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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 100

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100. You Are to Save Others 

Sadakichi Konishi of Kambe Village in Yamato Province was a hard working man who could do twice as much work as others. From a minor cause he became consumptive, and was spending the days in despair for he was pronounced incurable by doctors. At the same time his wife, Iye, who had had difficulty during the previous delivery, was pregnant with her second child.

Around March 1882, the fragrance of the teachings was spread to Sadakichi by Jirobei Morimoto of the same village. In spite of his illness, Sadakichi returned to Jiba with his wife and she received the Grant for Safe Childbirth. At that time Sadakichi asked Oyasama, “Is this god a god of only safe childbirth?” Oyasama replied:

“It is not so. This God saves man from any illness.”

Sadakichi then asked, “To tell the truth, I am ill with consumption. Can I be saved?” Thereupon, he received these words filled with parental love from Oyasama:

“You need not worry. No matter what your illness may be, you can receive divine protection. You must throw away your greed.”

These words penetrated deep into his mind. Thus, Sadakichi made a firm resolution. As soon as he came home he gathered all his cash together and handed it to his wife. Then he confined himself in a room in a detached house, writing “Tenri-Ō-no-Mikoto” on a sheet of paper which he hung in the alcove. He prayed intensely, chanting, “Namu, Tenri-Ō-no-Mikoto, Namu, Tenri-Ō-no-Mikoto.” The only time he left the room was to go to the bathroom. He had his morning and evening meals brought to his room and he continued to pray day in and day out. In so doing, the color marvelously returned to his face and his coughing ceased. Before long he was completely saved from the suffering of his long illness.

In addition to his marvelous salvation, Iye also was able to give birth to a baby boy without difficulty. Without delay they returned to Jiba to express their gratitude. From the bottom of their hearts, they thanked Oyasama, who was very pleased and said:

“Because you became single-hearted, you were saved.”

Sadakichi said, “There is no happiness greater than this. How can I repay this blessing?” Then, Oyasama replied:

“Save others.”

Then Sadakichi asked, “What should I do? How can others be saved?” Oyasama replied:

“Earnestly tell others how you were saved.”

Then She gave him about half a pound of the sacred powder of roasted grain and said:

“This is a sacred offering. Have people take this with the offered water.”

Receiving this, he happily went home.

There were many sick people everywhere he went. Carrying the sacred powder with him, he went out to save others in the manner taught by Oyasama. They were all saved, one after another, and the number of followers increased.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 83–84

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 50

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50. Kosuke and Suma

Kiku Masui took her daughter, Masu (who later became Suma Murata) to visit Kiku’s parents for three days in March 1877 for the rendo* and returned home on the twentieth.

Masu was unable to get up the next morning because of a severe headache. Her mother scolded her in her effort to train her properly, so she finally got up. She still didn’t feel well the following morning, the twenty-second. So Masu wanted to return to the Residence. After receiving permission, she left her home in Izushichijo Village at eight o’clock in the morning, and reached the Residence at about ten o’clock. When Oyasama saw her, She said:

“Are you willing to marry into the Murata family in Senzai?”

Although this was totally unexpected, Masu answered Oyasama’s words with, “Yes, thank you.” Then Oyasama said:

“It is not good for you to decide by yourself. I would like to have your elder brother (Isaburo Masui) come.”

So Masu returned to her home in Izushichijo Village on the same day and told her brother about the proposal. By that time her headache had disappeared completely.

As this was God’s request, Isaburo decided to comply early the next morning. So he returned to the Residence on the morning of the following day, the twenty-third, and was received by Oyasama, who said:

“Will you give Omasu in marriage to Murata? If you agree, please come here together with Omasu on the twenty-sixth.”

Isaburo gratefully said, “Thank you very much,” and returned to Izushichijo Village.

When Iye Murata of Senzai returned to the Residence the next day, the twenty-fourth, Oyasama questioned her:

“Oiye, I have been waiting for your arrival. I wish to offer your family a bride. Do you want a bride for your son?”

Iye replied, “Thank you very much.” Then Oyasama told her:

“The Masui family will be here on the twenty-sixth with their daughter, so take her home.”

On the morning of the twenty-sixth, four members of the Masui family returned to the Residence. They were mother Kiku, elder brother and his wife, and Masu. They brought several dishes of dainty foods that were prepared and packed in a nest of boxes.

From Senzai, Kamematsu (who was twenty-six years old at that time) and his parents, Koyemon and Iye, his wife, returned to the Residence with sweet rice wine and several dishes in a nest of boxes.

In Oyasama’s room in the Nakaminami-Gatehouse, Oyasama first sipped the sweet rice wine, and then Kamematsu and Masu shared the rest of it from the same cup.

“You are going to Senzai only for a short while. You are to return here soon,”

Oyasama told Masu.

As Masu received the name “Suma” from Oyasama at that time, she was so renamed. Later, in 1879, Kamematsu received the name “Kosuke” from Oyasama and was thus also renamed.

 

* Rendo, also called renzo, is the farmers’ spring holiday. Although it was not observed on the same day in each village, the farmers made rice cakes and dumplings, and rested just before the busy season of planting and weeding. (Association for Folklore Research in Kinki District: Customs of Yamato. Institute for Folklore Study: A Glossary of Japanese Folk Customs).

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 43–44

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Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 49

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49. Obedient Mind

In 1876 or 1877, when he was five or six years old, Yoshimatsu Hayashi dislocated his right wrist. So his grandmother took him to the Residence.

“Welcome home, dear,”

said Oyasama. Then, pointing to the tea cup at the entrance, She said:

“Please bring Me that tea cup.”

Yoshimatsu was going to lift it up with his left hand as his right one hurt.

“No, dear boy, this hand, this hand,”

said Oyasama, raising Her right hand. Because Her voice was so august, the obedient boy dared not disobey. Much to his amazement, he was able to hold the cup. Before he realized it, he had been saved, and his right hand was healed.

Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 42–43

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