home in Osakabe Village, he found himself able to walk with a single crutch. When they reached Tatsuta in Yamato Province, he was able to walk without using any crutches. He then let his brother go home, and continued his journey to the Residence alone.

An intermediary told him, “You came from Kawachi, didn’t you? This morning, God said,

‘Today there will be a visitor from Kawachi.’

That must be you. God has been waiting for you.” Chozo was astonished and thought that this was indeed the place where the living god resided.

When he was granted an audience with Oyasama, She spoke to him tenderly. During his one-week stay he recovered completely. When he bade farewell to Her, She said:

“Come back soon, won’t you?”

He went home in high spirits, singing folk songs as he crossed the Shigi Hills.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 50–51

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