Acknowledgements

It is our greatest joy that the long awaited Anecdotes was published during the season of the Ninetieth
Anniversary of Oyasama. The very figure of Oyasama seems to appear before our eyes in each of these anecdotes.
We strongly believe that the images of Oyasama contained therein will melt into the hearts of all yoboku and will
provide a driving force for their efforts in the path of single-hearted salvation of mankind and be the basis for the
realization for the joyous life for all.
The anecdotes in this volume have been arranged in the chronological order of their occurrence. It is the usual
case with anecdotes that they do not bear dates of occurrence, but with the anecdotes of Oyasama, we could
determine the dates for far more of the anecdotes than we had anticipated. Anecdotes whose dates of occurrence
are not clear have been placed according to the date which we feel is the most accurate. Japan accepted the
Gregorian calendar in 1873. Therefore, in the Anecdotes, dates previous to 1873 are according to the lunar
calendar.
In the path of single-hearted salvation of mankind as taught by Oyasama, the followers began the practice of
faith by calling out God's name in prayer while facing the Jiba. Then gradually, in accordance with the growth of
their minds, Oyasama taught them the Service and the sazuke.
The several episodes involving contests of strength were a way of showing that Oyasama was truly the living
Shrine of God the Parent, in a manner that was simple and effective.
We greatly appreciate the cooperation of Tenrikyo members in sending us the great amount of material collected
for this issue. We ask the membership to increase its support as we will continue to compile and edit anecdotes of
Oyasama.

Editorial Committee

January 26, 1976

 Foreword
The Divine Records Committee of Oyasama's Ninetieth Anniversary undertook the task of compiling the
anecdotes of Oyasama some time ago with the intention of publishing them for the Ninetieth Anniversary. This
volume containing two hundred anecdotes is the result of their work.
As most of you know, it took over half a century to compile and edit the biography of Oyasama which was
published during the Seventieth Anniversary season by the title, The Life of Oyasama, the Foundress of Tenrikyo.
The compilation of the anecdotes was already being planned during that period. Due to the grace of God, the
seasonable time for its publication has at last arrived.
While The Life of Oyasama stressed the clarification of the will of God the Parent, the anecdotes in this volume
vividly portray Oyasama as the Parent, the Parent who showed us the Divine Model, the Parent who is the real
Parent whose love for mankind is overflowing and indiscriminate, the Parent who can be revered by us as if She
were before our very eyes.
Among the stories which appear in Anecdotes are those submitted by the descendants of those followers who
were actually involved and who recorded the event. Others that were submitted were not recorded by the
principals but were told and retold by them to their children and grandchildren. Because some time has passed
since the actual events, there are also stories which were told by the principals to others who then wrote them for
submission. It is therefore natural that one may have reservations about the veracity of some portions of this
volume. In this regard, the Anecdotes cannot be said to have the same weight as the Ofudesaki or the Mikagura-
uta.
Nevertheless, for the people who received the teachings directly from Oyasama, Her words were the very bread
of life. Deeply moved, some wrote of their impressions and others told their story to whomever would listen. I
believe, therefore, that the spirit of Oyasama has been passed on to us through these anecdotes.
It is my deepest wish that we who receive Oyasama's teachings revere Her through these vivid anecdotes and
work each day toward the achievement of our mission, the single-hearted salvation of all mankind. And in order to
encourage yet greater efforts for the attainment of this goal, I directed that this volume be published for the season
of the Ninetieth Anniversary of Oyasama.

Zenye Nakayama
January 26, 1976
1. "Balls and Weights"
Oyasama was very deft. She used to separate cotton fiber from its seeds by pulling it apart with Her hands
wrapped in cloth, and She did it very quickly. She also had a very good hand for spinning yarn out of the cotton
that She had thus cleaned, and for weaving cloth from it.
The yarn was taken to a dyer, and fabrics were woven in patterns by Her. Her favorite patterns were elaborate
ones, such designs as "balls and weights" and "cats and oval gold coins."

2. At Every Revelation Uttered

In October 1838, when the divine truth was first revealed, daughter Omasa was fourteen years old, and daughter
Okimi (later called Oharu) was eight. Later, recalling their mother's changed demeanor, the two said, "We were so
frightened at the utterance of every revelation that we threw ourselves into each other's arms, trembling and
pulling the quilt over our heads."

3. The Storehouse
After Oyasama had become the living Shrine of God the Parent on October 26, 1838, She often confined Herself
in the storehouse according to the will of God. However, when in the same year pain returned to Shuji's leg,
becoming so acute that he had to be moved on a stretcher, Oyasama breathed on his leg and applied a piece of
paper to the affected area. The pain was gone in about ten days.
It is said that Oyasama continued to confine Herself in the storehouse for a period of three years.

4. I Will Return Ten Thousandfold

"Fall to the depths of poverty. Unless you fall to the depths of poverty, you cannot understand what sufferers
feel. Even water, once fallen to the bottom, will rise again. I will return ten thousandfold."

5. The Same as Flowing Water

Among the words that Oyasama told Shirobei Umetani were these:
"When I was in a trance, the divine voice said within me, 'It is the same as flowing water. Fall to a low place.
Fall to the bottom. You cannot save others if you live in a mansion with a stately gate. Live in poverty. Live in
poverty.'"

6. Seeing His Heart

In 1852, Okoyo, the elder sister of Chusaku Tsuji of Toyoda Village, while going to the Residence for sewing
lessons from Oyasama, noticed an especially gentle nature in Okimi, the third daughter of Oyasama. Because the
mother of Sojiro Kajimoto was from the Tsuji family, Okoyo recommended Okimi highly to the Kajimoto family
of Ichinomoto. The Kajimoto family accepted the idea and proposed marriage between Okimi and Sojiro.
Chusaku Tsuji was to act as matchmaker. To this proposal Oyasama replied:
"If it is Sojiro, there is no need for a meeting between the two. I see the fine quality of his heart. Take her."
Thus, the marriage of Okimi and Sojiro was happily arranged. After the marriage, Okimi changed her name to
Oharu.
It is said that Sojiro was called "Sojiro the Buddha" by the villagers because he had been a kind and gentle
person from childhood.

7. Offering with a Sincere Heart

The following occurred at a time when the Nakayama family was living in the depths of poverty. One day at the
end of the year, a follower brought some small, beautifully made rice cakes in the finest of boxes and said,
"Please, offer this to Oyasama." Kokan, Oyasama's youngest daughter, promptly took it to Her. Oddly, Oyasama
only said:
"Oh, is that so?"
and did not seem to be particularly pleased.
About two or three days later another follower came. She brought out a package in a plain kerchief and said,
"Please, will you offer this to Oyasama?" In it were only a few sweetened rice cakes in a bamboo wrapping.
Kokan as usual took it to Oyasama. Thereupon, Oyasama said:
"Please, offer it to God the Parent at once,"
and seemed very pleased.
The following fact became known later. The follower who had brought the finely made cakes was well to do.
She had made some rice cakes for New Year's, and as there were some left over, she took them to the Residence as
an afterthought. The follower who had brought the plain cakes was poor, and barely able to make enough rice
cakes for New Year's. However, her family said, "This is also the blessing of God the Parent. First of all, let us
make an offering." They took the first freshly made rice cakes to the Residence.
Oyasama had known what was in the heart of each of these two persons.
There were many such incidents. Later, many followers began to bring the rare seasonal foods grown in their
localities to Oyasama when they visited Her. Oyasama always appreciated the sincere heart with which the
followers brought these offerings more than the offerings themselves.
Further, when things were presented to Her with arrogance, She often gave them to those nearby. When, on
occasion, She did eat them, She said:
"It has no taste at all. It tastes as though we are forcing ourselves to eat when we do not want to eat."

8. By a Slight Illness
On May 6, 1861, Koto Nishida had a toothache. She left home to visit an Inari temple in Senzoku. Senzoku lies to
the north of her house, but she was walking to the east without intending to do so, and happened to meet a friend
of about the same age. This friend had married into the Okuda family in Bessho. She asked Koto where she was
going, and then told her that if she would pay a visit to Shoyashiki, any illness could be cured. So Koto made a
pilgrimage to Shoyashiki at once. She arrived toward evening. Oyasama greeted her:
"Welcome home. I have been waiting for you."
Further:
"I have given you guidance by a slight illness only."
Then, telling her the divine teachings, Oyasama gave her the sacred powder of roasted grain. By the time Koto
got home after listening to the divine teachings, the toothache had completely stopped. She did not pay a visit to
Shoyashiki for some days. Then, her eyes began to hurt violently. Immediately, she visited Oyasama, who said to
her:
 "I have given you guidance through an illness."
Oyasama taught Koto the divine teachings step by step, and prayed for her. The pain stopped by the time Koto
left to go home.
For the following three days Koto visited Shoyashiki to clean the Residence, bringing her lunch with her. That
was the beginning of her faith in Tenrikyo. Koto was thirty-two years old that year.

9. According to the Parents' Minds

Toward the middle of July 1863, when Yoshimatsu, the eldest son of Chusaku Tsuji, was four years old, his face
became pale and he was in danger of death. Oryu, Chusaku's mother, came to pray, carrying her sick grandchild
on her back. Oyasama saw them and said:
"His parents should bring him instead."
So Masu, Chusaku's wife, carrying the boy on her back, came to pray.
"I will save the child according to the parents' minds"
was the teaching of Oyasama. The boy was completely restored to health in four or five days.

10. The Long Way Around

In 1863, when Kiku Masui was thirty-nine years old, her husband, Isaburo, caught a slight cold. It developed into
a stubborn case of asthma. Kiku was so religious by nature that she visited almost all the places of pilgrimage and
worship within eight or twelve kilometers of their house in order to pray for her husband's recovery. Still, he did
not get well.
Then, Sensuke Yaoi, a next-door neighbor, advised her, "Kiku, you seem to have been to various places of
worship one after another. Now, why don't you go to the god in Shoyashiki?" Kiku felt as if she were being drawn
to God by an invisible string, and she hurried to Jiba* at once. The seasonable time had come for her.
When Kiku was admitted into Oyasama's room, Oyasama said warmly:
"I have been waiting for you, waiting for you"
as if welcoming Her own child who had come home from afar. Then Kiku said, "I have been to so many places to
pray until now." Oyasama said:
"You have come the long way around. What a pity! You could have met all those gods if only you had come
here"
and She smiled gently. When Kiku heard these words, she felt that Oyasama was truly the Parent. She was deeply
impressed and moved by an inexpressible feeling of adoration which penetrated into her heart.

*The Residence

11. God Has Drawn You to this Residence

It was about the middle of January 1864 when Chushichi Yamanaka was thirty-eight years of age. Chushichi's
wife, Sono, had been suffering from severe hemorrhoids for over two years. Her condition became so critical that
for several days she could not even drink any liquids. Two doctors had given up hope of recovery. Just about this
time, Chushichi learned about the teachings of God from Seibei of Shiba Village. He immediately returned to the
Residence* and was granted an audience with Oyasama. She said:
 "You have an innen** with God and God has drawn you to this Residence. You need not worry about your
wife's condition. I will save her in an instant, but in return, you must be willing to serve God."

* In Tenrikyo, Jiba, or the Residence, is the place of Creation. Therefore, it is said that a person 'returns' to Jiba even if it is the

first time that he goes there in his life.

** Innen: literally "destiny" or "cause and effect." Man's original innen is to live a joyous life. Being allow free will, man has used

his mind to pursue selfish goals, incurring dust which results in bad innen. In order to change his bad innen into a good one, man

must gain merit by using his mind in accord with God's will.

12. The Sazuke (Divine Grant) of Fertilizer

Oyasama said to Chushichi Yamanaka:
"As you are following the path of God, in your farming you must not have enough time to fertilize sufficiently,"
and then She bestowed the Sazuke* of Fertilizer on Chushichi. She continued:
"Concerning the Sazuke of Fertilizer, it is not the substance itself, but the truly sincere mind of each person
which is effective."
Further, She said:
"True or false, try it and see."
As soon as Chushichi got home, he chose two fields and fertilized one sufficiently with the usual night soil,
fertilized the other only with the Sazuke of Fertilizer, and decided to wait for the result.
Soon, August passed and September came to an end. The field fertilized with the night soil became thick with
green rice plants which promised a rich harvest in the fall. On the other hand, the field fertilized with the Sazuke
of Fertilizer seemed lifeless. The stalks were short and stubby and they had turned a slightly reddish color.
Chushichi could not help but doubt, "After all, it seems like the night soil is more effective than the sazuke."
However, at autumn harvest time, the rice plants from the usually fertilized field were infested with insects and
some were even empty. In contrast, none of the rice plants from the field of the sazuke were infested with insects
and none were empty, although the stalks were a little shorter. It was discovered that the sazuke field actually
yielded more rice at harvest time.

* Sazuke: a divine grant for salvation bestowed by God the Parent. When it is administered to any person suffering from a

physical or mental illness, the person is saved and given the marvelous blessing of God the Parent.

13. Sow the Seed

Tosuke Maeda and his wife Tatsu of Anryu Village, Settsu Province, were peddling flower seeds under the name
of Taneichi. They had had many children one after another, and they did not want to have more. But in 1865, Tatsu
was again expecting a baby. Then Tatsu heard of a god in Yamato Province who would bring about an abortion,
and so she went there. However, she did not arrive at the place of that god, but was guided by an unknown force to
Shoyashiki Village. There she was granted an audience with Oyasama, who said:
"You are the Taneichi (literally, 'seed market'), so you will sow seeds."
What do you mean by sowing seeds? asked Tatsu. Then Oyasama taught:
"It means to go here and there and talk of Tenri-O."*
 Referring to the expected baby, Oyasama added:
"It will not do to abort the child. The baby will be a boy, the heir to the Maeda family."
These words struck home to Tatsu and convinced her of giving up having an abortion. When she returned home,
she told her husband Tosuke of Oyasama's words and he too was convinced. From that time on they often returned
to Jiba and received teachings from Oyasama. The baby was born on June 18th of that year and was named Tojiro.
Both husband and wife told people of the divine name of Tenri-O-no-Mikoto wherever they went to sell their
flower seeds. Moreover, when they met a sick person, either the wife or husband would return to Jiba to pray for
that person. All the sick people they prayed for were saved.

* God the Parent

14. Dyeing
One day Oyasama instructed:
"Do the dyeing tomorrow morning."
Kokan immediately began to make preparations. Just that evening, Chushichi Yamanaka in Mamekoshi learned
of it through the Invocation of the Fan. His wife, Sono, immediately made preparations, woke up early the next
morning before daybreak, and returned to the Residence with some earth* and pieces of cloth in a bundle over her
back. She greeted Oyasama and told Her the reason for returning.
"Ah! That's marvelous! Just last night my daughter, Kokan, and I were talking about the same thing,"
Oyasama said, and was delighted. Similar incidents occurred several times.
The dyeing was done with water from the well northeast of the very place which was later determined as the
Jiba, where the Kanrodai was to be erected.
"Draw water from the well,"
Oyasama said. So water was drawn from the well. The earth was rubbed on the cloth and the cloth was soaked in
water. It was soaked and dried, and dried and soaked two or three times until the dyed material became a beautiful
binroji** color. The water from the well had a metallic taste.***

* When Oyasama visited the home of Chushichi Yamanaka in August 1865, She noticed that the earth from the bank
of the stream which ran along the east side of the house would be suitable for dyeing. She therefore expressed a
desire to have some of it. Thereafter, that earth was brought to the Residence many times. It is said that the earth was
from a compost of bamboo leaves in the bamboo forest.
** Binroji refers to the nut of the betel palm tree which grows in India and Malaysia. In Japan, the meat of the nut
was dried and used for dyeing, and produced a dark black color which was called 'the binroji color.'
*** In Yamato Province there were many wells with water that had a metallic taste. However, water from other wells
did not produce as beautiful a dye as that from the Residence.

15. These Seeds

Late at night on February 7, 1866, Oyasama, already in bed, suddenly said:
"Take out the crockery pot stored under the altar."
When the pot was presented to Her, Oyasama called in Chushichi Yamanaka, and said to him:
 "I have granted you various privileges until now. However, you might not be able to understand fully if I just
tell you. You may worry about falling short of needs when you go along the divine path. You need not worry
about anything. You will not be in want even if you wish to be. I will give you positive, positive, positive
proof."
Then Oyasama gave the crockery pot to him. She further instructed:
"Here are seeds which will multiply ten thousandfold. Sow these at your residence, Chushichi of Mamekoshi
Village."
On the following day, when Chushichi went to thank Her, Oyasama was pleased to see him and said:
"This grant is the treasure of your family and of the path. You must be very happy!"
He had been granted a list and four seeds. The list read: wheat—six kilograms, rice—about seventeen
kilograms, personal allowance—sixty kan* and sake—about eleven liters. These were granted as eternal seeds.
Each of the four seeds was a six centimeter square, white paper packet which was bound on four sides with white
string. On the face of each packet respectively was written: "seed of wheat," "seed of rice," "money for medicine,"
and "money for wine and seed of oil." Oyasama Herself wrote these words with a writing brush. She also bound
the packets with string, chanting:
"Namu, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto, Namu, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto."
It was witnessed that the string did not go through if She stopped chanting. Thus, She gave him the proof that he
would never be hard-pressed for the needs of life as long as he followed the path.

* Sixty kan = about 320 U. S. dollars.

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.

17. The Law of Nature

Around 1866 or 1867, Oyasama often said:
"This path cannot be followed by human thinking. It is the path that is being formed by the law of nature."

18. The Songs of Truth

When the sacred songs of twelve chapters were completed, Oyasama told Her attendants:
"These are the songs for the Service. Try singing them to the best tune you can find."
Each of them sang to his own tune. After listening to it, Oyasama said:
"Thank you for your singing, but none of them will do. You should sing them this way."
She sang loudly Herself. Then She told the attendants:
"These are the songs of truth. So you must dance to the truth. Try dancing the best way you can."
Each of them arranged the dance and showed it to Oyasama. Afterward, She said:
"Thank you for your dancing, but no one danced to the truth. You should dance in this way. You should not just
dance. You should dance the truth."
So saying, She stood up and performed the dance movements Herself in order to teach the attendants.
In this way, Oyasama Herself taught the singing and dancing after having all the attendants try on their own.
This is the story told by Haru, wife of Ichibei Matsuo.

Note: Haru Matsuo was born on September 15, 1835, and entered the faith in 1866. She passed away on May 1, 1923, when she

was eighty-nine years old.

19. Children Playing Shuttlecock

The songs for the teodori, part of the Mikagura-uta, were written by Oyasama at fixed times during the eight
months from January to August of 1867. This was how the songs were taught to the world for the first time. It
took three years to teach the dance.
Oyasama taught six persons how to dance, making the movements Herself with Her hands and arms, and
repeating them three times. Three persons learned while the other three watched. Oyasama said nothing even if
someone made a mistake.
"I would not put him to shame,"
is said to be Oyasama's comment. She taught every movement three times and completed the teaching in three
years. While teaching, Oyasama would say:
"It is like children playing shuttlecock during the New Year's season, singing 'One, Two.'"*
This is the story that Shirobei Umetani heard from a senior in the faith.

* Refers to the counting of the songs in the Mikagura-uta

20. Birth of a Girl
Early in March 1868, Chushichi Yamanaka stayed overnight at the Residence. The next morning, when he went to
extend his morning greetings to Oyasama, She said:
"Chushichi, a girl was born at your home last night. They are all waiting for your return. Hurry home to them."
Chushichi had not expected the baby to be born that soon, so he had stayed overnight at the Residence.
Therefore, when Oyasama informed him of the birth he was half in doubt, but he acknowledged Her words,
saying, "Oh, I see, thank you." However, when he met his son, Hikoshichi, on the way and was told the news of
the birth, he realized fully the truth of Oyasama's words. When he further learned that it was indeed a girl, he was
filled with awe.

21. That's All to the Good, That's All to the Good

Around the middle of May 1868, five years from the time Chushichi Yamanaka had embraced the faith, a heavy
rain had fallen continuously for many days. The river overflowed here and there, rice fields were washed out and
houses were carried away. Chushichi suffered heavy losses. A landslide on his mountain property buried many
large trees. Also, his rice fields of approximately ninety ares* were washed out.
People in his village had been deriding Chushichi's faith and immediately seized the opportunity to heap all
sorts of abuses on him, saying, "Look at him! What a fool he is! Stupid one!" Feeling chagrined at what the
villagers said, Chushichi visited Oyasama in the Residence and explained the situation to Her. Oyasama told him:
"Sah, sah, that's all to the good. That's all to the good. Now that your goods have been carried away to the
bottom of the sea, it will come to good in the future. You may wonder why your fields and hills were washed
out in spite of your faith, but you must accept the situation with a heart of gratitude. You must do so. That will
come to good in the future."
Chushichi heartily thanked God that he suffered only a small misfortune instead of a calamity.

*Are [pronounced air]: Metric system, a surface measure equal to 100 square meters.)

22. Writing the Ofudesaki

Concerning the Ofudesaki, Oyasama said:
"You know there is the Fudesaki. What do you think of it? The seventeen parts of the Fudesaki were not
completed in a short while. God spoke into my ears, saying, 'Do not look at any writings, even the charge book
from a bean curd shop.' I wondered why. Then God said, 'Brush, brush, take up the brush.' I took the brush up
for the first time at New Year's when I became seventy-two years old. And when I took the brush up, My hand
moved by itself. From heaven, God did it. After what was to be done was finished, My hand became numb and
it could not be moved. God said, 'Calm Your mind, and read this. If You find something You cannot understand,
ask Me.' I added brush strokes when I found something I could not understand. That is the Fudesaki."
These were the words Oyasama told to Shirobei Umetani in Her later years.

23. Saving from Tachiyamai Disease

Saku Matsumura was staying with her parents, the Kohigashis, in order to recuperate from tachiyamai disease. On
January 10, 1871, she returned to Jiba to pray for her recovery.
 Oyasama told Saku various inspiring stories. Then She combed her hair, crushing one by one the lice which had
bred during her long illness and fever. In addition, a bath was prepared and Oyasama washed the dirt off Saku's
body.
Because of Oyasama's careful and warm nursing, Saku remarkably recovered her health within three days.

24. I Am Glad You Have Come Home

Hikotaro Matoba of Nigo Village, Yamato Province, had a fine voice and was good at leading a chorus. During the
bon festival season, he sang on festival towers in Nagataki, Chishawara, Kasa and other neighboring villages.
In 1871, when he was nineteen years old, Hikotaro was told that he needed to expand the volume of his voice in
order to produce truly wonderful sounds. So he practiced by a waterfall in Yokkawa, singing, "Ko-o-rya! korya!
korya!" at the top of his lungs.
As it was after the day's hard work in the fields, he invigorated himself by licking a paste made of charred
vipers, soybeans and dried sesame. On the third night of the practice, he suddenly lost his sight. He had developed
an eye disease, probably amaurosis.
Guided by his mother, Hikotaro went to Hase, barefoot, to pray for the aid of the goddess Kannon. But his
prayers were not answered at all. His mother, Shika, grieved at seeing his condition, said, "You cannot see even
the white chicken at your feet, can you?" His condition remained unchanged for over three months. Then, he was
told, "There is a new god in Shoyashiki who is able to cure any illness. That god will save you in an instant."
Before long, he returned to Jiba. When he was received by Oyasama, She gave him three packets of the sacred
powder of roasted grain and said:
"I am glad you have come home. This world remains in complete darkness as long as you are blind. But you
shall certainly be saved if you do as God tells you."
Hikotaro answered, "I cannot go on living like this. I will do anything if God will save me." Whereupon,
Oyasama said:
"So, if that is your wish, do no worldly work. Go with God, and devote yourself to the salvation of man for the
rest of your life."
No sooner had he replied, "I will do so," than his sight was slightly restored. Within a few days, he had
completely recovered. From then on, with great joy he devoted himself day and night to spreading the fragrance of
the words of God and saving others. He was so wondrously saved that even at the age of eighty-seven he needed
no glasses for close reading.

25. Seventy-Five Days of Fasting

This episode occurred in 1872 when Oyasama was seventy-five years of age. During a period of seventy-five days
of fasting, She visited the home of Ichibei Matsuo for the purpose of saving people in Higashiwakai Village, north
of Tatsuta. Before leaving the Residence, She had three small cups of sweet rice wine and three round pieces of
raw eggplant.
"Let us start on our trip,"
She said. "Please go on a litter," someone pleaded. She replied:
"Remember that this is a test,"
and, so saying, began to walk briskly. When She arrived at the Matsuo residence, Ichibei and his wife were so
overjoyed that they were close to tears. Assuming that Oyasama was tired and exhausted after walking about
sixteen kilometers while fasting, they had a hearty feast prepared for Her.
"What a tempting dinner! Thank you very much. I accept your kind thoughtfulness, and it fills my stomach.
Please take away the dishes now, and bring me water and salt instead,"
She said. Ichibei's wife, Haru, thought that the dishes might not have been to Her liking, so she inquired about it.
"Each one of them is my favorite. They all look delicious,"
Oyasama replied. Whereupon Haru said, "But you haven't touched anything. You ask for just water and salt, but I
cannot do that."
"I am now fasting in accordance with God's will. My stomach is always full. I understand how you feel. Well,
then why don't you take those chopsticks and try to feed me?"
Oyasama asked.
Haru was pleased and she moved the tray in front of Oyasama. Haru picked up the bowl of rice in one hand and,
using chopsticks, took some rice from it. Just as she was about to move the chopsticks toward Oyasama, who was
waiting to be served, Haru's knees began to shake. The rice on the chopsticks, together with the bowl, suddenly
dropped upon the tray. Bowing deeply before Oyasama, Haru humbly apologized. She withdrew the tray from in
front of Oyasama, who was smiling, and brought another tray that she had prepared.
"Thank you very much for your trouble. Are you going to feed Me again?"
Oyasama said, opening Her mouth wide. Haru again picked up the bowl and took some rice with the chopsticks.
As Haru moved her hand toward Oyasama's mouth, Haru's right thumb and index finger twitched painfully, and
the chopsticks and rice fell on Oyasama's lap. Feeling deeply ashamed, Haru apologized for her repeated
carelessness.
"I am thankful for your kind thoughts, but it will be the same no matter how many times you try. God has
stopped you. So please take away the tray of dishes quickly,"
Oyasama said tenderly to console her.
So Oyasama continued to fast during Her stay, and news of this reached the Residence. On the fifth day, three
persons—daughter Kokan, Iburi, and Yohei of Ichieda—came from the Residence. Kokan asked Oyasama to have
some food.
"You all think that I am not eating of my own accord, but it is not so. It is just that I cannot eat. If you think
otherwise, try and feed me,"
Oyasama said. Kokan tried to feed Her, but the chopsticks jumped up and hung in the air. Witnessing this,
everyone was convinced. So Oyasama's fasting continued to the day of Her return.
Shuji came to take Oyasama home, and Ichibei decided to go with Shuji to borrow a litter from the Kohigashi
family of Byodoji Village. They asked Oyasama to ride in the litter, and when they came to Tatsuta, Oyasama
said:
"I feel dizzy."
So they respected Her wish, and Oyasama began to walk. Oyasama explained:
"God has said, 'Do not ride in a litter. Walk.' "

26. The Story of Linen, Silk and Cotton

In 1872, while staying at the house of Matsuo, Oyasama said to the couple, Ichibei and Haru, when they came to
greet Her one morning:
"Both of you always wear formal clothes when you come to see Me. From now on just wear your everyday
clothes. Would it not be more comfortable for you?"
When the two bowed their heads in appreciation, She taught them the following:
"Today I will tell you the story of linen, silk and cotton.
"The linen lets the breeze go through freely and does not stick to the skin. Therefore, there is nothing cooler
or better to wear in the summer. However, it is too cold to wear in the winter. It is just for the summer. After
being worn for about three years, it begins to discolor. If it becomes completely discolored, it is worthless. Even
when it is dyed into a darker shade, the color is uneven. When it reaches this stage, it is as useless as waste
paper.
"Silk, whether made into a formal coat or a kimono, is elegant. It is something everybody wants even though
it is very expensive. However, do not become a person like silk. It is nice while it is new, but when it gets a
little old nothing can be done with it.
"Now, when it comes to cotton, it is ordinary but is used by everyone. There is nothing that is so handy nor so
widely used as cotton. It keeps us warm in the winter and it absorbs our perspiration in the summer. When it
becomes dirty, it can be washed over and over again. When its color fades and it becomes so old that it cannot
be worn any more, it can be used as a diaper or as a cleaning rag or even as sandals. To be useful until its
original form no longer remains: this is cotton. God desires man to have a mind like cotton."
It is said that thereafter Ichibei and his wife carved the word "cotton" in their minds and wore nothing but cotton
throughout their lives.

27. Happy Day

On the morning of the tenth day of Oyasama's visit to the Matsuo residence in July 1872, Ichibei and his wife
went to Oyasama's room to extend their greetings. Oyasama asked:
"Would you like to have God enshrined?"
Ichibei replied, "Yes, I would like to have God enshrined, but where would be the best place?"
"Over there,"
Oyasama said, pointing Her finger to where the Buddhist altar was. It was so unexpected, like a bolt out of the
blue, that Ichibei and his wife were speechless, thinking of their ancestors enshrined in the Buddhist altar. The
couple exchanged glances and silently nodded their heads in approval. Ichibei asked, "Then where shall the
Buddhist altar be moved?" Oyasama said:
"The ancestors will not be angry, nor will they oppose the move. Set it in a similar place in the other room."
The other room was the old guest room. A carpenter was called at once to draw up plans for God's altar in
accordance with Oyasama's directions. Preparations were made for the relocation of the Buddhist altar. The
Buddhist priest was strongly opposed to their proposal, but they asked him to offer the prayer against his will. The
relocation of the altar was completed that night without trouble. The following morning four carpenters came to
build God's altar.
"If you do not hurry you will not finish in time,"
Oyasama said to speed up the work. It was completed on the evening of the twelfth day of Her stay. The next
morning, the couple went to Oyasama's room to extend their greetings, but She was not there. When they went to
the other room, they found Her sitting silently before the newly completed altar.
"You did well. This will be fine, this will be fine,"
Oyasama said, and then She went to the sickroom of their eldest son, Narazo, who was unable to move from his
bed. As Oyasama sat beside him, She said:
"Your head must itch."
She took Her own comb and began to comb Narazo's hair slowly. Oyasama said as She returned to Her room:
"Today is a nice day, a happy day, because today God is to be enshrined,"
and She smiled happily. The couple was wondering how the enshrinement was going to be done when they heard
someone at the front door. Haru went to greet the visitor and it was Shuji, Oyasama's son. As soon as Shuji was
escorted to Her room, Oyasama said:
"Arrangements for the enshrinement are complete, so please make the gohei, the sacred staff."
When it was completed, Oyasama personally took the staff to the altar and offered Her prayers to sanctify it.
"God is going to be here also from today. How happy! This is truly wonderful,"
Oyasama said, overjoyed.
"I am returning home now,"
She said, and She returned to the Residence.
The Buddhist altar was completely removed from the home at a later date.

28. Clear the Path from the Bottom

Thinking of the future of the path, Chushichi Yamanaka said to Oyasama one day, "The path will become so much
better if it is cleared in the high mountains." Whereupon Oyasama taught:
"If the path is cleared from up above, can the people down below get near? If the path is cleared from down
below both the people up above and the people down below can easily get near, can they not?"

29. Three Treasures

Once Oyasama said to Izo Iburi:
"Izo, open your hand."
She had three unhulled grains of rice in Her hand, and when Izo opened his hand as requested, Oyasama said:
"This is early rising, this is honesty and this is work,"
and placed them one at a time in the palm of his hand. Then, She continued:
"Hold these three firmly in your hand. You must try not to lose them."
Izo adhered to this teaching for the rest of his life.

30. Ten Thousandfold

Once Oyasama took a grain of unhulled rice in Her hand, and showed it to Izo Iburi, saying:
"The same is true with a human being. You sow a grain of sincerity, and it multiplies to two or three hundred
grains in a year, ten thousand in the second year. Ten thousandfold, as we call it. It will be enough for sowing
all over the province of Yamato in the third year."
31. The Measure of Heaven
One day Oyasama said to Izo Iburi:
"Izo, will you cut down a tree in the mountains and make a straight post from it?"
Izo promptly did so. Afterward, Oyasama said:
"Izo, try to place a ruler against the post,"
and She continued:
"Isn't there a gap between the two?"
When Izo placed the ruler against the post there was in fact a gap. So he replied, "There is a little gap." Then,
Oyasama taught:
"Exactly! Even the things that are considered to be straight by all the people of the world are warped when they
are placed against the measure of heaven."

32. It Depends on the Wife's Word

When she was in her teens, Yasu, daughter of Rihei Matsuda of Kosaka Village in Yamato, helped cook for
Oyasama for several years. Oyasama said:
"When a meal you have cooked is brought in, my heart seems to open up,"
and She enjoyed Yasu's cooking. Her meal consisted of rice gruel with a few soybeans. When it was not busy,
there were times when Yasu was alone with Oyasama. During these times, Oyasama taught Yasu many things. On
one such occasion, Oyasama taught her:
"Dear Yasu, a man, any man, is what a wife's word makes him. Even if he is a man who is apt to be called a fool
by others, if his wife treats him with respect and says politely, 'Welcome home, dear,' when he comes home,
people will say, 'Although we call him a fool, judging by the respectful way his wife treats him, he must be a
great man.' Whether the husband becomes a great man or a fool depends on the wife's word."
When Yasu was twenty-three, Oyasama arranged a marriage for her into the Inui family of Shoyashiki Village.
The meeting of the prospective bride and groom was held in Oyasama's room. At that time, Oyasama said:
"God says, 'This person and that person.' In this way, the matter is settled. After it is settled, do not sever it. If it
is severed, the one who severs it will be severed."
Then She moved Her hands three times, saying:
"Good, good, very good."

33. The Bridge Between Countries

Risaburo Yamamoto of Kashiwara Village, Kawachi Province, injured his chest in a village sumo-wrestling match
in the autumn of 1870 at the age of twenty-one. For three years from that time he was sick in bed. Doctors were
consulted and prayers were offered here and there at shrines and temples for his recovery. But it was to no avail.
In fact, his condition became worse until he was on the verge of death. Just at that time, during the summer of
1873, his family heard of God the Parent from a sawyer named Kuma. He had come from Furu, Yamato Province,
to work at the To Sawmill in that same village of Kashiwara. Upon hearing of God the Parent, Rihachi, Risaburo's
father, promptly returned to Jiba in place of his son. Oyasama said:
"This Residence is the Residence where mankind was first created. This is the birthplace of man. No matter
 how serious, any sickness will be cured. Bring your son here at once. I have been eagerly waiting for your
coming."
Receiving such encouraging words, Rihachi returned home and conveyed them to his son. Whereupon Risaburo
began to say, "I want to go and worship the god in Yamato." The family members tried to stop him by saying,
"You will never make it to Yamato." But Risaburo pleaded, "I don't care, I still want to go. I want to be near that
god."
In response to his earnest pleas, a stretcher was prepared. When it became dark, he was quietly carried out of the
gate. However, on the way, when they came to a big bridge over the Tatsuta River, Risaburo stopped breathing,
and so they turned back. But when they reached home, he miraculously started to breathe again. Because he
pleaded, "I don't care if I die," the family, according to custom, drank water from a sake cup at what might be a
final parting. Carrying him on the stretcher, they again departed for Yamato late at night with lanterns. It was a
dark night.
The group finally reached Jiba on the evening of the following day. The gates of the Residence were already
closed, so they sought lodging in a nearby home. The next morning, Risaburo, who was on the verge of death, was
brought before Oyasama. She said:
"You need not worry. You shall be saved for sure if you decide to dedicate your whole life to serve this
Residence."
Continuing, She gave him the following words:
"The bridge between countries; a rough log bridge. Without a bridge, a river cannot be crossed. Will you
dedicate your life, or not? Arakitoryo, arakitoryo!*"
Oyasama ordered a bath for Risaburo, and said:
"Take a bath now."
When he returned from the bath, Oyasama said:
"You must now feel fresh and lively."
Although he had been in no condition to take the bath, he had no trouble doing so. In fact, Risaburo's suffering
disappeared and his pain faded away. He heartily ate three bowls of the rice gruel that Oyasama gave him. Due to
Oyasama's warm parental love, Risaburo received God's blessing and regained his health on the sixth day. After
staying a month he returned to Kashiwara. The villagers were struck with admiration when they saw his vigorous
health.

*Arakitoryo: literally, 'the master wood cutter'; it has the meaning of 'pioneer missionary.'

34. Tsukihi Has Granted It

In the spring of 1873, Hyoshiro Kami married Tsune. Later, when she became pregnant, Hyoshiro returned to Jiba
to receive the Grant of Safe Childbirth. Oyasama said to him:
"Take home as much of the washed rice as you want."
And She Herself instructed him:
"Sah, sah, divide the washed rice into three portions. Have your wife take one portion after you get home,
another when her labor begins, and the third one right after delivery.
If you do as I tell you, your wife will not need a leaning post, special dietary restrictions or an obstetrical
 binder. Let her use a pillow, and do as usual. Do not worry even a little. You must not worry. Never doubt. This
place is the Residence where human beings were first created. This is the parental home. Be sure never to
doubt. Once Tsukihi has said, 'I grant it,' you are surely granted it."

35. The Red Garments

It was on December 26, 1874, that Oyasama wore red garments for the first time. Oyasama had suddenly said:
"I will wear red garments."
Then Matsue and daughter Kokan set out to Nara in the morning to buy cloth, and came back toward noon.
When they returned, Naragiku Nishio (renamed Osame Masui), Masu Masui (renamed Suma Murata), Kaji
Nakata and other women were doing chores in the Residence. Since Oyasama had said:
"I will wear them as soon as they are ready,"
they all helped, sewing in haste, and the red garments were completed by evening. Oyasama wore them for the
first time that night. It is said that Oyasama, dressed in the red garments, sat on the dais; and the people in
attendance enjoyed sweet rice wine in celebration of the occasion.

36. Firm Resolution

On the morning of December 4, 1874, as Rin Masui tried to get up, she strangely felt pain. Both of her eyes had
become badly swollen. They grew worse each day. When the consulting doctor diagnosed it as glaucoma, she
became frightened. She received medical treatment, but finally lost her eyesight. This happened two years after
her husband passed away.
The whole family was overcome with grief. During the year-end and New Year's season, twelve-year-old
Ikutaro, the elder child, heard the news of a god from a fellow traveler at Tatsuta. The traveler said, "The god
'Tenryu-san' at Shoyashiki in Yamato will save anyone from any sickness. One has only to offer prayers for three
days and three nights." Upon Ikutaro's return, the parent and child promptly began praying for three days and
three nights, facing toward Yamato, but there was no sign of improvement. So they sent a man-servant,
Tamehachi, to Shoyashiki to pray for the family. He left Ogata early in the morning, and arrived at the Residence
before noon. Tamehachi saw Oyasama, who was wearing the red garments, and he prayed to Her. He listened to
the teachings from the intermediaries and asked to have the main points of the teachings written down on paper to
take home.
As Ikutaro read aloud to Rin the notes that Tamehachi had brought home, Rin said, "Since we have thus
received God's teachings, I don't care what happens to my physical body. For the sake of eliminating the family
innen I will engage in the work of single-hearted salvation, not minding the severe cold and heat, and even if I
have to walk with the aid of two canes. We three, mother and children, will follow the path with joy, even through
fire and water." This was the firm resolution of the whole family.
Not only Rin, but Ikutaro as well as eight-year-old Tomie poured cold water over themselves as a form of
ascetic ritual. The whole family joined in a three-day and three-night prayer. Facing Jiba, they chanted, " Namu,
Tenri-O-no-Mikoto," over and over, and prayed earnestly.
The dawn of the third day came. Rin had been sitting before the brazier throughout the prayer, and Tomie, who
was sitting beside her mother, noticed a ray of light through a slight opening in the door. She said, without
thinking, "Mother, it's daybreak."
 Hearing her daughter's voice, Rin turned toward the front door. She saw a gleam of light through a slight
opening in the door. Thinking that it might be a dream, she quickly stood up, rushed to the front entrance and
rolled open the sliding door. Outside it was glittering with morning sunlight, just as it had been years before. She
had received a wonderful blessing and had recovered her eyesight completely.
Rin returned at once to Jiba to offer her thanks. She thanked Oyasama through the intermediary, Gisaburo
Nakata. Oyasama said:
"Sah, sah, you lost your eyesight during one night. Sah, sah, it is an innen, innen. God has drawn you to this
Residence. Welcome, welcome home. Sayemon,* please explain the teachings in detail to her. Please explain to
her."
Rin stayed over that night. The next day she heard the teachings from Nakata. While she was learning the hand
movements for the morning and evening service, she received Oyasama's words:
"Sah, sah, your soul has an innen. When it is the divine will to use a person in God's service, God will draw that
person to this Residence by any means. Be thankful and follow the path joyfully, no matter what you may
encounter. Persons who are destined to be used as instruments in God's service will be drawn to this Residence
even by means of physical pain. Because I must draw you even by means of giving you suffering, what I do is
different depending on the person. It is natural that there is difference. Because of My intent, you never got any
better. It was only natural that you never got any better because I do things differently. Your eyesight never
improved. Sah, sah, it is an innen, innen. Sayemon, please explain in detail. You could not see because it was as
if God's hands were in front of your eyes. Sah, she says she cannot see ahead. When the hands are removed you
can see at once. You can see, can't you? Sah, sah, take heart, take heart. You will not have any hardships, even if
you wish to undergo hardships. It is all up to the individual's mind."
Rin stayed over again that night. The next morning, she asked Nakata to tell Oyasama that she was returning to
Kawachi, and she again received Oyasama's words:
"You just heard a bit of the teachings and you have returned from a far place, passing through mountain trails
and valleys. Sah, sah, I accept your firm resolution. Look ahead with joy, with joy. Sah, sah, I will provide you
with clothing, food, and spending money. Remember you are to serve God for a long time. Sah, sah, look
ahead, look ahead, look ahead with joy."
Rin was speechless and was moved to tears. Rin Masui was then thirty-two years of age.

* Gisaburo Nakata was the former Sayemon Nakata. In or about 1873, due to the Japanese government's edict abolishing names

ending in "-suke," and "-yemon," "Sayemon" was changed to "Gisaburo."

37. You Are Faithful in Your Work

One day in 1874, Naragiku Nishio returned to the Residence and was sitting in front of Oyasama with other
people. When they were preparing to leave, Oyasama called the name of Kokan, Her daughter, and asked:
"Dear daughter, isn't there anything to do? These people will not leave if they are asked to do something. There
is something, isn't there?"
To this question, Kokan answered, "Yes, there are many things to do, but I was hesitating to ask them." Then
Oyasama said:
"Why not ask them?"
 Kokan asked them to spin yarn. They worked hard at spinning and winding yarn on the spindle. Soon Naragiku,
who was then eighteen, completed one spindle. Oyasama went to her and tapped her on the shoulder. She raised
the spindle to Her head three times and said:
"Dear Naragiku, girls of your age yearn for many things. You are so young, yet faithful in your work, I admire
you. There are a lot of things to do in this Residence if you are of the mind to work. While working in this
Residence, you will not be able to leave, even if you want to. I recommend that you work as hard as possible
when you can. Then, in the future you will be quite free from hardship, even if you want it. So work hard now."

Note: Naragiku Nishio's name was changed to Osame in accord with Oyasama's words when she married Masui in 1876.

38. From the Hills in the East

Around 1874, Oyasama used to sing this song to Herself:
The moon rising from the hills in the east,
Like pushing a cart, or like a water wheel,
Rumbling, rumbling, rumbling.
Its melody was said to be the same as that of "Takai yama kara" (From a high mountain).

39. Much Better

In 1874, two-year-old Narazo, the eldest son of Yahei Nishiura, contracted diphtheria and was given up by the
doctor as hopeless. Yahei was convinced of the teachings through the devoted efforts of Koyo, mother of Koshiro
Murata of the same village. Help from the Residence was requested. Gisaburo Nakata came from the Residence at
once to save the child and Narazo was marvelously saved. Father and son then visited the Residence immediately
to express their gratitude. From that time on, Yahei was a fervent believer.
One day, after coming home from the Residence, Yahei went to bed late. Around midnight, he heard a noise
under the floor. Thinking, "This is strange!" he quietly got up and looked around the house. With an exclamation
of surprise, a man ran away into the dark. He left behind a large bundle of various precious items taken from
Yahei's home.
Yahei was very happy. The next morning he promptly visited the Residence and thanked Oyasama from the
bottom of his heart, saying, "Because of your blessing, it turned out very well for me. Thank you."
"Would it not be much better to let the people who need them have them?"
It is said that these words made a deep impression on Yahei's mind.

40. Stay Here

The year was 1874. Yonosuke Okada (later known as Yosaburo Miyamori), at the age of eighteen, had a severe
pain in his arm. He visited this and that doctor but the pain did not ease at all. He leaned against the bedding and
suffered day and night. Looking at his suffering, Wasa, his married sister from Miwa, conveyed the teachings to
him, suggesting, "Why don't you try to go to Shoyashiki?"
Yonosuke had heard about the living god of Shoyashiki before, but at this time he decided to return to the
Residence. When he had an audience with Oyasama, She said to him:
"Yonosuke, welcome home."
 Upon receiving these words, the pain in his arm instantly stopped. He spent all that day at the Residence and
went back to Higai Village that night.
However, when he returned home, he began to feel pain in his arm again. He waited impatiently for daybreak
and returned to the Residence. Then, incredibly, the pain in his arm stopped.
These same events occurred repeatedly and during three years he returned to the Residence almost every day.
Toward the end of this period, Oyasama said gently:
"Yonosuke, stay here."
And so, in accord with Her words, he stayed at the Residence and helped with the work there. He remained
there because unless he did so, the pain in his arm would return.
It was in this way that Yonosuke began to work at the Residence.

41. To Eternity
One day Oyasama visited the home of Gisaburo Nakata in Toyoda Village. Oyasama hummed as She walked
around the house:
"Step in firmly. Step down firmly. Step down firmly to eternity."
After that, Oyasama told Nakata:
"God has entered this residence and hardened the ground. Never let go of this property, no matter how poor you
become. Continue your faith to eternity."
Years later during the time of Gisaburo's grandson, Kichizo, a portion of the land was to be exchanged at the
village's request. When the final approval was to be made, a boil suddenly appeared on Kichizo's face and it
became swollen. The family members were astonished and they tried to discover the cause through self reflection
and consultation. Whereupon, the elders of the family* told them how the ground had been hardened by Oyasama
Herself. They immediately apologized to God the Parent and sent a formal notice to the village withdrawing the
exchange offer. When this was done the illness was completely cured.

*By elders was meant Shiho Nakata and her youngest sister, Katsu Uyeshima. Shiho was the wife of Gisaburo's eldest son.

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-O-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-O-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.

43. That Will Do

September 27, 1875, is the date when Oyasama's daughter, Kokan, departed for rebirth. The people of Shoyashiki
Village had often come to comfort her while she was ill in bed, and had rushed to her when her condition
worsened. On the day of the funeral service, they came and helped from early morning.
On the following day, during the after-funeral dinner, they talked about their memories of Kokan, and recalled
Oyasama's words. In the course of their talk, one of them tearfully said, "Indeed, we have been doubtful of God
until now and have no word to excuse ourselves."
On hearing this, one of the seniors who worked at the Residence suggested, "Why don't you form a fraternity?"
Whereupon, the villagers talked, and agreed among themselves to form their own fraternity. When this was
reported to Oyasama, She was very pleased.
Then they had to name the fraternity, but at first the farmers could not think of a good idea. In the meantime,
someone suggested, "Since this is the place of origin where God resides, how about naming it Tengen(divine
locale)-ko?" Everyone agreed to this name, and they inquired of Oyasama about it. She said:
"That will do."
And She took off Her red formal coat and gave it to them, saying:
"This shall be enshrined as the symbol of faith."
In this way the Tengen-ko Fraternity was born. Without naming anyone in particular as head of the fraternity,
they held the monthly service on a fixed day each month at a different member's house, bringing the red garment
to that place.

44. A Snowy Day

After Rin Masui entered the faith, she diligently visited the Residence during the years 1875 and 1876.
One of her visits was on January 10th. It had been snowing heavily since the morning. Rin was on the way to
the Residence from Kawachi. When she entered Yamato Province the snow began to fall in a whirl as a storm
gathered. She was crossing Taka Bridge of Nukatabe. The bridge at that time was less than one meter wide and
there was no railing on it. She was afraid that she might fall so she crawled barefoot on the snow-covered bridge.
She had struggled along to the middle, when a sudden blast of wind struck her, causing her to sway dangerously,
almost falling off the bridge. This happened many times. Each time she clung to the bridge, pressed against the
snow, and crawled like an ant, praying earnestly, "Namu, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto, Namu, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto." She
was just barely able to cross the bridge. Then, going through Miyando and Nikaido, she arrived at the Residence
around four o'clock in the afternoon. When she slid open the door and entered the Place for the Service, Iye
Murata told her, "Just this moment Oyasama was looking out of the window, and said:
 'Well, well. Someone is coming on this stormy day. How sincere she is! She must be having a hard time of it.' "
Rin was overjoyed with her safe return to the Residence, saying, "Ah, thank God!" Her hands and feet were
numb after walking about thirty kilometers from Kawachi to the Residence in the snowstorm. Those people who
happened to be there helped her take off her traveling attire, took good care of her in many ways and warmed her
with three braziers until warmth returned to her body. Then she went into the presence of Oyasama to pay her
respects, and Oyasama said to her:
"Oh, I am so glad to see you have come. God the Parent lent a hand to bring you home. You had a hard time,
slipping at many places. However, you were joyful. Sah, sah, God the Parent accepts fully, fully. Whatever you
ask, it is accepted. God protects you. Enjoy it, enjoy it, enjoy it!"
So saying, Oyasama grasped Rin's cold hands with both Her own. It was something more than warming them
over the brazier. Rin was moved with gratitude and awe at the inexpressible warmth of Oyasama.

四四 雪の日
明治八、九年頃、増井りんが信心しはじめて、熱心にお屋敷帰りの最中のことであった。
正月十日、その日は朝から大雪であったが、りんは河内からお屋敷へ帰らせて頂くため、大和路まで来た
時、雪はいよいよ降りつのり、途中から風さえ加わる中を、ちょうど額田部の高橋の上まで出た。
この橋は、当時は幅三尺程の欄干のない橋であったので、これは危ないと思い、雪の降り積もっている橋
の上を、跣足になって這うて進んだ。
そして、ようやくにして、橋の中程まで進んだ時、吹雪が一時にドッと来たので、身体が揺れて、川の中
へ落ちそうになった。
こんなことが何回もあったが、その度に、蟻のようにペタリと雪の上に這いつくばって、 なむてんりわ
うのみこと なむてんりわうのみこと と、一生懸命にお願いしつつ、やっとの思いで高橋を渡り切って
宮堂に入り、二階堂を経て、午後四時頃お屋敷へたどりついた、
そして、つとめ場所の、障子を開けて、中へ入ると、村田イヱが、
「ああ、今、教祖が、窓から外をお眺めに
なって、
『まあまあ、こんな日にも人が来る。なんと誠の人やなあ。ああ、難儀やろうな。』と、仰せられていたと
ころでした。」と、言った。
りんは、お屋敷へ無事帰らせて頂けた事を、
「ああ、結構やなあ。」と、ただただ喜ばせて頂くばかりであ
った。
しかし、河内からお屋敷まで七里半の道を、吹雪に吹きまくられながら帰らせて頂いたので、手も足も凍
えてしまって自由を失っていた。
それで、そこに居合わせた人々が、紐を解き、手を取って、種々と世話をし、火鉢の三つも寄せて温めて
くれ、身体もようやく温まって来たので、早速と教祖へ御挨拶に上がると、教祖は、
「ようこそ帰って来たなあ。親神が手を引いて連れて帰ったのやで。あちらにてもこちらにても滑って、
難儀やったなあ、その中にて喜んでいたなあ。 さあ／＼親神が十分々々受け取るで。 どんな事も皆受け
取る。 守護するで。 楽しめ、楽しめ、楽しめ。」
と、仰せられて、りんの冷え切った手を、両方のお手で、しっかりとお握り下された。
それは、ちょうど火鉢の上に手をあてたと言うか、何んとも言いあらわしようのない温かみを感じて、勿
体ないやら有難いやらで、りんは胸が一杯になった。
45. Wrinkles of the Mind
Oyasama did not waste one sheet of paper, not even an old scrap of paper. She carefully smoothed the wrinkles
even out of the paper that had been used as gift wrappings and placed them under Her cushion to be used again.
Oyasama taught:
"If wrinkled paper is left as it is, it can be used only as toilet paper or as paper to blow one's nose, but if its
wrinkles are carefully smoothed out, it can be used in many ways. Once it is used as toilet paper or paper to
blow one's nose it cannot be retrieved and used again.
The saving of a man also follows this principle. It is to smooth the wrinkles of man's mind with the truth of
the teachings. When the mind becomes completely wrinkled, it becomes like the toilet paper. Saving such
minds, rather than discarding them, is the principle of this path."
Once when Rin Masui came to see Oyasama and asked for permission to copy the Ofudesaki, Oyasama said:
"Do you have any paper?"
When Rin answered, "I will go to Tambaichi and buy some," Oyasama said:
"It will be late if you do so. Let Me bind some for you."
She then took some sheets of paper out from under Her cushion and disregarding the difference in their sizes,
She selected those that had no writing on them, and bound them Herself. Then saying:
"Sah, I will read it to you. Write it on this,"
Oyasama read the Ofudesaki. Rin picked up the writing brush and wrote. It was a copy of Part IV of the
Ofudesaki, and to this day it is preserved as it was originally bound, with the paper irregular in size.

46. Everything from This to That

One day a follower brought a large fish for an offering. After the fish was offered, Shuji asked Rin Masui to
prepare it. Rin looked for a carving knife but could not find one. Then Shuji said, "Orin, is it a carving knife you
are looking for? There is a large vegetable knife in the kitchen. Use that to prepare the fish." There was no carving
knife.
Rin thought, "How inconvenient," and one day asked to have the day off, and returned to Kawachi. As that day
happened to be the day of Otaiya at Yao,* she immediately went to Yao and bought a carving knife, a thin fish-
slicer, a pair of scissors, and other useful household items. She returned to the Residence and presented them as a
gift from her. Shuji and Matsue were so delighted with the presents that Shuji said, "Such nice things! I want to
show them to Grandmother.** Come along with us," he urged. When they met Oyasama, Rin first thanked Her for
the day off. Oyasama accepted the presents and said:
"Orin, you have given thought to everything from this to that. Oh, I am grateful. Oyasama was very pleased."
It is said that Rin, overwhelmed with the graciousness of Oyasama, bowed, pressing her forehead against the
tatami-mat and shed tears of gratitude.

* Otaiya at Yao refers to a string of roadside stands which open between the Temple of Yao and the Temple of Kyuhoji on the

eleventh and twenty-seventh of each month.

** Oyasama.
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."

48. Waiting, Waiting

Around two o'clock in the afternoon of November 9, 1876, Kajiro Ueda was leaving for the Tenjin Festival at
Kayo. Suddenly his daughter Naraito, who was weaving, began to cry, "Iwagami-san of Furu with his great mass
of hair is descending on me. I'm frightened." Later, she was administered all possible medical treatment without
success. Through the devoted efforts of Yahei Nishiura, a neighbor, the Ueda family entered the faith and Naraito
gradually recovered. She returned to Jiba the following month and was received by Oyasama who graciously said
to her:
"I have been waiting, waiting. You were My aunt who saved Me five generations ago."
She was completely cured in three days. Naraito was then fourteen years old.

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.

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).

51. Family Treasure

One day in June or July 1877, Iye Murata was serving as Oyasama's attendant as usual, when Oyasama
unexpectedly handed her a piece of red cloth prepared for a vest and said:
"Oiye, please sew this."
Iye wondered why Oyasama told her to do the sewing, but before long, she finished the work and Oyasama at
once put on the newly tailored vest.
On the evening of that day, Iye's son, Kamematsu, returned to Jiba to worship at the Residence because of
severe pain in his arm.
When told of his return, Oyasama said:
"Oh, really?"
and soon after, She went to bed. After a while, She sat up and said:
"Call Kamematsu here if he still has pain in his arm."
When he came before Her, Oyasama said:
"Sah, sah, do not wear this out. It shall be your family treasure. Whenever occasions require, put it on and
pray."
So saying, She took off the red vest and personally helped him put it on. She further instructed him:
"Keep it on and go to the Kanrodai at once to perform the service of Ashiki harai, tasuke tamae, ichiretsu
sumasu Kanrodai."

52. Learn the Koto*

In 1877, Oyasama told Tomegiku Tsuji, who was then eight years old:
"Learn to play the koto."
But her father, Chusaku, ignored the instruction, saying, "As we are farmers, she does not need to learn to play
the koto."
After several days, Chusaku developed a large boil on his right arm. He reflected on his condition and realized
that he should have his daughter learn to play the koto. So he made up his mind and went to Koriyama to buy a
koto.
While he was talking with the shopkeeper at the music shop, the boil on his right arm burst and the pain stopped
completely. He realized that this indeed had been God's intention. Carrying a big koto on his shoulder with the
arm which had hurt until shortly before, he went home in high spirits.

* Koto: a thirteen-stringed long zither which is plucked with picks. This instrument is one of the women's instruments used in the

performance of the Service.

53. From This Residence

One day in 1877, when Yoshie Iburi was twelve years old, her fingertips ached unbearably. She asked Oyasama
what to do. Oyasama said to her:
"Learn to play the shamisen.*"
She decided to learn at once. However, in those days at Takashina in Ichinomoto there was no place to learn the
shamisen. So she asked Oyasama, "Shall I go to Koriyama or some other place to learn?" Oyasama said to her:
"I am not sending you anywhere to learn, or inviting anyone to teach you. All things are to be learned in this
Residence. There is nothing that can be learned from the world. Because it is first taught from this Residence,
there is truth in what is learned."
Oyasama personally taught her how to play the shamisen. This was to become the shamisen part for the Service.
 * Shamisen: a three-stringed instrument similar to a lute which is plucked with a plectrum.

Note: Yoshie Iburi was married in 1888. Her married name was Yoshie Nagao.

54. Play It with All Your Heart

Yoshie Iburi had been learning the shamisen from Oyasama Herself since 1877, when Yoshie was twelve. During
the three years of learning, Yoshie was also given instructions in spiritual attitude. Oyasama taught:
"You must get all the instruments at any cost.

"Even if you have not practiced enough, be seated in front of the instrument and play it with all your heart. God
will accept your heart.

"Dear Yoshie, pluck 'position three' and 'position two' in succession. It makes a tune for hito-o-tsu.* In this way,
practice the shamisen."

* Hitotsu: literally, 'one.' This word begins the first verse of eleven of the twelve chapters of the Sacred Songs for the Service.

55. Kokyu, Kokyu*

In 1877, Naraito Ueda, then fifteen years old, happened to be back at her parents' home in Sonowara Village when
her body began to sway for no apparent reason and would not stop. Her father and elder brother tried hard to hold
her still but their efforts were in vain. Instead, their bodies also began to sway as they tried to stop her. So
Naraito's father took her to the Residence and inquired of Oyasama about it. Oyasama said:
"Kokyu, kokyu."
The moment Naraito answered, "Yes," her swaying stopped.
In this way, Naraito started to take lessons on the kokyu from Oyasama and subsequently took part in the
Service.

* Kokyu: a three-stringed instrument played with a bow in a vertical position.

56. Thank You for Your Trouble Last Night

One time, while Sadahiko Izutsu was on duty at the Main Sanctuary, he said to Tsuchisaburo Itakura, "You have
undergone hardships many times in police stations and jails. It's a wonder that you were able to continue in your
faith under such circumstances." Tsuchisaburo Itakura replied, "During my third visit to the Residence three police
officers came and threw us into the Tambaichi Branch Jail. That whole night we discussed the idea of quitting the
faith. However, I thought I would wait until I could see Oyasama one more time. So I returned to the Residence.
When Oyasama saw me, She smiled and said compassionately:
'Thank you for your trouble last night.'
Just these few words of Oyasama made me resolve to undergo any hardship any number of times."
This is the story Izutsu heard from Tsuchisaburo Itakura in 1931 or 1932, when the Main Sanctuary consisted
only of the North Worship Hall.
 Note: As Tsuchisaburo Itakura began to have faith in 1876, it is assumed that he received Oyasama's words in 1876 or 1877.

57. A Boy Should Be Accompanied by His Father

In the summer of 1877, nine-year-old Narazo Yaoi of Izushichijo Village, Yamato Province, was playing with two
or three neighborhood children in the Saho River that flowed on the west side of the village. Somehow his penis
was bitten by a leech. It did not hurt much at the time, but two or three days later it became swollen. Although
there was no pain, his parents were worried because it was such an important organ. Doctors were consulted, faith
healing was tried and the best of care was given, but there was no sign of recovery.
Jirokichi Kita's aunt, Ko Yaoi, of the same village, and Isaburo Masui's mother, Kiku, were already devout
followers at that time. So they urged Narazo's grandmother, Koto, to join the faith. Being religious by nature, she
readily agreed. But Narazo's father, Sogoro, was only interested in farming and he laughed at those who were
religious. Koto asked him, "Do you wish to cancel my sixtieth birthday celebration or do you wish to join the
faith?* Please choose one or the other." So Sogoro finally consented to join. It was January 1878.
Then grandmother Koto took Narazo to Jiba at once. They were received by Oyasama, who was shown his
ailment. Oyasama gave them the following words:
"The pillar of the family. This is a trouble of the pillar. You will be saved according to your mind."
From then on grandmother Koto and Narazo's mother, Naka, took turns returning with him to the Residence, a
distance of about six kilometers, every third day. But there was no sign of any blessing.
In the middle of March 1878, while Koto was visiting the Residence with Narazo, Chusaku Tsuji told them, "We
are told that 'a boy should be accompanied by his father.' Please have Sogoro himself return here accompanying
his own son." Whereupon Koto returned home and asked Sogoro, "Won't you please return to the Residence?"
So Sogoro returned to Jiba, accompanying Narazo, on March 25th and returned home that same evening.
However, Narazo's penis became swollen the following morning, just as it did when it was first bitten. But on the
morning of the twenty-eighth he received the blessing of a complete cure. The whole family was happy beyond
description. Narazo, then a boy of ten years, was thrilled from the bottom of his heart to have received the
providence of God the Parent. This became the foundation of his devout faith for the rest of his life.

* In Japan, the sixtieth birthday is a very auspicious event. It is customary for the children to provide the celebration for their

parent, and the parent would lose face in the community if he was not celebrated.

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.

59. Festival
In January 1878, when she was twenty-eight, Koiso Yamanaka (later Iye Yamada) was drawn to the Residence to
serve Oyasama. Oyasama told her about the significance of the twenty-sixth day of the month:
"Festival (Matsuri) has the meaning 'to wait.' (matsu: wait, ri: principle). Do not do anything else the whole day
of the twenty-sixth. The only thing you must do on that day is to give thanks for the marvelous protection of
God the Parent."
Koiso sewed the red garments and combed Oyasama's hair as part of her daily routine. Usually, Oyasama
prepared the red cloth Herself and handed it to Koiso.
Not long after Koiso started to serve Oyasama in the Residence, on April 28, 1878 (March 26th, lunar calendar),
there was still time left after sweeping and cleaning. So she said, "Oyasama, it seems wasteful to be doing nothing
from early morning. I wish you would give me some red cloth to sew." After thinking for a while, Oyasama said:
"I understand."
Then, She cut the red cloth quickly and smoothly, and gave it to Koiso.
Koiso was happy to have something to do, and began sewing at once. No sooner had she put a few stitches into
the cloth than she was in pitch darkness even though it was daytime. In complete amazement, Koiso cried out,
"Oyasama," and said to herself, "Now, I understand. It was against the divine will to think it was wasting time. I
will sew the red garment tomorrow." The moment she made up her mind, it became daylight again, and everything
was all right with her.
Later, when she told Oyasama what had happened, Oyasama instructed:
"I cut the red cloth because you, Koiso, said it was wasting time to be doing nothing from morning. If you
sweep and mop, you need not do anything else on the twenty-sixth day except perform the Service. You must
not."

60. Sacred Sugar Candy

When Oyasama gave the sacred sugar candy, She explained:
"This place is the Oyasato, the parental home where all human beings were originally conceived. Therefore, at
this place I give you the sacred sugar candy*."
She also taught:
 "The first packet is the truth of initiation. The truth of the reason for the three pieces in a packet is the beginning
of being nourished. The second packet is the truth of firm protection. The third packet is the truth that after
being fully nourished, sufferings disappear. is the truth of the providences coming forth. Three fives is fifteen;
therefore, it is the truth of the sufficiency of the providences coming forth. The seventh packet is the truth of
nothing to worry about. Three sevens is twenty one; therefore, it is the truth of fully settled peace. The ninth
packet is the truth of the disappearance of sufferings. Three nines is twenty seven; therefore, it is the truth of
nothing at all to worry about."

* Small sugar candies (kompeito) were one of the substances which Oyasama used for the Grant for Safe Childbirth. Presently,

rice grains are used.

61. Beneath the Corridor

This incident took place in 1878. When Tamizo Ueda, at the age of eighteen, returned to the Residence with his
mother, Iso, Oyasama said:
"Tamizo, let's, you and I, have a contest to see who is stronger."
Oyasama went up on the north raised room and Tamizo stood below. With the shout of 'one, two, three,' they
tightly gripped each other's hands and began to pull. Tamizo pulled with all his might but Oyasama did not move
even an inch. Tamizo marveled at Oyasama's strength.
On another occasion, Oyasama spoke the following words when Tamizo came to visit Her
"Tamizo, you are returning from Onishi now but in the future you will come together with Onaka to this
Residence to live."
Tamizo thought, "I am a farmer and I have children. It cannot be possible for me to do such a thing." Later on,
however, because of the illness of his child, he and his family were drawn to the Residence to live.
Also, on another occasion, Tamizo returned to the Residence with his mother, Iso. At that time Oyasama said:
"Tamizo, in this Residence in the future, many people will be walking back and forth beneath the corridor."
It is said that in his late years, Tamizo was truly amazed by the fact that Oyasama's words one after another
became a reality.

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.

63. Merit That Is Not to Be Seen

Once Oyasama asked Koiso Yamanaka:
"Do you wish to have merit that is to be seen by the eye? Or do you wish to have merit that is not to be seen by
the eye? Which do you wish to have?"
Koiso replied, "Anything with physical form can be lost or stolen. So I would prefer to have merit that cannot
be seen by the eye."

64. Smoothed out Gently

Yearning for Jiba, Tokichi Izumita (nicknamed Kumakichi) returned one day and found Oyasama smoothing out
small pieces of crumpled paper on Her knee. Oyasama said to him:
"These crumpled pieces, if smoothed out gently like this, become neat and can be used again. Nothing is
useless."
Receiving this instruction, Izumita cheerfully went back to Osaka to continue his work of saving others even
more earnestly.
However, it was hard to save others and spread the teachings. Accordingly, whenever his confidence was
shaken, he poured water over himself to encourage himself on to further efforts. At midnight, during the coldest
season of the year, he would immerse himself in the Yodo River for as long as two hours, and climbing up on the
bank, he would dry himself in the wind, as he thought drying with a towel would spoil the effect. It was not so
cold in the water, but the blowing north wind would severely and coldly sting his wet body. However, he patiently
continued these cold water ablutions for about thirty nights. He would also remain all night in the water holding
onto a post of the Tenjin Bridge before walking about to save sick people, as he was once told that he must first
torture himself.
One day he returned to Jiba and was received by Oyasama, who said to him:
"Kumakichi, on this path you must not torture yourself."
 Hearing these words filled with parental love, Izumita was able to fully understand the preciousness of the
human body, a thing borrowed from God the Parent.

65. Drawn Here to Be Used

The following incident happened around June 1879. Oyasama used to say every night:
"I need a personal attendant. I need one."
The intermediaries, Gisaburo Nakata, Chusaku Tsuji and Rihachi Yamamoto, after discussing the matter,
consulted Shuji. Whereupon he suggested, "Rin should be a suitable person."
So promptly the next morning at ten o'clock, Shuji and Nakata, followed by Rin Masui, went to see Oyasama to
receive her approval. Shuji explained. Oyasama immediately gave these words:
"At once, at once, at once, at once. Drawn here to be used. At once, at once, at once. Quickly, quickly. You are
overdue. You are overdue. Sah, sah, be joyful, be joyful. Whatever you do, do it with the thought that you are
serving God. Whatever you do God will accept ten thousandfold. Sah, sah, quickly, quickly, quickly. At once, at
once, at once."
In this way Rin served Oyasama as Her personal attendant from that night until Oyasama withdrew Her physical
being in 1887.

66. Safe Childbirth

When Take, wife of Kisaburo Maegawa, was pregnant with her first daughter Kimi, she returned to the Residence
to receive the Grant for Safe Childbirth. Oyasama said:
"Welcome home!"
and She further taught Take:
"At the time of delivery there will be no need for help from others."
When Take began to feel labor pains no one else was at home. Therefore, in accordance with the words of
Oyasama, she boiled the water, prepared the bathing tub, cut the umbilical cord, took care of the afterbirth, gave
the baby her first bath, and dressed her all by herself without any help from others. With the full divine protection
of God the Parent she was able to deliver her child safely.

Note: The birth date of Kimi Maegawa was January 25, 1880. It is assumed that Take received the Grant for Safe Childbirth in the

previous year.

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-undergarment 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."

68. The Way Ahead Is Long

In 1874, at the age of nineteen, Tatsujiro Hirano of Sakai became sickly and for the following six years, he was on
a diet of wafers. Then in 1879, when he was twenty-four years old, the fragrance of the teachings was spread to
him by Risaburo Yamamoto. He listened to the teachings of God and received such marvelous divine providence
that he discontinued the wafer diet and on that day he ate thirty small fish for one meal.
He returned to Jiba in his great joy for being saved. There he enjoyed a steam bath, and later he listened to the
words of God related by intermediaries. After he returned home, Tatsujiro promptly enshrined God in his own
home and began to strive fervently to spread the fragrance of the words of God and to save others. Thus, he often
returned to Jiba.
On one such day, he had an audience with Oyasama, and She said:
"One who is called Tatsujiro Hirano of Sakai, is that you?"
Then She extended Her hand and said:
"Hold My hand."
When Tatsujiro reverently held Her hand, She said:
"Is that all the strength you have? Put forth more."
So he gripped Her hand with all his might. Oyasama gripped back with much greater strength. Tatsujiro was
utterly awestruck and deeply impressed by the greatness of Oyasama. At that time he received the following
words from Oyasama:
"How old are you? It is remarkable that you have followed the path this far. The path ahead of you is long. No
matter what you may encounter, do not become discouraged in faith. The future is all well."

69. Prefer the Younger Brother

About 1879 or 1880 when he was drawn to the Residence, Yosaburo Miyamori received Oyasama's words:
"A superfluous man with a pure heart is wanted."
Yosaburo was the third son among nine children in his family. It did not matter whether he was at home or not.
As far as the family was concerned, he was a "superfluous" man. He was by nature very obedient, honest, not
greedy, and especially, was said to be a kind of person who could always accept any situation with joy. It is
believed that for these reasons he was called a man with a pure heart by Oyasama.
Again, in about 1881, when Tamezo Yamazawa was sitting beside Oyasama, She said:
"Tamezo, you are the younger brother. God is saying, 'Even more do I desire the younger brother.'"
70. Threshing Wheat
During the busy harvest seasons of spring and fall at the Residence, Oyasama used to come out and say:
"I'll help you."
There are two kinds of flails, large and small. The larger one has a handle and stick of almost the same length. It
is so large and heavy that only a strong person can use it. However, Oyasama in Her advanced age used this kind
and did the work of threshing as well as any young person.
It was a hot day in the early summer of 1879 or 1880. Takai, Miyamori and others were threshing, wet with
sweat under the blazing sun, when Oyasama came out and joined them with a towel wrapped around Her head.
When they saw Her working energetically, it was hard to believe that Oyasama was a woman over eighty years
old. They all admired Oyasama for being as full of vitality as any young person.

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.

72. Destined to Be Saved

From around April 1880, Kosaburo Murakami of Izumi Province, in the prime of his manhood, began to lose the
use of his hands and feet due to sciatica. The pain was so severe that he completely lost his appetite. He went to
see doctors and sought as many various kinds of medical treatment as possible but he found no effective cure. His
whole family, as well as he himself, lived from day to day in deep depression, feeling as if they had fallen into an
abyss of misery.
Out of his ardent desire to be cured, Kosaburo went to Jinnan Village near Tatsuta, as he had heard that a noted
herb doctor lived there, but was disappointed because the doctor was not home. At that moment he remembered
his servants and the route merchants often speaking of the living god of Shoyashiki and so he decided to return to
Shoyashiki Village since he had come thus far.
Thus he returned and was warmly received by Oyasama, who said:
"You will be saved, will be saved. You are destined to be saved."
Oyasama further told him the teachings which he had never heard before. Then, at the time of his departure, he
received three sweet bean dumplings placed on a sheet of paper, and some sacred water. Kosaburo, refreshed with
the feeling that his body and mind were cleansed, left for home.
 Although he had ridden in a rickshaw over a long distance, he was not tired at all when he reached home; on the
contrary, he felt delighted. Then praying, "Namu, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto, Namu, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto," he rubbed the
water he had received from Oyasama on his aching hip. As if in a dream, the pain disappeared on the third day.
For the next half a year, each time he returned to Jiba his condition improved a little more, and in January of the
following year, 1881, he held a celebration for his recovery. Kosaburo was forty-two years old. Feelings of
gratitude naturally made his feet turn toward Jiba.
Returning to Jiba, Kosaburo immediately asked Oyasama how to repay Her for the favor. Oyasama replied:
"It is neither money nor material things. If you are happy because you have been saved, then with that joy go
out to save people who are praying to be saved. That is the best way to repay the favor. Strive courageously for
the salvation of others."
Kosaburo firmly pledged to strive for the path of single-hearted salvation of others by following Oyasama's
words.

73. Holy Fire for Invocation

On September 22, 1880, the Buddhist ritual of burning a holy fire for invocation was being performed in front of
the main gate as part of the opening ceremonies for the Tenrin-O-Kosha. Oyasama, wearing Her usual red
garments, appeared at the six matted room located east of the north raised room which had the dais. She sat down,
watched the proceedings for a short while with a smile, and then returned to Her room.
Concerning the establishment of the fraternity, Oyasama previously had said:
"If you do such a thing God shall withdraw."
Despite Her words, Shuji established the fraternity at the risk of his life. When one considers Oyasama's
acceptance of Shuji's sincerity by Her gracious presence at the invocation, one cannot help but think of Her
boundless parental love and be filled with deep emotion.

74. Following God's Path

Oyasama vigorously urged the performance of the Service in the autumn of 1880. When people were hesitating to
comply with Her words because it was a period of strict vigilance and interference by the police, Oyasama sternly
urged them to comply through this Timely Direction:
"Crushing God's path by excessive concern for man's obligations is not the path at all. The true path consists in
standing up for the path of God, not for the path of man. Sah, will you crush the principle of God and stand up
for the principle of man? Will you not stand up for the principle of God rather than the principle of man? Now
answer one of these."
After discussing the matter, everyone decided to make a firm resolution to perform the Service. However, there
was no definite assignment as to who was to perform the Kagura Service, although they had been practicing the
dance movements individually. They decided to ask Oyasama about this matter.
Oyasama already had chosen the performers for the women's musical instruments. They were Yoshie Iburi for
the shamisen, Naraito Ueda for the kokyu and Tomegiku Tsuji for the koto. However, the men's musical
instruments had not been practiced either individually or as a group. Since it was so sudden, they discussed what
should be done. It was clear that they would not be able to choose the performers themselves, so they decided to
ask Oyasama about this matter also. They received the following words from Oyasama:
 "Sah, sah, musical instruments, musical instruments. For the present, even if you play 'two' in the place of 'one,'
or 'three' in the place of 'two,' God will forgive. God will accept the harmony of the hearts of the performers.
Understand this well."
Everyone was relieved to hear this, and they all performed joyously. Tamezo Yamazawa danced all twelve
chapters. It took place in the eight matted room just south of the north raised room in the building called the Place
for the Service.

75. This is Tenri (The Reason of Heaven)

In the fall of 1879, Bunkichi Nakagawa, who lived at Honden in Osaka, suddenly contracted an eye disease and
his condition became so serious that he was in danger of losing his sight. Umejiro Izutsu, his neighbor, without a
moment's delay began praying for Nakagawa's recovery from the disease. Nakagawa was marvelously healed
within a period of three days and three nights.
One day in 1880, Bunkichi Nakagawa visited the Residence to express his gratitude for having been saved.
Oyasama received him and said:
"I welcome your seeking the parental home and returning here. Let us have an arm-gripping contest, shall we?"
Nakagawa, who habitually boasted of his strength and had even participated in amateur sumo-wrestling
matches, could not refrain from smiling wryly for a moment upon hearing Her words. He could not, however,
refuse Her and so he stretched forth both of his muscular arms.
Oyasama then quietly gripped Nakagawa's left wrist and instructed him to grip Her left wrist as tightly as he
could with his right hand. As instructed, Nakagawa gripped Oyasama's wrist with all his might. Then, contrary to
his expectations, he felt a sharp pain in his left arm as though it were about to break. He cried out, "I give up!
Please, forgive me!" Then Oyasama said:
"You need not be surprised. If a child puts forth all his strength, the parent also must put forth strength. This is
the reason of heaven. Do you understand?"

76. Peonies in Full Bloom

The following is a story which Tane Izutsu heard from her father.
Umejiro Izutsu thought Oyasama must be bored since She was always sitting silently on the dais. He wanted to
take Her sightseeing, and said to Her, "Surely, you must be bored." Then, Oyasama, holding out one sleeve, said
to him:
"Place your face here."
Umejiro did so and he saw beautiful peonies in full bloom as far as his eyes could see. It was the season of
peonies. He was filled with awe, realizing that Oyasama could see anything in any place at Her own will.

77. Chestnut Festival

One day Oyasama said to Rin Masui:
"The ninth of September is said to be the day of the Chestnut Festival. The Chestnut Festival is for sufferings to
disappear. The bur of the chestnut is rough and prickly. Take away the bur and inside it there is a shell and then
there is a bitter coating. Shell it, then peel the coating, and you will find a tasty nut. If a man listens to the truth
and discards his bur and his bitter coating, his mind will become indescribably delicious."
78. A Rich Man's Residence
This is a story that Oyasama told Kiku Masui:
"Those who live in this Residence—if they want to eat good food, wear good clothes, and live in good houses,
then they will not be able to stay in this Residence.
If only they do not think of eating good food, wearing good clothes, or living in good houses, will every daily
need be met in this Residence. This is the real 'rich man's residence' in the world."

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."

80. The Two of You Together

In 1880 or 1881, Tamezo Yamazawa, then twenty-four or twenty-five years old, returned to the Residence with his
brother, Ryozo. Oyasama, who sat in the raised room in those days in the building called Place for the Service,
said to them:
"Try to pull me down from here, the two of you together. I do not mind falling off,"
and She stretched out Her hands.
They hesitantly held Her hands, one of them Her right hand and the other Her left one. They pulled Her hands as
they were told, but Oyasama remained sitting straight not even slightly disturbed. Instead, the harder they
pulled, the closer they were drawn to Her. They were astonished and realized that She was really more than
human and indeed the Shrine of God the Parent.

81. Now, Help Yourself

Sasuke Uehara, accompanying his sister Ishi, and his uncle Sakichi and his wife, returned to Jiba on May 14,
1881. They were happy to be granted an audience with Oyasama. Oyasama was very pleased. She Herself served
to each of them small dishes containing bamboo shoots, young taro, and burdocks cooked in soy sauce, and then
poured the offered sake into a sake cup that had the design of the moon and sun with a cloud.
"Now, help yourself,"
She offered.
At that time Sasuke was a vigorous young man in his thirties. Oyasama, after explaining various things about
the teachings to them, quickly and gently extended both of Her hands, grasped Sasuke's wrists, and said:
"Try to shake them loose."
Sasuke felt his body grow numb and all he could do was to bow deeply saying, "Mercy, please."
His sister, Ishi (later Ishi Tsujikawa), in her later life reminisced, "Her solemn appearance at that time can in no
way be expressed with words. I was awestruck and I instinctively bowed my head."
Sasuke, who at that time had been personally shown the warm parental love and the power of Oyasama, began
to hold a firm belief and strived for the single-hearted salvation of mankind.
82. Yoisho!*
In 1881, the stones for the Kanrodai were being brought from Takimoto Village just east of Jiba. Umejiro Izutsu of
the Shimmei-gumi Fraternity was instructed to haul the stones down a mountain, and Shirobei Umetani of the
Meishin-gumi Fraternity was to haul them from the base of the mountain to the Residence. Tokichi Ueda and
more than ten other men from the Hyogo Shimmei-gumi Fraternity, who happened to be at the Residence just at
that time, joined Shirobei's group to haul the stones between Furu and the Residence.
The stones were being carried on nine carts. One of them got stuck at the gate of the Residence. At that very
moment, Oyasama appeared from Her room and shouted:
"Yoisho!"
Upon hearing Her voice, everyone pushed together with all their might and the cart rolled in easily. All were
deeply moved by the solemn and inspiring presence of Oyasama.

*Heave!"

83. Many, Many Years

Yosaburo Miyamori received an urgent call from Oyasama while he was working in the rice fields of the
Residence. It was so unexpected that he wondered what it was all about. He hurried to Oyasama in his work
clothes. Oyasama bestowed the sazuke on him then and there.
"Thank you for having worked these many, many years,"
were the words given to him by Oyasama in appreciation.

Note: It was in May 1881 that Yosaburo Miyamori was granted the sazuke.

84. In the Southern Half of the Province

When Koiso Yamanaka was to be married to Ihachiro Yamada of Deyashiki in Kurahashi Village, her father,
Chushichi, asked Oyasama about the marriage. Oyasama said to him:
"I am not sending her to be married. Rather, I am sending her to the southern half of the province to spread the
teachings as none have spread it there yet. However, it all depends on her heart."
The Yamanaka parents were hesitant about this request because the Yamada family was living deep in the heart
of the mountains, but Koiso was married on May 30, 1881, after saying, "Let me be married as God desires."
Koiso then found that Isa Yamamoto, a relative of the Yamada family had been bedridden for more than five
years due to the paralysis of her limbs. Koiso prayed to God for her recovery and repeatedly gave her sacred
water. The following year, when Chushichi Yamanaka came to visit them, Isa was marvelously healed. She rose to
her feet, all her joints cracking, and was able to walk by herself. In her village Koiso also found a girl named
Naragiku Tanaka who had been blind for more than seven years. Koiso prayed to God for the girl's recovery, each
time washing her eyes with sacred water. Soon, she received God's blessing. The mention of Koiso's cure of the
cripple and the blind girl became so well-known throughout neighboring villages that many people came to see
her one after another.
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-
O-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.

86. Great Salvation

Jyujiro Okamoto's eldest son, Zenroku, and his wife, Shina, of Nagahara Village in Yamato Province, had had
seven pregnancies. Of these, only two children, the eldest son, Eitaro, and the youngest daughter, Kan (who later
became Yuki Kami), survived. The other five had either died early deaths or been miscarriages. The eldest son,
Eitaro, was saved from fever in 1879, and as a result Zenroku and his wife became very zealous in their faith.
Shina faced a serious problem around August 1881. A messenger came from a farmer named Tarobei Imada,
who owned about fifty-four ares of rice fields in Shoji Village, about four kilometers north of Nagahara Village,
with the request: "We have just had our first son, but are having difficulty nursing him because of lack of milk. We
realize this is an unreasonable request, but will you please take care of the child and nurse him at your home?
Please agree to take care of him."
Unfortunately Shina had no more milk of her own by then, so she could not accept this other child. They
declined, saying, "We are very sorry, but we cannot take care of the child." "But please, couldn't you somehow
take care of him?" was the repeated plea. Being at a loss for an answer, Shina said, "Then let me first ask
Oyasama." She returned to the Residence at once and was received by Oyasama, who said:
"No matter how much money you may have, or how much rice you may have in the storehouse, it cannot be
given to an infant. There is no greater salvation than to care for and raise another person's child."
"Yes, I understand. But I don't have any milk anymore. Should I undertake to care for child even then?" Shina
inquired. Then, there were these words from Oyasama:
"If you just have a sincere desire to take care of the child, God will give whatever is needed because the gift is
in the omnipotent hand of God. You need not worry."
Hearing these reassuring words, Shina resolved to rely on God completely. So she told the Imadas, "I will take
care of the child."
The child was brought from Shoji Village at once. Shina was astonished when she saw him. He must have been
fed only on rice water and sugar water. He had been one month premature, and was now a little more than three
months old, skinny, without the strength even to cry, just barely able to whimper.
Shina embraced the child and tried to nurse him, but milk would not flow so soon. The child became peevish
and bit her nipple. She was worried for a while because she did not know what to do.
This continued for two or three days, and then, marvelously, her milk began to flow. Thanks to her milk the
child grew stronger day by day and became quite healthy. Later Shina took this robust child to the Residence.
Oyasama embraced him and rewarded Shina with these words:
"Shina, you have done a good thing."
Shina personally experienced the truth that one can receive God's blessings by obediently following Oyasama's
words. Shina was then twenty-six years of age.

87. Because People Like You

Oyasama had previously told Izo Iburi to return quickly to the Residence to live. But because he then had three
children, when he thought of the future he worried so much that he could not make the decision to move.
His second daughter, Masae, soon became afflicted with an eye disease, and his only son, Masajin, suddenly
became unable to talk. Recognizing this as a warning from God, their mother, Osato, saw Oyasama and told Her
Although we wished to return to the Residence as soon as possible, we could not make the move because the
people of Ichinomoto were so kind to us. Your words are uppermost in our minds as we reluctantly pass each day
without complying with your wish." Oyasama said to her:
"Because people like you, God also likes you. While people regret to see you leave, God also regrets not seeing
you here. As long as people are fond of you, God also sees promise in you."
Osato then said, "However, our children are still so small. Please wait until they grow older." Oyasama told her:
"It is because you have children that you have joy and promise. There would not be such joy and promise if
there were only the parents. Please return quickly."
"We will certainly return," Osato promised. By the time she arrived home the two children had already received
wonderful blessings and had completely recovered their health. In September 1881, Osato and the two children
who had been saved preceded Izo in living at the Residence.

88. From a Dangerous Place

The events of this story took place in late autumn of 1881. Unosuke Tosa was saved from near shipwreck close to
Okushiri Island off Hokkaido. His ship docked at the port of Osaka, and on the same day he returned to Jiba to
offer his thanks to God. He worshiped before the Kanrodai, offered his thanks to God the Parent, and vowed to
carry out his firm resolution in the future.
He was so happy that he told the seniors at the Residence in detail the story of his having been saved. One of
those who was listening, interrupted and asked whether that event had occurred at a certain time on a certain day
in a certain month. When Unosuke calculated the date of his salvation, he realized it was exactly the same day.
According to the senior, "Oyasama opened the sliding door and stood for a while facing north, waving an open
Service fan, calling to someone to come,
'Ho there! Ho there!'
I thought it was very strange. Now that I have heard your story, I understand what She was doing." At this, Tosa
was so touched with emotion that he could not contain himself. He made his appearance before Oyasama and,
bowing deeply before Her, offered his gratitude, "Thank you for saving my life." His voice trembled, and his eyes
were so filled with tears that he could not clearly see Oyasama's face. Oyasama spoke to him in a gentle voice and
comforted him, saying:
"I brought you home from a dangerous place."
Tosa then and there decided to leave his lifelong work as a seaman and made a firm resolution to dedicate his
life to the single-hearted salvation of others.

89. Leftover Sweet Sake

It happened that Oyasama's hand would not bring Her chopsticks up to Her mouth, although She tried hard, if
someone had secretly tasted the food She was served.
A vendor of sweet sake from Tambaichi usually came around at the time when people were waking up from
their midday naps. One day, in 1881, the vendor was passing by the Residence. Tamae, then five years old, found
the vendor and said to Iye Murata who was with her, "Let's buy some for my grandma." Iye then bought some and
served it to Oyasama. Oyasama was very delighted with Her granddaughter's affectionate thought, and took the
cup of sweet sake into Her hands.
Astonishingly, however, when Oyasama lifted the cup to Her mouth, it continued upward, and She could not
drink the sweet sake after all. Seeing this, Iye said to Tamae, "Dear, we should not have served it to Oyasama,"
and humbly withdrew the cup.
This happened because on that day the vendor had been to various places and by the time he came around to the
Residence the sweet sake had become like leftovers.

90. Deeper in the Second Generation than in the First

When Tamezo Yamazawa began to serve Oyasama in 1881, Oyasama instructed him in the following manner:
"God says, 'Showing innen to parents, God waits for children to appear.' Do you understand? Therefore, virtue
is more deeply planted in the second generation than in the first one, and deeper still in the third than in the
second. By becoming ever deeper, it will become virtue which lasts forever. It depends on the mind of a man
whether it lasts for one generation only, or for two or three generations, or forever. By the continuation of this
virtue even a bad innen becomes a good one."

91. Dance All The Way Home

In 1881, when Shina Okamoto was staying at the Residence, Oyasama said to her:
"Shina, let's take a bath together, shall we?"
They took a bath together and Shina felt very honored and almost unworthy of it. It was, for her, an
unforgettable and moving experience.
Several days later, Shina returned to the Residence. Oyasama said to her:
"Well! Welcome home! Quickly untie your sash and take off your kimono."
Wondering what would happen, Shina, timid with respect, took the kimono off. Oyasama also disrobed Herself.
Oyasama clothed her from behind with the red garment still warm from Her own body.
Shina felt extreme honor and delight which was absolutely inexpressible. When Shina took the kimono-
undergarment off, folded it nicely, and put it before Oyasama, Oyasama said:
"Wear it when you go home. On your way home through Tambaichi town, wear it over your kimono and dance
all the way."
 Shina was surprised by Her words. Her delight faded away, taken over by anxiety. She thought that by doing so
she would only make a laughing stock of herself among the people in the town. She also feared that she would not
be able to get home on that day because in those days worshipers at the Jiba were often taken to the police.
However, she soon made up her mind and said to herself that she would not care whatever happened nor would
she mind it even if she were not able to get home that day. She put on the red kimono-undergarment over her
kimono and set out. On her way home through Tambaichi she danced the teodori with all her heart and soul.
Before she was aware of it, she was at the edge of town. At that time she realized that nothing bad had
happened, thanks to divine protection. She felt relieved and her joy was doubled by the fact that she had been
given the red garment by Oyasama and she had fulfilled her given mission. Deeply moved, Shina thanked
Oyasama from the bottom of her heart and hugged the red garment tightly against her bosom.

92. Husband and Wife Together

Shirobei Umetani was received by Oyasama one day soon after his conversion to the faith. Oyasama told him:
"Husband and wife together, have faith in God."
As soon as he got home, he said to his wife, Tane, "Since I have just been taught that it is not good if only one
of us follows this path, you and I must both follow the path together." Whereupon Tane obediently agreed. So just
as he was taught by the seniors, Shirobei and Tane filled a rice bowl with water, faced the Jiba, chanted, " Namu,
Tenri-O-no-Mikoto," three times, and each drank half of the water as a token of their vow that as husband and
wife they would always be together in their faith.

93. Eight Cho* Square

One day Oyasama was gazing out of the south window of Her room in the Nakaminami-Gatehouse and looking at
the vast expanse of bamboo thickets and rice fields. Suddenly She said to the attendants:
"Someday this neighborhood will be filled with houses. Houses will line the street for seven ri** between Nara
and Hase. One ri square will be filled with inns. The divine Residence will become eight cho square."

* Eight cho equals 872 meters.

** One ri equals about four kilometers.

Note: It is taught in the Osashizu:

"It will not do to think of small things. You do not understand that when the years accumulate step by step, this place will

become eight cho square."

November 17, 1894.

"I have said, 'It is necessary to go through many years, many years.' I said, 'One ri square must become inns.' I also said, 'One

ri square is still too narrow.'"

Timely Direction: February 6, 1893.

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.

95. The Path of Eight Hundred Kilometers

Chuzaburo Koda of Kawahigashi Village in Yamato Province was employed at the Agricultural Experiment
Station in Niigata Prefecture. When he went home on vacation late in 1881, he found that the condition of his
second daughter, Riki, who had been suffering from an eye disease for two or three years, had become worse.
Although medical attention was given, it was said that it was only a matter of time before she would lose her
sight.
The new year, 1882, arrived with the whole family being deeply concerned. Early in the year, they were about to
decide that they should offer prayers at one of the most famous temples of the country, the Kanzeon at Mount
Otowa in Yamato Province. Yosaburo Miyamori of the same village heard of their plan and visited the Koda
family. Miyamori had already been a follower in the faith for several years. The family had him offer prayers for
Riki at once. The next morning she was able dimly to see her fingers and cookies as well.
As a result, they gave up the idea of going to Mount Otowa, and instead, the parents and Riki returned to the
Residence on March 5th. They stayed there for seven days. On the third day, Chuzaburo's wife, Saki, offered this
prayer: "I will offer one of my eyes as a sacrifice, so please save at least one of the eyes of my daughter." From
that night on, Saki gradually lost the sight of one eye. In exchange, Riki gradually regained the sight in one of her
own eyes, until it was fully recovered. Chuzaburo was so moved by this wondrous blessing that for the first time
he made a firm resolution to have faith in God.
He submitted his resignation to the prefecture because he wished to serve God at the Residence, and because
travel between Niigata and the Residence took sixteen days. However, the prefecture refused his resignation and
ordered his return. At a complete loss, Chuzaburo asked Oyasama, "What should I do?" She told him:
"There is a bridge of the path which is eight hundred kilometers long, and there is no one but you to cross that
bridge."
Koda was filled with emotion by these words. He made a firm resolution from the depths of his heart to spread
the fragrance of the teachings and to save others. He departed on March 17th. Thus, he took the first step of
mission work in Niigata Prefecture.

96. Those Who have an Innen

Oyasama spoke these words to Tamezo Yamazawa in 1881 or 1882:
"God brings people of an innen and protects them. God says 'Among the people brought here together, those
whose hearts ring in harmony are to be united and live in this Residence.'"
97. Tobacco Field
Once Oyasama said to Kozaburo Murakami of Izumi Province:
"I will show you a vision."
She showed him the inside of the sleeve of the red garment She was wearing. Kozaburo looked into the sleeve
as instructed. There he saw a scene of deep green tobacco leaves growing luxuriantly in his tobacco field. When
he came back home from the Residence, he went straight to his tobacco field. There he saw the tobacco growing
just as luxuriantly as he had seen it inside Oyasama's sleeve. Feelings of relief, joy and gratitude welled up within
him and before he knew it, he was bowing deeply toward the Residence.
This incident took place when Kozaburo returned to Jiba during the time he had been directing his efforts solely
toward saving others and had entrusted the farming entirely to his hired hands. The hired hands worked diligently
at growing the tobacco plants and wanted Kozaburo to see the luxuriant field at least once. However, as Kozaburo
was devoting all his time to the salvation of others he did not have any spare time to go and see the field.
Naturally he was concerned; the thought of the tobacco field was always in the back of his mind. Kozaburo was
all the more deeply moved by the omnipotent workings of God the Parent and by God's parental love in taking
care of God's children.

98. For Eternity

When Izo Iburi gave up his house in Ichinomoto and moved to the Residence on March 26, 1882, Oyasama gave
him these words:
"I had you live in here, deciding that from now on you are the members of the one household and one family.
Do not move for eternity. Do not be moved."

99. Wedding in Osaka

One day in March 1882, Unosuke Tosa abruptly left his home in Muya without telling his wife, carrying only the
shrine of God the Parent on his back. This move was made after a long struggle with his adoptive parents who
strongly opposed his single-hearted devotion to missionary work. Afterward he began to spread the teachings at
Sangenya in Osaka.
Sometimes he felt forlorn and helpless when he thought of Masa, his wife, whom he had left at home, but he
was glad that he was living closer to Jiba. It was his greatest joy to see Oyasama by returning to Jiba. Because
nothing was more pleasant for him than being with Her as long as possible, he kept staying at the Residence. On
such a particular day, Unosuke was weeding at the Residence in the warm spring sun. He was not aware that
Oyasama was standing behind him until She spoke to him smiling:
"You had better return to Osaka quickly. There will be a wedding there."
Unosuke said, "Yes, I see," but he had not the slightest idea who was going to be married.
Thinking about Oyasama's puzzling remark over and over, he returned to his lodgings in Osaka and found a new
pair of woman's clogs at the entrance. His wife, Masa, was there. She clung madly to her husband's chest and wept
and wept without saying a word. After a long time she looked up at him and tearfully begged him to return,
saying, "Please come back to Muya with me. Your missionary work will be no problem. Forgive me, I've been so
weak until now. But now I am resolved. I will persuade my parents to allow you to pursue your life of faith."
Because Tosa knew well what would happen if he should return home and being determined not to be swayed
by her love, he gave no answer. It was at that time that he suddenly recalled Oyasama's words which he had heard
at Jiba. He had not even considered being reinstated in the Tosa family. But when he thought it over carefully, he
was able to understand the true meaning of Oyasama's words that it was he himself who was the groom in Osaka.
He finally resolved, "I was completely wrong in forsaking my family because of their opposition to my life of
faith. I shall again return home and no matter how great the hardships may be, I will accept them all joyfully.
Single-heartedly I will dedicate myself; even if I should die, I will be happy."

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-O-no-Mikoto" on a sheet of paper which he hung in the alcove. He prayed intensely,
chanting, "Namu, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto, Namu, Tenri-O-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.

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.'

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.

103. Without Erring

Komakichi Komatsu, who lived in Osaka, returned to Jiba for the first time in July 1882, led by Tokichi Izumita,
his spiritual guide, in order to offer his gratitude. This was soon after his recovery from cholera and the beginning
of his faith.
When Komakichi was granted an audience with Oyasama, She personally handed him an amulet and spoke
these gracious words:
"I appreciate your return from the bustling town of Osaka to the remote countryside. You are eighteen and still
young. Go through life without erring. As long as you do not err, in the end, your happiness will exceed all
bounds."
Komakichi kept these words as his lifelong motto and remained constant in them throughout his life.

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.

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."

106. Symbolic Serving

Oyasama was confined in Nara Prison for twelve days starting from October 29, 1882. While Oyasama was in
prison, Shirobei Umetani stayed at the Residence. Every day during the twelve days, he got up before dawn and
walked some eleven kilometers to Nara Prison with Shinnosuke, the first Shimbashira, and other seniors to bring
things to Oyasama. About the time they arrived at Nara, the sky would begin to turn gray. It would be about nine
o'clock when they returned to the Residence after delivering the things.
One day, the party of three were attempting to pass the gate of the jail without greeting the gatekeepers. They
were stopped and threatened that they would not be allowed to go home because they had not greeted the
gatekeepers. The three persons apologized and knelt down with their hands in the muddy ground, after which they
were allowed to go.
At the Residence, visitors were harassed by police officers on guard at the entrance. In addition, different
officers would come to investigate as often as three times during a night, so that people in the Residence could
sleep for only two hours or so each night.
On November 9th, Oyasama was met by numerous persons when She returned to the Residence. She called
Umetani to Her and said:
"Shirobei, thank you very much for your trouble. I did not feel hungry at all, thank you."
 In the prison they could only deliver things for Oyasama and were not allowed to see Her. No one could have
told Her that it was Shirobei who had delivered the things. Therefore, Umetani wondered how She knew that it
was he.
While Oyasama was in prison, Shirobei's wife, Tane, in Osaka also prepared meals for Oyasama and served Her
symbolically every day, calling to mind Oyasama's hardship.
It was on the next day, the tenth, and thereafter that Shirobei was allowed to make personal inquiries of
Oyasama without an intermediary.

107. Eczema is a Troublesome Condition

The following took place in 1882 when Tane Umetani returned to Jiba. Tane, carrying her eldest daughter, Taka
(later known as Taka Haruno) who was just a baby at that time, was granted an audience with Oyasama. This baby
had festering eczema all over her head.
Oyasama promptly took the baby into Her arms, saying:
"Now, let Me see."
Looking at the festering eczema, She said:
"What a pity, poor thing!"
She brought out a piece of paper that She had placed under Her cushion in order to smooth out the wrinkles.
Then, with Her fingers, She tore off little pieces, licked them and placed them on the baby's head. She then said:
"Otane, eczema is a troublesome condition, isn't it?"
Tane was startled. There was something in what Oyasama said that made her reflect, "I must learn not to be
troublesome to others. Always with a pure mind I will do my best to make others happy."
Then, with gratitude, Tane thanked Oyasama and went back to Osaka. One morning after two or three days had
passed, Tane suddenly noticed that the affected skin had separated from the baby's head, looking as if it were a
cotton cap. The whole mass of skin that had been oozing with pus was stuck to the paper put on by Oyasama, and
had lifted up from the baby's head just as if a cap had been removed. Thus the baby had marvelously received a
divine blessing. The new skin had already formed thinly over her head.

108. The Roads to the Summit Are Many

Seijiro Imagawa had been suffering from a stomach ailment for many years. He was an ardent follower of the
Hokke sect. He invited Buddhist priests to his home to pray for him and he himself also prayed all the time.
Although others were saved by this, his own stomach ailment did not get any better. One day, the wife of a
neighborhood bamboo dealer said to him, "Since you are devoted to Hokke you might not listen but there exists a
wonderful god." He replied, "I will listen to the talk once to learn what is taught." Thus, it was arranged for him to
listen to the teachings of the path. He then received the marvelous divine blessing through the three days and three
nights of prayers, and recovered completely from the stomach ailment which had bothered him for thirty years.
This was about 1882.
Thereafter, he completely ceased going to the Buddhist temple, and resolved to follow the path single-heartedly.
He returned to Jiba and when he had an audience with Oyasama, he received these wonderful words:
"Do you know Mt. Fuji? Its summit is one, but the roads to the summit are many. Whichever road you take, it is
the same."
 He was deeply moved by Her warm parental love.
Then, Oyasama asked:
"Did you come from Osaka?"
and, continuing, said:
"I understand Osaka has many fires. Even if a fire should get close, in some cases it will burn only so far and
then it will stop moving any closer. The reason it stops is because the direction of the wind changes. Because
the wind changes direction, a fire stops from coming."
She explained with the gesture of drawing a line with Her finger.
Later, on September 5, 1890, at the time of the great Shimmachi Fire in Osaka, the fire burned furiously toward
the Shimmei-gumi Fraternity at Itachibori. Everyone, beginning with Izutsu, the head of the fraternity, performed
the Prayer Service in earnest. Then, just as the wooden fence in the back edge of the lot was burned down, the
direction of the wind changed and the whole area of the Shimmei-gumi Fraternity remained untouched. Seijiro,
with deep emotion, recalled the words of Oyasama.

109. Yoshi, Yoshi

On one occasion, Yoshie Iburi (later Yoshie Nagao) asked Oyasama, "Why do we chant 'Yoshi, yoshi' at the end of
Choto hanashi and Yorozuyo?" Oyasama answered:
"You chant 'Yoshi, yoshi' to conclude Choto hanashi and Yorozuyo. And you must do so. There is nothing bad in
saying so, because it means 'it's good, it's good.'"

110. Souls Are Everliving

When there were no worshipers, Oyasama usually sat alone in Her room. She often smoothed out crumpled
wastepaper or folded paper packets for the sacred powder. When an attendant asked, "Do You ever feel lonely
sitting by Yourself?" Oyasama answered:
"I never feel lonely because Kokan and Shuji come to see me."
Occasionally, She would be heard talking as if with someone when really She was alone in Her room. She said
to Hisa Kajimoto, who was in attendance, late one night:
"My legs are feeling heavy as Shuji and Kokan have come home from afar. Please massage My legs."
On another occasion, Oyasama was having sweet rice wine. After drinking three cups, She said:
"Shozen and Tamahime are having wine with me."

Note: Hisa Kajimoto was married in 1887, becoming Hisa Yamazawa.

111. Being Awakened in the Morning

The following is one of the instructions which Oyasama gave to Yoshie Iburi:
"Early rising, honesty, and work. There is a great difference in merit between being awakened and waking up
someone else. Working in the shadows and praising others is honesty. If you do not put into practice what you
hear, you will become a lie. Work on top of work, saying to yourself, 'Just a little more, just a little bit more';
this is not greed, it is work that comes from true sincerity."
112. Amiability First of All
One day, Oyasama told Yoshie Iburi:
"Dear Yoshie, amiability is required of women first of all. Cheerfully to answer, 'Yes', to whatever one is told, is
of prime importance."
She added:
"Do not do anything that would waste another person's life.
"Do not waste even a single vegetable leaf.
"Leftovers will nourish you. It is not gluttony."

113. Lullabies
Oyasama was occasionally heard singing the following lullabies:
a) Benkei was raised in Arima Province.
Three, four and five,
Seven weapons on his back,
He hurried to the Gojo Bridge.
b) A small washbowl in his hand,
Jinjirobei drew water with a bucket,
Washed his hands and face,
And worshiped God. Shan, shan.

Sotaro Kajimoto, when in his twenties, heard this from Hisa Yamazawa.

114. You Went Through Much Difficulty

One day, Tokichi Izumita was held up by three highwaymen on the Jusan Pass. At that time the teaching, "A thing
lent, a thing borrowed," which he had often been taught, flashed across his mind. So he obediently took off his
coat, kimono, and everything just as he was told. Putting his wallet on top of his clothes, he knelt and bowed
respectfully before them. "Please take them all," he said. When he raised his head, the three highwaymen were
gone. They must have felt uneasy because he was too obedient, and they left without taking one single thing.
Izumita then put his clothes back on and continued to Jiba. When he was granted an audience with Oyasama,
She said:
"You went through much difficulty. Because you have achieved harmony in the family, I grant you the Sazuke
of Ashiki-harai. Receive it."
This was how Tokichi was granted the sazuke.

115. Devote Yourself Single-Heartedly to Saving Others

Zenkichi Tachibana, who became an official of the Shimmei-gumi Fraternity, began to believe after he was healed
of cataracts in April or May 1880, and soon afterward his father was healed of lumbago. For several years after
this, he was busily engaged in efforts to save others. Strangely enough, he was very healthy as long as he was
doing missionary work, but whenever he stayed at home, he did not feel well. One day, he asked Oyasama about
this. Then Oyasama taught him:
 "From now on you are to devote yourself single-heartedly to saving others. Do not be concerned about things of
the world. You need not know such things. The path is endurance and hardships."
Zenkichi held on to these words as tightly as to life itself, not forgetting for an instant; and he became more and
more single-heartedly devoted to saving others.

116. Come Alone

When people came to listen to Oyasama's talks, saying to others, "Come, let us go and listen to Her, come along,"
Oyasama was never pleased. Oyasama said:
"If you truly desire to listen to my talks, do not involve other people but come alone. The desire to listen must
come from your own heart."
When people came singly to visit Her, Oyasama would take great pains to teach them. Furthermore, She would
tell them:
"If there is anything you do not understand, please ask."
And when they asked, She would instruct them kindly.

117. With His Father and Mother

Shirobei Umetani returned to the Residence with his five or six-year-old son, Umejiro, in 1882 or 1883. When
they were received by Oyasama, who was wearing Her red garments, Umejiro said, "Daruma-san, Daruma-san."
He must have recalled the red-clad daruma doll in the well-known advertisement for tobacco of that period.
Shirobei was so embarrassed that he did not take Umejiro along the next time he returned to the Residence. Then
Oyasama asked:
"What happened to Umejiro? The path will be cut off."
After Shirobei received these words, Umejiro always returned happily to the Residence with his father and
mother.

118. On the Side of God

Kunisaburo Moroi returned to Jiba for the first time on February 10, 1883. When he was granted an audience with
Oyasama, She said to him:
"Put your hand down like this,"
indicating how by putting Her own hand on the tatami-mat with the palm down. When he did exactly as he was
told, Oyasama bent her two middle fingers, and with Her index and little fingers, pinched the back of his hand,
pulling up the skin. Then She said:
"Pull your hand. Try to free it."
He tried to free his hand, but he only made it hurt. He finally said, "I am overwhelmed." Then Oyasama said:
"Hold My wrist."
She let him grasp Her wrist. Oyasama then grasped his. Clasping each other's wrists, Oyasama said:
"Put your strength behind it."
And She added:
"Stop if I say ouch, all right?"
Then he squeezed Her wrist, but the harder he squeezed, the more his wrist hurt. Oyasama said:
 "You do not have any more strength, do you?"
His hand ached more and more as he clutched harder. So he said again, "I am overwhelmed." Then Oyasama
released Her hold and said:
"You really do not have any more strength? Twice as much strength is on the side of God."

119. Children Returning from Afar

One day in April or May 1883, a follower came to offer rice cakes. When an attendant presented them before
Oyasama, She said:
"Today some children are returning from afar, so leave some rice cakes for them."
Those who were there followed Her directions but were in suspense, wondering who would be returning. Then
that same evening, Takai, Miyamori, Izutsu, and Tachibana, who had been in Enshu doing missionary work,
returned. Moreover, the four said that they had arrived at Igaueno at about lunch time and had thought of taking
lunch there, but because they wanted to reach Jiba as early as possible, they had gone without lunch. Not only
were their legs tired but they were very hungry indeed. Feeling the warmth of Oyasama's parental love even in the
rice cakes which they ate, they shed tears of gratitude.

120. One in One Thousand

When Tamezo Yamazawa's left ear became badly swollen around the spring of 1883, Oyasama told him:
"I say, live in, live in. You are wondering when the time will come. It will soon come. Understand this well."
Moreover, Oyasama said to him:
"In whatever God has once said, there is no mistake, not even one in one thousand. The path shall become
exactly as God has said."
Tamezo recalled the words given to his father by Oyasama at the time of his father's illness. As a result, he made
a firm resolution to carry on his father's faith. In the meantime, his mother and elder brother were urging him to
settle down. So he asked Oyasama about this and received these words:
"Obey your elder brother as you would God and work for him for three full years. I shall accept it as if you had
returned and worked here."

121. New Kimono for Your Daughter

In early June 1883, Ihachiro Yamada and his wife, Koiso, returned to the Residence with their first daughter, Ikue,
in order to offer their thanks for Ikue's first birthday. Oyasama was very pleased and said:
"Please make a new kimono for your daughter."
And saying this, She gave them one of Her red garments.
Koiso took it home and used the material of its two sleeves to make the shoulders, sleeves and strings of Ikue's
new kimono. In late June they returned again to the Residence to offer thanks for the first wearing of the new
kimono.
It was only three days after Chobei Murata started out as a bean curd maker in a newly built house with a straw-
thatched roof.
Oyasama said:
"I wanted to see the water well of the bean curd maker, but I did not want to go alone. I hoped that someone
 like the little girl from Kurahashi Village would come. And just as I expected, you came."
Then She went out to see the well, carrying Ikue on Her back. Oyasama always talked in such a polite manner
not only to adults but to children as well. Returning from the well, She said:
"Thanks to you, I was able to see it."
The rest of Oyasama's red garment was placed in the Yamada family shrine as a symbol of worship.

122. As Long as There Is Virtue

A great drought struck all of Yamato in the summer of 1883. At that time, Isaburo Masui, who was still farming in
Izushichijo Village, was staying at the Residence every day to help with the farm work. By and by, a messenger
from his own home came to ask Isaburo to return home, saying, "At the village people are busy drawing water
into the rice fields. They are complaining that all the villagers are out doing the work except Isaburo. Can't you
come home just for a while to show your face?"
Isaburo had already resolved, "I do not care what happens to my own field," so he flatly refused, saying, "It was
very kind of you to come but I cannot leave," and sent the messenger back home. However, later, Isaburo thought,
"I am contented because I feel that it is the best thing for me to be able to put even a bucket-full of water into the
field of the Residence during this drought. But if my neighbors are discontented on account of this, it will not do."
So he reconsidered, thinking, "I already said 'no,' but I will go back and at least show my face," and he went to tell
Oyasama his decision. Thereupon, Isaburo received these words from Oyasama:
"Even if it does not rain from above, as long as there is virtue, I shall make water rise as vapor from the ground
below."
When he went back, the whole village was in great commotion day and night with everyone busily drawing
water from the wells in the fields. Isaburo and his wife, Osame, went out together to the fields and drew water
until late into the night. However, no water was drawn into Isaburo's own field; it was all drawn into the fields of
others.
Osame mixed the water she had received from the water hole near the Kanrodai with the water from her house,
and day and night, twice a day, she sprinkled it around her family rice field with a dried rice stalk. A few days
later, Osame, wondering how her family rice field was faring, made the rounds before dawn and to her surprise
found the field which she had not watered filled with water rising from the ground. Osame remembered afresh the
words of Oyasama and was deeply moved with the realization that Oyasama's words were indeed always true.
That year, the crop of the entire village was bad but the Masui family was blessed with a good harvest of about
twenty-two kilograms per are.

123. Is Man the Object?

Oyasama told Shirobei Umetani soon after he became a believer in the faith:
"Become a person with a gentle heart. Save other people. Change your habits and temperament."
He was hot-tempered by nature.
Shirobei was working at the Residence, plastering the wall of Oyasama's Resting House which was under
construction in 1883. When he heard people maliciously gossiping that "the mason from Osaka, who cannot get
work there, has had to come as far as Yamato for work," he became very indignant. In the middle of the night, he
quietly gathered his belongings and started to return to Osaka.
 Walking on tiptoes, he was about to leave through the main gate when he heard Oyasama cough from her room
in the Nakaminami-Gatehouse. "Ah! Oyasama!" he thought; his feet stopped and his anger disappeared.
Next morning, while he was having breakfast with the rest of the people at the Residence, Oyasama appeared
and said:
"Shirobei, is man the object? Or is God the object? Remember that God is the object."

124. A Drawstring Made of Wood Shavings

In 1883, during the time of the construction of the Resting House, Hisa Kajimoto would take a sewing lesson
every night from Oyasama.
One night, Hisa learned how to make a bag by sewing pieces of material one inch square together. But she could
not find any cord to use as a drawstring. Just as she was wondering, "What shall I do?" Oyasama said:
"Dear Ohisa, will you go and get those wood shavings?"
When Hisa brought the wood shavings, Oyasama skillfully braided them into a cord which She then threaded
through the opening of the bag.
Oyasama often carried a purse similar to this when She now and then visited the Kajimoto family of
Ichinomoto. On each occasion, She would take some sweets in the purse so She could give them to the children of
the family and also to the children of the neighborhood. The purses were of patches of various colors, such as red
and yellow. And for their drawstrings, wood shavings were sometimes braided into a cord, and other times, paper-
thin wood shavings were twisted into string.

125. Cannot See Ahead

Koyoshi Nakayama resolved to return to her parents' home because she thought her husband, Jyukichi, was too
easygoing and undependable. Just at that moment, she lost her eyesight. Then, she had Sato Iburi ask Oyasama for
instructions. Oyasama gave these words:
"Koyoshi cannot see ahead. Please give her that advice."
Upon hearing this, Koyoshi realized her error, and cried until her eyes were dry. The very moment she
apologized, she was able to see just as clearly as before.

Note: Koyoshi was married on August 27, 1883. The above incident is said to have occurred soon thereafter.

126. As the Symbol of Worship for the Fraternity

In November 1883, the Resting House was completed. Oyasama moved in at midnight on November 25th
(October 26th, lunar calendar). On the night of the twenty-sixth, Shirobei Umetani retired to a room in the
building called Konikai after he put all the tools away. He was going to go back to Osaka on the twenty-seventh.
In a short while, Gisaburo Nakata came carrying a short scarlet crepe kimono-undergarment on a small offering
stand and said, "Thank you very much for your recent contribution of labor. Oyasama said, 'This shall be the
symbol of worship for the Meishin-gumi Fraternity,' so receive it gratefully."
Soon afterward, Risaburo Yamamoto came, holding a red garment reverently, saying, "Oyasama said, 'Though
this is one of My used garments, please make it over for your children."' Yamamoto then gave the unlined silk-
crepe garment to Shirobei. Shirobei, so delighted and thankful for the two presents, reached for them, only to find
himself awakening from a dream.
After this, he was unable to fall back to sleep. When daybreak came, he began to get ready for the journey and
after finishing breakfast, he took a rest. Then Nakata came to him, holding a red kimono-undergarment reverently,
and saying, "Oyasama said, 'This shall be the symbol of worship of the Meishin-gumi Fraternity."' This message
was exactly the same as that of the one in his dream. He thankfully received it, wondering whether it was still a
dream. Shortly later, Yamamoto came into the room and repeated the other message in Shirobei's dream of the
night before: "Oyasama said, 'This is My used garment, but give it to your children.' "And Yamamoto placed the
unlined red silk-crepe garment before Shirobei, who received it gratefully. Again, soon afterward, Hisa Kajimoto
brought to him a set of two big rice cakes, each made of seven kilograms of rice, with a red rice cake placed on
top of a white one. She said, "Oyasama said, 'Give these to your children.' "
Oyasama's repeated expressions of warm parental love were imprinted in the deepest reaches of Shirobei's heart.
Furthermore, when he recalled his dream of the night before, he was strongly moved by the marvelous workings
of God the Parent.

127. Tokyo, Tokyo and Nagasaki

In the autumn of 1883, Sasuke Uehara returned to Jiba and was granted an audience with Oyasama. Unexpectedly,
Oyasama said to him:
"Tokyo, Tokyo and Nagasaki."
He was then presented with a red garment. Deep emotion on that occasion led him to firmly resolve his mind.
Later, he closed up his house and went alone to Tokyo to spread the teachings, taking the red garment with him.

128. Oyasama's Room

Until 1883, Oyasama lived in the ten matted room on the west side of the Nakaminami-Gatehouse, which was on
the left as one faced the building. By the window of that room was a large storage chest on which Oyasama
always seated Herself. The chest was about three tatami mats in size with a height of eighty centimeters,
containing various drawers and storage places. When someone visited Her with children, Oyasama would take
sweets out from within the chest and give them to the children.
In 1883, Oyasama moved to the Resting House. The building consisted of two parts separated by paper sliding-
doors: an eight matted room, and a four matted raised chamber in which Oyasama stayed. It is said that when this
separate building was completed, the followers were pleased because they could now offer Oyasama a larger and
more suitable residence than before.

129. Healing of the Skin Disease

In 1883, when Yasu, the eldest daughter of Seijiro Imagawa, was nine years old, she contracted a serious
contagious skin disease of the variety that became infected with pus. Accompanied by her parents, she returned to
Jiba and had an audience with Oyasama. Oyasama called to her:
"Come over here."
When Yasu timidly moved forward, Oyasama said:
"Come closer, come closer."
Finally, when Yasu had moved to Oyasama's side, Oyasama moistened Her own hands with Her mouth and then
stroked Yasu's whole body three times, each time chanting:
"Namu, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto."
Then, again three times and three times again, She stroked Yasu and chanted in the same manner. Yasu, although
young, was overwhelmed and felt the graciousness of Oyasama with her body and mind.
The next day, when Yasu woke up, the skin disease had marvelously disappeared, without leaving a trace. Even
though Yasu was only a child, she thought, "What a truly wondrous God!"
Yasu's feeling of gratitude for Oyasama's compassion in not minding even such a filthy condition as hers was,
grew deeper and deeper as she grew older. It is said that in performing her duty as a yoboku* she always recalled
this feeling of gratitude and strived to respond to the compassion of Oyasama.

* Yoboku: literally: 'timber', referring to those who engage in missionary work consisting of healing and spreading the teachings of

God the Parent.

130. Fine Dust

It was around 1883 that Naokichi Takai, who was in his twenties, was sent by Oyasama to save a sick person who
lived about twelve kilometers south of the Residence. When he was instructing the man about the cause of illness,
the man challenged Naokichi, saying, "I have done nothing wrong in my life." Naokichi said, "I have heard
nothing from Oyasama about such a situation yet. I will go back at once to ask." He then ran the twelve kilometers
back to the Residence to ask Her, and She explained to him in this manner:
"I will tell you. Suppose you have a new house built and you seal up the windows so that no one can enter. The
dust will still settle so thick on the floor that you can write a letter in it when you do not sweep it up for, say, ten
or twenty days. You know that a mirror will stain. You sweep piles of dust when it is noticeable, but leave fine
dust because it is hard to see. When the fine dust becomes embedded into a mirror, it will stain the mirror. Tell
this story to him."
Takai said, "I thank you very much," and hurried back the twelve kilometers to the sick person. He conveyed
Oyasama's words saying, "I was just told this story." After he was finished, the patient apologized to him, saying,
"I now understand what you say quite well. Sorry, I was mistaken." From that time the patient began to believe in
God and was completely cured of his disease.

131. On the Side of God

Oyasama said to Naokichi Takai, Yosaburo Miyamori, and others who worked at the Residence:
"Let's have a contest of strength,"
extending Her arm. She said:
"Press down as hard as you can."
However, not only were they unable to force Her hand down, but when Oyasama used just a little of Her
strength and grasped Her opponent's arm, his arm became numb and lost all strength. Then Oyasama said:
"Twice as much strength is on the side of God."
Further, She said:
"Can you do this?"
pinching the skin on the back of a young man's hand with Her forefinger and her little finger. The skin was
pinched so hard that it was very painful and it turned black and blue afterward.
On another occasion, She put Her hands together in perfect prayer position in the middle of Her back as we do
in front of our chest.
These are Miyamori's reminiscences.

132. To Be Eaten Deliciously

Nakata, Yamamoto, Takai and other people who worked at the Residence went to catch small fish in a nearby
brook from time to time. There they often caught loaches, chub, shrimps, and other brook fishes. When they
cooked them in soy sauce with vegetables and showed them to Oyasama, She picked up the biggest one and said,
as if She were talking to a child:
"Allow yourself to be eaten deliciously by everyone, and come back the next time, advanced."
Then She told the people present there:
"Thus, when you persuade the largest one to consent in this way, it is natural that afterward all will consent."
She further taught:
"Everyone, when you eat them, please say, 'delicious, delicious,' to them. If you eat them with delight, due to
the principle of giving joy, the next time they will be advanced. Each time they are reborn, they will progress
closer to man."
Oyasama gave these same instructions whenever there were rabbits, pheasants, mountain fowls and other game
given as offerings by various fraternities.

133. Consider the Future Long

Tamezo Yamazawa heard the following from Oyasama around 1883:
"If you think the future is short, you must hurry. However, if you think the future is long, you need not hurry.
"Haste will not result in being early. Slowness will not result in being late.
"Tanno* is true sincerity."

* Tanno: to rejoice in the perception of God's love in all life's experiences.

134. Recollections
About 1883 or 1884, Tamae, granddaughter, and Moto, great-granddaughter, who was two years younger,'*
appeared before Oyasama and begged Her, "Grandma, please give us a snack." Oyasama shaded Her eyes with
Her hand and looked toward them, saying:
"Ah, Tama and Omoto. Wait a minute, dears,"
and She took something out from the small cupboard in the back and placed it in the palm of their hands. It was
always sugar candies.
On another day, the two of them went to visit Oyasama as usual, and She said:
"Tama and Omoto, won't you two come here? Let me carry you,"
and She carried both of them on Her back. In their childlike minds both were impressed with the thought that their
grandmother was so strong.
 * Tamae was then seven or eight, and Moto was five or six.

135. With Round Minds

Around the year 1883 or 1884, Kosaburo Kubo, grateful for the cure of his son Narajiro's eye disease, returned to
Jiba with his wife and son. Oyasama, wearing Her red garments, was sitting calmly in Her room. Kosaburo, his
wife, and son, who had been led into the room by an intermediary on duty, knelt before Oyasama. They were
awestruck by Her reverent manner and were so overwhelmed with gratitude that they could not raise their heads.
However, Narajiro, being only a child of seven or eight, began to look around without restraint. Soon the grapes
placed beside Oyasama caught his eyes. As he was staring at them, Oyasama quietly picked up a bunch and gave
it to Narajiro, saying:
"It is nice of you to return. Here are some grapes for you. Like these, in the world, everybody is to relate to each
other with round minds. This is a path to be followed joyfully by looking forward to the delight in the future."

136. Now, Go Forth with This

Once when Oyasama had returned home from prison and had changed Her clothes, She gave the red kimono-
undergarment that She had been wearing to Gisaburo Nakata, who had accompanied Her home. Oyasama said:
"Now, go forth with this to save others. Any and all sick persons shall be saved."
Gisaburo was very happy. He placed the red garment in a kerchief and carefully wrapping it around his body, he
busily engaged himself in efforts to save others. When he lightly stroked the afflicted areas of a sick person with
the red garment, chanting, "Namu, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto, Namu, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto," everyone received God's
blessing at once, no matter how serious the illness had been.

137. A Single Word

Oyasama taught Isaburo Masui the following:
"Some are good within yet bad without, and there are also people with the opposite character. To be sure, anger,
selfishness and irritability are unadvisable. A single word is important. One achieves harmony in the family by
the way one breathes in and out to form the very words one speaks."
Further:
"Isaburo, you are gentle and sociable to everyone outside your house. When you are home and face your wife,
you become angry and shout at her; that is the worst thing you could do. Never do it again."
Masui suspected that his wife might have complained about him, but on considering that God knows and sees
through everything, he simply decided he would never get angry again. Thereafter, he was never irritated by
anything his wife said.

138. You Must Treasure Things

Oyasama endured hardships in police stations and prisons about seventeen or eighteen times. Gisaburo Nakata
accompanied Her several times.
On one such occasion, She had a scrap of writing paper brought in and She made twisted paper strings out of it.
With it, She wove a net basket to carry a sake bottle. It was very strong and beautifully made. When She left the
jail to return home, She gave it to Nakata, saying:
 "You must treasure things. You must make good use of everything. Everything is a gift from God. Now, keep
this as your family treasure."

139. With Flag Flying

Kunisaburo Moroi, with a group of ten persons, started to return to Jiba for the third time on January 21, 1884,
and arrived at Toyohashi on the twenty-second. The boat was not scheduled to leave till evening, so he took a
walk around town, and caught sight of a lantern maker. An idea occurred to him then, and he bought about a
hundred and twenty centimeters of extra wide Indian cotton. With this he placed an order for a flag with the
lantern maker.
The flag had a white background with a red sun in the center, within which was written, in bold black letters,
"Tenrin-O-Kosha." At the lower left was written in small letters, "Totomi Shimmei-gumi [Confraternity]." Flying
the flag at the front of the group, they crossed Ise Bay staying overnight at various places on the way, and arrived
at Tambaichi* on the twenty-sixth to spend the night at Shobei's inn, the Ogiya.
The next morning, the twenty-seventh, Moroi led a procession of six rickshaws. He rode in the first one with the
flag and was followed by five rickshaws with two persons in each of them. When they reached the road leading to
the main gate of the Residence, a police officer on guard questioned them, but since their answers were very clear,
he merely noted their names and addresses.
Arriving at the Residence, they learned that for several days Oyasama had been saying:
"Ah, I feel tired, tired. Children will be coming home from afar. Ah, I can see them coming with a flag flying."
The people around Her were wondering what it was all about. But when they saw the flag they were deeply
impressed by the fact that Oyasama was able to see the flag long before it came into sight.

* Tambaichi is now a part of Tenri City.

140. Thank You Very Much

Kyuhei Kontani was healed of blindness and returned to Jiba for the first time to offer thanks to God for the cure.
On the morning of February 16, 1884, Kontani and his wife, Take, accompanied by Koyemon Murata, were
granted an audience with Oyasama.
Take offered some money wrapped in a sheet of paper to Oyasama, who then said:
"You are Otake from Banshu?"
And raising the gift to Her forehead She added:
"Thank you very much."
Take is said to have told others later, "I would have wrapped more money if I had only known that Oyasama
would be so pleased at that time."

141. Buds Burst Forth from a Knot

In the beginning of March 1884, Genjiro Fukaya, who had withdrawn from the Meisei-sha [Confraternity],
returned to Jiba with Zensuke Uno in order to obtain permission for establishing the Shido-kai [Confraternity].
They left Kyoto in the evening and arrived at Nara around two o'clock in the morning. They reached the
Residence in the early dawn. They were granted an audience with Oyasama through the arrangement of Risaburo
Yamamoto, and asked Oyasama for permission to establish the [confraternity]. Then, there were these words of
Oyasama:
"Sah, sah, you have come to ask Me, to ask Me. Sah, sah, you must understand well. Sah, sah, even here at Jiba,
there has been festering and pressing within for the past forty-eight years. There have been cases of festering
and pressing. Moreover, from without, they will come again to press. Because there is a knot, there is a bud.
Buds burst forth from the knot. Understand well this principle. Step by step, step by step, this path has been
cleared through many hardships and trials to the present. I say to you, understand well."
These words did not clearly give permission. So, Fukaya and Uno asked Her permission again, saying, "The
five of us will follow God at the sacrifice of our lives." Then, Oyasama said:
"Sah, sah, sah, I accept your sincerity. I accept it. The seed of the Shido-kai [Confraternity], sah, sah, from
today, sah, sah, is planted. Sah, sah, you cannot imagine how large it will grow from now. Sah, sah, make those
of the [confraternity] understand this. Even if they do not, God is watching. Leave them alone, I say,"
and She gave Her approval. The true sincerity of the five persons, Fukaya, Uno, Sawada, Yasura, and Nakanishi
was accepted by God the Parent in this manner.

142. Narrowness Holds the Promise of Joy

This is a story about Genjiro Fukaya, who had an undying gratitude for the teachings. He grew more spirited in his
devotion as he walked over the land spreading the teachings and healing the sick. In those days, Genjiro had no
spare clothes, no charcoal for the fire, nor even food for the day. Despite such narrow circumstances, he often
returned to Jiba. Oyasama always said to him:
"Narrowness such as this holds the promise of joy. You should not be dissatisfied because things are yet small.
As virtue is accumulated, small things grow great. Even a large pine tree was once small. Be happy with what is
small. In the future, a great promising bud will sprout."

143. Children Are Dear

Whenever at a loss as to what to do, Genjiro Fukaya sought Oyasama's instruction. One day, he asked Oyasama
through an intermediary and received the following instruction:
"One year passes, and there is one year of virtue. Two years pass, and there are two years of virtue. When three
years pass, one becomes a parent. Once one becomes a parent, children are dear. No matter what, treat your
children with love and care. It will not do to hate your children."
After Genjiro received the above instruction, he loved his followers with ever increasing affection. To welcome
the followers on service days, he would prepare their meal, making sushi and rice cakes. Though these things may
sound like trifles, in this way, with his sincerity, he raised his followers step by step.

144. The Virtue Which Reaches Heaven

Oyasama was detained in Nara Prison from March 24 through April 5, 1884. Chuzaburo Koda was also kept in
custody for ten days. While imprisoned, Chuzaburo was ordered by a jailor to clean the toilets. When he came
back to Oyasama after he had finished cleaning, Oyasama inquired:
"Koda, what do you think of having been brought to this kind of place and even having been made to clean such
filthy places as toilets?"
 "I think I am serving God whatever I do. So I am very happy," he answered. Oyasama said:
"You are right. If you do something with gratitude, no matter how hard or unpleasant it may be, your virtue will
reach heaven. Virtue which is accepted by God will be turned into joy. But no matter how hard or trying the
work that you do may be, if you do it complaining, 'How hard it is, how I hate it,' the complaints will also reach
heaven and be returned to you in kind."

145. Always in a Comfortable Place to Live

Shobei Masuno's wife, Ito, visited her intimate friend, Cho, daughter of Yazaemon Koyama of Sannomiya in
Kobe, in February 1884. She received the teachings through Cho, who taught her, "Tenri-O-no-Mikoto is truly the
all-powerful God of wonders."
Ito had been suffering for three years from an eye disease. Several famous doctors had treated her, but they
could not help her. All she could do was to resign herself to the fact that she was destined to be blind. Shobei also
had been afflicted with beriberi for many years and medical treatment did not help him at all, so he too was
always in a gloomy mood.
The couple decided to try and listen to the teachings of God the Parent. A messenger was sent to Koyama
immediately to ask him to teach them. Thus they heard the teachings for the first time on February 15th. They had
an altar built at once and God was enshrined. The couple listened together to the talk: "Illness of the body is a
manifestation of the eight dusts. By repentance, one's illness will be cured without fail. Become of a sincere mind
and rely on God." Also, it was said that, "Foods are all gifts of God; there is not a single one that will poison you."
At these words, Shobei, who had quit drinking sake because of his illness, tried drinking the sake which had been
offered to God on that day. The next day, he felt invigorated. Similarly, after just one night, Ito's sight had
improved to the point where she could distinguish between black and white.
Together the couple offered their thanks to God. They also went to Koyama's home to share their joy with him.
But when they returned home, Ito was again almost blind even before nightfall.
The couple discussed the matter together. "We were blessed with God's providence in just one night. God will
surely save us if we make a firm resolution to unite our hearts and serve God for the rest of our lives," they
concluded. So the couple united their hearts and prayed for God's blessing, zealously performing the morning and
evening services. Shobei recovered in fifteen days and Ito received God's blessing in thirty days. Her eye disease
was cured and she was able to see.
With joyful hearts, they returned to Jiba for the first time on April 6th.Oyasama was to leave Nara Prison and
return home that day. The couple went to Nara to greet Her and accompany Her home. They stayed till the ninth.
Oyasama spoke to Shobei gently:
"Shobei, thank you for coming. You were destined to come to the Residence sooner or later."
He was so deeply moved by these words that he devoted himself to spreading the fragrance of the teachings of
God and saving others, traveling back and forth between Kobe and Jiba and neglecting his business. But whenever
he was away from Jiba his health was not as good as usual, so he asked Oyasama for instructions. She told him:
"You should always live in a place that is always comfortable."
Upon receiving these words, Shobei made a firm resolution to live at the Residence.
146. Thank You for Your Work
In the spring of 1884, twenty-three-year-old Tokijiro Saji enlisted in the army and was in the Third Company, First
Battalion of the Ninth Regiment stationed in Osaka. During that time his company marched to Yamato Province
and was quartered at the Masuya Inn in the Imamikado section of Nara City.
At that time, many people were going in and out of the detached room of the inn. The inn master pointed to
Oyasama, who was wearing Her red garments, and said, "That person is the living god of Shoyashiki." And
Tokijiro heard the teachings of the path from him.
Shortly thereafter, when Oyasama passed near where Tokijiro was standing, he was deeply moved by Her
presence, and politely bowed his head. Oyasama quietly acknowledged this and spoke to him:
"Thank you for your work."
The instant Saji saw Oyasama, he was awestruck with reverence at Her divine nature. The moment he heard Her
voice, he was touched by a feeling of intimacy and great yearning to follow after Her.
In later years, Saji always told people about his experience, "I decided at that moment to follow the path. The
reason why I, who had no mental or physical problems, came to believe in this path was entirely due to the deep
impression which I received at that time."

147. True Salvation

In 1882, Isa, wife of Yohei Yamamoto of Kurahashi Village in Yamato Province, who was then forty years old,
received such marvelous salvation that she was completely healed of a leg ailment of long duration. At the
moment of her healing, as she rose to her feet, her leg and hip joints gave out cracking sounds from the long
disease.
Yet the trembling of her hands did not cease. She worried about it very much, even though it did not seem
serious. She returned to Jiba in the summer of 1884. When she was received by Oyasama, she begged, holding out
her trembling hands, "May I ask you to breathe upon these?" Then Oyasama instructed Isa:
"It would be very easy to breathe upon them. But your trembling hands seem of little inconvenience since you
have already been saved from your serious leg ailment. Rather than being cured completely, it is better that you
have some trouble left to be healed; then you will understand the innen of your previous lives and be
continually reminded of it. This will lead to your true salvation. People tend to wish nothing but to be
completely cured. But what is most important is to gain virtue that will lead to true salvation. So I lend you this
book instead of breathing upon your hands. Have this book copied and read it every day."
Oyasama lent her a complete set of the seventeen parts of the Ofudesaki. From that time on her trembling hands
no longer bothered her. For the rest of her life, she read the Ofudesaki which had been copied for her by her own
father, and she spread the teachings to whomever she met. She was so blessed that she lived to be eighty-nine.

148. To the Clear Place

As the Shido-kai [Confraternity] started functioning and the members of the Meisei-sha [Confraternity] withdrew
one after another to join the newly established one, a senior of the Meisei-sha [Confraternity] directed someone to
go to Genjiro Fukaya to persuade him to return, thinking that if Genjiro should return, all the others would follow
him. When the messenger started to go down the stairs in order to leave, he suddenly fell to the floor and began to
writhe in great pain. A doctor was called in at once and he diagnosed the man's illness as cholera. The patient was
sent to a hospital immediately, but he died on the way. A man named Fujita returned to Jiba and asked Oyasama
about this situation. Oyasama's words were these:
"Because, without repenting his previous innen, he was going to try to pull that one back into the muddy water,
that one who had been pulled out of the muddy water to the clear place, so I cut him down."

149. When It Strikes Six This Morning

In the autumn of 1884, Unosuke Tosa returned to Jiba and stayed at the inn owned by Tsurukichi Fukui which was
located in front of the Residence. The following morning, before dawn, someone called out loudly, knocking at
the shutter of the inn. "Is Tosa from Awa staying here? If so, come out at once." It was Risaburo Yamamoto who
was calling. When Unosuke came out, Risaburo told him, "Tosa, something very important has happened. God
says that when it strikes six this morning, God is going to give you everything that the Shrine of Tsukihi wears.
You should be the happiest person in Japan." Risaburo then started to walk toward the Residence. Unosuke
followed him with excited anticipation, thinking it must be a dream.
Led by Risaburo, Unosuke entered the room of Oyasama's Resting House, and there he saw a neatly folded pile
of red garments on the tatami-mat. There was a complete set of clothing, which included a new crimson kimono, a
formal half-coat, kimono-undergarments and socks which Oyasama had worn up until the previous evening.
Unosuke was sitting, staring blankly, unable to believe his eyes and thinking that it must be a dream. "Do not
hesitate. God has given them to you," the seniors brought to his attention. Then he came to his senses, knelt, and
bowed deeply before the paper sliding-door of the raised chamber. Tears ran down his cheeks. There were no
words from the chamber; time went by in silence. "This is too much of an honor for a man like me to accept," he
said, overwhelmed. But at the kind persuasion of the people present, he finally said, "I will accept only the honor
of receiving the kimono-undergarment which was worn next to Her body." Holding the red garment tightly to his
heart, he rushed back to the inn and wept aloud for joy.

150. Persimmons
Unosuke Tosa, who was then returning to Jiba almost every month, departed on October 23, 1884, as head of a
pilgrimage party of thirty-three persons, and arrived at Jiba on the twenty-seventh. The party was granted an
audience with Oyasama, and as they were about to withdraw, She said:
"Wait a moment,"
and detained Tosa. Oyasama asked Hisa Kajimoto, Her granddaughter:
"Ohisa, please bring some persimmons."
Hisa brought a basketful of ripe persimmons. Whereupon, Oyasama selected one, peeled the skin and cut the
fruit into halves.
"Now, help yourself,"
Oyasama said as She presented one half to Tosa and She Herself ate the other half with keen enjoyment. Tosa
next began to eat his half of the persimmon.
Oyasama seemed to be very pleased as She watched him eat, but before he was finished, She peeled another
persimmon. Oyasama said:
"Now have another one. I shall have one also."
She gave half to Tosa and ate the other half Herself. Oyasama gave him one after another in this way. Tosa was
moved with emotion because he felt that Oyasama was eating the persimmons so that he would not hesitate in
deference to Her. Again She said:
"Do not hesitate."
Tosa said, "I have eaten till my stomach is full. The followers are waiting at the inn so I will take this piece and
let them share it." So saying, he politely accepted the last piece that was offered and as he was about to wrap it in
a piece of tissue paper, Oyasama signaled Hisa with Her eyes. Hisa filled both of his hands and his kimono sleeves
with persimmons. In this manner, Tosa received as many persimmons as he could carry.

151. Grant for Safe Childbirth

In the autumn of 1884, Kunisaburo Moroi requested the Grant for Safe Childbirth for the sake of his fourth child.
Oyasama was going to wrap the small sugar candies in a sheet of paper Herself to prepare the Grant when
Naokichi Takai, who happened to be there, said, "Please allow me to do it for you." He cut the paper and folded it,
but it was crooked. As Oyasama watched him fold the paper, She said neither that it was good nor bad. Then,
Oyasama took out a sheet of paper quietly and said:
"May I have a pair of scissors?"
One of the attendants handed a pair to Her, and Oyasama cut the paper squarely. Then She brought out about
one hundred and fifty grams of small sugar candies. She put three candies on each of the three sheets of paper and
wrapped them, saying:
"This is for the Grant for Safe Childbirth. A high pillow or a binder is not necessary. And, as this is the season
of persimmons, do not be afraid to eat them."
Oyasama then granted Moroi the rest of the candies, saying:
"These are also sacred gifts. Wrap them with three pieces each and give them to anyone who wishes to have
them."

152. Twice as Strong

It was rare to be admitted to an audience with Oyasama around 1884 as the police exerted very strong pressure in
those days. On one occasion, Unosuke Tosa returned to Jiba with twenty-five or six followers. An intermediary
told Oyasama, "He is here from Awa." Oyasama appreciated Tosa's effort and said:
"Welcome back from a distant province."
Continuing, She said:
"Tosa, you are here from a distant place, but if you do not realize the true strength of God, you will feel uneasy
in bringing back many followers. Why don't you try God's strength today?"
Oyasama told an attendant to bring a hand towel and, holding its border between Her thumb and index finger,
She asked Tosa:
"Now try and pull it."
After bowing respectfully, Tosa tried to pull it toward himself with all his might, but he could pull it no closer.
Oyasama said, smiling:
"Now, pull it harder. Pull with all your might. Do not hesitate."
Tosa pulled, his face reddening with the effort. However strongly he pulled it, he was unable to draw it close to
himself. Tosa was a strong-armed man by nature, and proud of the strength which he had gained as a sailor, yet he
could not draw the towel closer to himself. At last he bowed his head and said, "I am overwhelmed." Then,
Oyasama stretched Her right hand toward him and said:
"Try once more. Now hold Me by the wrist this time."
Tosa said, "Pardon me," and respectfully gripped Oyasama's hand. Oyasama said:
"Now more strongly. More strongly."
The more strongly he grasped, the more painful his hand became. So he admitted his defeat at last, and bowed
deeply before Oyasama, saying, "I am overwhelmed." Then, Oyasama said to him with a pleasant smile:
"This is God's strength. Twice as strong as yours."

153. The Day of Release

This incident took place around 1884. When the date of Oyasama's release from prison was known, people began
gathering in front of the prison gate long before the release was to take place. In spite of the police prohibition
against worshiping Oyasama, they clapped their hands in reverence each time they caught a glimpse of Her. Police
officers with drawn swords tried to stop them from doing so, saying, "We do not allow worship of a human being
as a god." But they clapped their hands behind the officers' backs. There was no way of stopping them from
worshiping Her. When the officers left, the worshipers said to each other, "We cannot refrain from worshiping
Her, as we were saved from death. We will worship even if we are thrown into prison."

154. God Brings Them to the Residence

Some of Oyasama's words are as follows:

"When police officers come, it is God bringing them home to the Residence. When I go to the police, it is God
taking Me there.

"They constantly come boisterously to interfere. This is like coming to dig for a precious jewel buried in the
ground.

"It is not that police officers come here to interfere. It is God bringing them to the Residence."

155. If You Are Saved

Sometime in 1884, at the age of thirty, Tsurumatsu, the eldest son of Matashiro and Seki Moriguchi of Kaichi
Village in Yamato Province, had very painful nodules of anthrax on his back. He went to see a doctor because they
had begun to form pus. The doctor, giving up on him, said, "This is the end of this man's life. Let him eat anything
he likes." Tsurumatsu returned to the Residence where he had come to worship before, and received a blessing
directly from Oyasama, who affixed to his sores a piece of sacred paper on which She had breathed.
Two or three days later, Tsurumatsu called out from his bed, "Will someone take a look? The bedding has stuck
to my body and will not come off." The family came and saw that the nodules had opened and the pus had drained
all over the bedding. Then, the family replaced the sacred paper with another which Tsurumatsu had received from
Oyasama. This was repeated several times and the anthrax healed completely.
When he returned to the Residence to thank Oyasama, She gave him these words:
 "So it is. How wonderful to be saved from death. If you are saved and are very grateful, then go out to save
others."
Tsurumatsu was deeply impressed by these words and thereafter devoted himself to spreading the teachings of
God and saving others.

156. The End of a Relationship

Saki Matsuda was born in Gojyono Village of Yamato Province. She had married once before but had divorced
her husband, and later remarried at the age of twenty-three.
In 1883, at the age of thirty, she came to follow the path because of her convulsions. Sometime during the
following year, a boil broke out on her right arm. The swelling had become so painful that she returned to the
Residence and asked to be saved. She was received by Oyasama who said:
"The end of a relationship is the end of a life. You must not think of wanting to slip away."
With these words, Saki resolved, "I will never slip away." Then Oyasama breathed upon the boil three times. At
that very moment, the pain in her right arm stopped and the swelling went down. Saki had been blessed with
God's marvelous providence.

157. These Are Good Hands

Whenever Oyasama was tired, granddaughter Hisa Kajimoto would say, "Please let me massage you."
"Please give me a massage,"
Oyasama would say. So Hisa would massage Her. When she was finished, Oyasama would take Hisa's hands and
say:
"These are good hands,"
and would gently stroke them. Oyasama also used to say as if She were singing:
"You do not need any money to be devoted to your parents. Just give them a massage to make them happy."

158. Monthly Period Is the Flower

Once when Rihachi Yamamoto was in attendance of Oyasama, he was asked by Her:
"Rihachi, won't you go and look outside?"
In those days, the Residence was under heavy surveillance by the police; therefore, thinking that Oyasama was
concerned, he looked around carefully but saw no one. He returned and reported, "Oyasama, there is no change
outside. There are pumpkins in the field yonder and in the field hither there are many eggplants." At that,
Oyasama patted Her knee and taught him:
"That is it. Did you notice those pumpkins and eggplants? They are big, aren't they? The plants bear fruit
because the flowers bloom. Not a single plant bears fruit without its flower. Now ponder deeply. The world says
woman is unclean, but there is nothing unclean about woman. Man and woman are equally children of God and
there is no discrimination. Woman has a duty, a duty to bear children. Her monthly period is the flower. Without
the flower there is no fruit. Understand this well. Take the pumpkin; if its big flower is gone, that is the end of
it. In many things, there are flowers that bear no fruit. But to bear fruit without any flower is impossible. Ponder
deeply. There is nothing unclean about it."
159. The Residence: The Place for Single-Hearted Devotion to God
One day, Shirobei Umetani, who had been sitting by Oyasama's side listening to the teachings of the path,
unintentionally began to speak of worldly pleasures. "Right now," he said, "there is a very popular play being
presented at Dotombori and...," Oyasama interrupted him here and admonished him:
"From the age of forty-one until today I have never spoken of anything worldly. God says there is no need in
this Residence for any talk other than the talks of single-hearted devotion to God."

160. Selecting a Persimmon

It was autumn, the season of persimmons. Osame Masui happened to be in the presence of Oyasama and there
was a tray full of persimmons in front of Her. In trying to select a persimmon from the tray, Oyasama looked at
them from this angle and that. Observing this, Osame thought, "Even Oyasama chooses the best in selecting a
persimmon." But the persimmon that She selected appeared to be the worst of the lot.
She then offered the tray with the other persimmons to Osame and said:
"Now, please take one."
Observing Oyasama's actions, Osame thought, "It is true that Oyasama makes Her selection, but what She
chooses is different from that which we humans choose. She chooses the worst one for Herself. This is Oyasama's
parental love. She leaves the tastiest ones for Her children, wishing them to have the pleasure. This is truly the
parental love of Oyasama." Osame was impressed by Oyasama's thoughtfulness and she ate her persimmon as told
by Oyasama, while Oyasama ate another.
Osame said that she would never forget for the rest of her life the way Oyasama was on that day.

161. To See Children's Enjoyment

Kiku Masui made it a rule to visit the Residence every day. However, there were some days when she could not
go there for various reasons. On such days, she never failed to abstain from eating salt or cooked food for the
whole day. When she returned to the Residence one day after she had abstained from eating salt and cooked food,
Oyasama told her tenderly:
"Okiku, you need not do such things. The Parent never wants to give children hardships. This God is never
happy to see the beloved children suffer. You need not do such a thing any more. God is pleased only to see
children enjoy themselves."
Oyasama knew everything, even things which She had not seen.

162. In Her Children's Stead

Oyasama usually did not leave the Residence, so it was not likely that Her legs would get tired. But Oyasama now
and then said:
"My legs feel heavy."
Or:
"My legs are tired."
On such days, without fail, followers returned to Jiba in good spirits. And all of them would say with joy, "We
are so blessed that we do not feel tired at all after the long walk up here." They did not feel tired because Oyasama
had taken their fatigue from them and suffered their weariness for them. This She did because of Her love for Her
children returning to the Residence, the place of single-hearted devotion to God.
Once, Iye Murata helped to farm the fields of the Residence for several days. Hard though she worked, to her
surprise, she did not feel pain in her hands or lower back nor did she feel tired at all. She then told Oyasama, "I am
not feeling tired although I have worked hard and long." Oyasama said:
"Indeed not. But my own legs felt heavy every day while you worked in the fields. Your fatigue had all come to
Me."

163. Brothers Among Brothers

Oyasama once instructed:
"All of you who are living in this Residence are brothers among brothers. When one of you goes out
somewhere, the rest of you should choose the best clothing from among your own, and have the person go out
wearing it. Furthermore, those who happen to have money should put it together, even if it is only one or two
sen from each, and give it as pocket money. And you should see him or her off in high spirits. This is what
brothers and sisters should do."

164. Deep Affection

The following is from the notes of the words of Oyasama as recorded by Ihachiro Yamada on March 28, 1885:
"You say 'God' and wonder where God is. God is within the body. Then again there is no discrimination
between those within the path and those without; that is, the people of the whole world are all children of God.
Think of everything in terms of your own child. Everything is solely from deep affection.
A farmer prays for a rich harvest; God considers how best to do this.
Again, only if the mind of man is accepted, God will exert the utmost strength to protect man forever."

165. Buy Dearly

Zenzo Miyata was so moved by a talk at the Shimmei-gumi [Confraternity] that he became a follower in the
summer of 1885. Led by Seijiro Imagawa, he returned to Jiba soon thereafter and was received by Oyasama.
Zenzo was then thirty-one years old, and running a hosiery shop at Shiomachi Street in Semba, Osaka.
Oyasama taught him with painstaking care. However, in the beginning, since Zenzo was a newcomer who had
not experienced a marvelous cure himself, he listened to the teachings very casually while smoking his pipe.
Then, without realizing it, he had put down his pipe and had slid forward into a deep bow. Among the words being
spoken at that moment, he retained only the following:
"Merchants should buy dearly and sell cheaply."
Zenzo could not understand its meaning at all. He thought, "If I should do business in such a manner, it would
cost me my livelihood. She may be well informed on farming, but She knows little about business." So saying to
himself, he went home.
Later, when Zenzo entered his house after leaving Imagawa, his neighbor, he was struck with a sudden attack of
vomiting and diarrhea. A doctor was sent for immediately but he was unable to remedy the situation. Umejiro
Izutsu, head of the Shimmeigumi [Confraternity], was asked to come by Imagawa. Sitting by at Zenzo's bedside,
Izutsu asked him, "Didn't you complain of something on your first return to Jiba?" Zenzo then replied that he
could not agree with what Oyasama had told him. Then Izutsu explained, "What God means is that the ideal of
business is to buy dearly in order to please wholesale dealers, sell cheaply in order to please customers, and to be
satisfied with a small profit." Upon hearing this, Zenzo could fully understand the meaning of Oyasama's words.
He deeply apologized for harboring dissatisfaction in his mind and soon was marvelously cured.

166. A Mark on the Body

In October of 1885, eight-year-old Naramume, daughter of Ujiro Tanioka of Chishawara Village, about four
kilometers due east of Jiba, went to pick chestnuts and sprained her ankle when she jumped from a tree. This led
to an attack of rheumatism which was so painful that she kept crying for three days and three nights.
She received a doctor's care, and incantations were made at a nearby place. However, the pain did not ease at
all; on the contrary, it became more severe.
Then, the teachings of God the Parent were told to Ujiro by Omitsu Matsuura of the same village. Omitsu
instructed Ujiro to offer a sacred light by burning rapeseed oil in a small dish, and to face toward Jiba and pray,
"Please stop the pain before this light burns out." Without a moment's delay, he offered the sacred light and firmly
resolving, "If she is saved, I will follow the path and transmit the path to my future generations," he prayed
fervently. His daughter, who had been crying uncontrollably from the agonizing pain in her arms and legs,
instantly received a divine blessing and was healed.
The parents were so happy with this blessing that they decided to pay a visit to thank God. Thus, Ujiro, carrying
his daughter Naramume on his back, returned to the Residence for the first time. Ujiro was received by Oyasama
through the arrangement of Chusaku Tsuji. Ujiro thanked Her for saving his daughter.
Soon afterward, Ujiro fell ill with tuberculosis and lost so much weight that he was a pitiful sight to see. So he
returned to the Residence and was granted an audience with Oyasama. Her words were:
"By putting a mark on your body, I have drawn you here."
He was instructed to change his clothes and come back again without delay. The next day, when he changed his
clothes and returned, Oyasama bestowed on him the truth of the sazuke.
His tuberculosis, which had been thought to be incurable, was soon cured. Deeply moved, Ujiro thereafter
walked here and there among the houses in the mountain village to save others. By and by, while Oyasama was
still physically present, he left Chishawara Village and moved to the Residence, where he did farm work.

167. Through Saving Others

On September 1, 1885, Hyoshiro Kami's eldest daughter, thirteen-year-old Kimi, suddenly lost the sight of both
eyes. Hyoshiro, too, on October 7th of the same year, went blind. This was divine guidance. On November 1st,
Hyoshiro asked his wife Tsune to return to Jiba in his place. Oyasama said:
"This eye condition is not serious. It is just that God's fingers are keeping them closed. Keeping them closed
means God is testing him and guiding him."
She continued:
"A message sent through people is just a message. A favor asked of people is just a favor. Words pass through
one person, then there is one more person. Words pass through two persons, then there are two more persons.
The more people words pass through, the more the words become distorted. If distorted words are imparted,
error will be committed in the world. If an error is committed, then it is too late. It is best for the person to
return himself. Thereupon, I shall teach him well."
 Tsune returned home and related these words to Hyoshiro. He was deeply impressed and said, "Indeed, that is
right." On the morning of November 3rd, he traveled the distance of sixteen kilometers from Kasama and returned
to the Residence, cane in one hand and his wife guiding him by the other. Oyasama began by saying:
"Sah, sah,"
and for two hours thereafter She taught him the story of the creation. Oyasama's voice at that time was so forceful
that it made the household fixtures tremble. As soon as Oyasama had finished speaking, Hyoshiro suddenly
realized that his sight had returned without his knowing when or how. When he came home, he found that the
eldest daughter Kimi's eyes had also been marvelously cured. However, thereafter for some reason until about
eight o'clock every morning, he could not see very far, and everything was a blur to him. No matter how much he
reflected, he did not receive God's blessing. Therefore, in January of the following year, 1886, he returned to Jiba
again, and asked for guidance. Oyasama instructed to him:
"God has finished guiding you, but has not finished testing you. Testing means that through saving others you
yourself shall be saved. You must not think of yourself. If you single-heartedly turn yourself to the thought, 'I
must at any cost save others and have others be saved,' then your illness will be completely cured."
Accordingly, thereafter, he ardently strived to save others and before long he had completely recovered from his
illness.

168. A Boat Ride

Oyasama once said to Her granddaughter, Hisa Kajimoto (later Hisa Yamazawa):
"I would like to go for a boat ride. Were I to go, I would not be able to come back for two or three years."
It is said that with these words Oyasama foretold the day when the teachings of God the Parent would spread
overseas.

169. This Suits Me Very Well, Doesn't It?

In Her later years, Oyasama used to say to Hisa Kajimoto, who was attending to Her:
"Tell me if there is something you want."
Or:
"If you want to buy something, do so and say that you have bought it for Grandmother."
Oyasama once bought a gaily colored cloth from a textile peddler and, throwing it over Her shoulders, said with
a smile:
"This suits Me very well, doesn't it?"
And She gave it to Hisa, saying:
"Keep this for yourself."
On another occasion, Oyasama bought a coral beaded hairpin from a tortoise shell worker who came from
Nagasaki, and putting it in Her hair, said:
"This is beautiful, isn't it?"
She then gave it to Hisa, saying:
"Now you shall have this."
Thus, occasionally, Oyasama bought something for Herself first and then later gave it to someone else. It is
surmised that Her intention was to let others be able to accept these gifts without reserve. And, truly, people who
received a gift from Oyasama were stirred with deep emotion.

170. Heaven is the Foundation

Among the words Shirobei Umetani heard from Oyasama were the following:
"At any shrine or temple of Buddha, pay your respects and then chant Tenri-O-no-Mikoto.

"People worshiping at a place will increase the authority of that place. Because people worship at a place, that
place will be able to maintain itself. The place where Ubusuna-gami is enshrined is one of the places where
man was given birth. Even people who worship Ubusuna-gami are returning their obligation to God.

"Each other place of worship, whether it be a shrine or temple, is like a single finger of your hand. This place of
origin is like having both hands and each hand with all its fingers.

"The foundation of this world is heaven. The core of heaven is Tsukihi.* The core of the human body is the
eyes. The core of the human being is the clear water of the mind, the clear eyes."

* Tsukihi: literally, 'Moon-Sun'; another name of God the Parent.

171. The Mountain of Treasure

Oyasama taught:
"Over a large river, there is a bridge which has no supports. If you cross over this bridge, you will be able to
climb a mountain of treasure and receive something marvelous. However, along the way, because the bridge has
no supports, it will sway. If you turn back because it sways, you will not receive the treasure. However, if you
earnestly strive and cross the bridge without falling, there will be before you a mountain of treasure. If you go
to the summit you will receive something marvelous. But since one turns back because of dangers on the way,
one does not receive the treasure."

172. Repentance for a Previous Life

There once lived a daughter of a seaweed dealer in Sakai, Osaka, who was inclined to steal. Her parents reverently
asked Oyasama the reason why, and Her answer was:
"That is the result of a previous life. Your daughter is not at fault. She only does what her parents did in a
previous life."
The parents then sincerely repented for what they had done, and their daughter was marvelously healed of the bad
habit.

173. All Days are Lucky Days

Oyasama taught Naokichi Takai:
"There is not a single day which you ought to complain about. All days are lucky days. People choose a lucky
day for a wedding or for raising a house. But the luckiest day is the day when everybody is spirited in mind."
 First: It Begins
Second: Abundance
Third: Nourished
Fourth: Happiness Comes
Fifth: Providence Comes Forth
Sixth: Peace Settles
Seventh: Nothing to Worry About
Eighth: Expanding in All Directions
Ninth: Suffering Disappears
Tenth: Sufficiency
Eleventh: Sufficiently It Begins
Twelfth: Sufficiently Abundant
Thirteenth: Sufficiently Nourished
(and so forth)
Twentieth: Sufficiently Abundant Abundance
Twenty-first: Sufficiently Abundantly It Begins
(and so forth)
Thirtieth: Sufficiently Abundant, Abundant Abundance

Thirty days make a month, twelve months make a year.

And not one day in the year is unlucky.

174. If You Let Go Your Strength

Hidenobu Nakano, who had been in charge of horses for the Koizumi feudal clan in Yamato, was also proficient in
jujitsu and kendo-fencing. He returned to Jiba one day and was granted an audience with Oyasama. Oyasama said:
"Nakano, you are known as a strong man in the country. Now try and remove your hands,"
and She took hold of both his wrists. Nakano at first exerted only a little strength and tried to free his hands, but
She would not let go. So he became serious about it, and with a shout, tried with all his might to pull both hands
free. But the venerable Oyasama remained steady with perfect composure.
Nakano, who was still in the prime of life, tried, with his face flushing, again and again with all his might to pull
free his hands, shouting each time, "Ya! Ya!" But Oyasama retained an awe-inspiring calm, and continued to smile
pleasantly. He could do nothing.
Not only that, the most astonishing thing was that the more he exerted his strength, the more strongly his own
wrists were gripped. Finally, they started to feel as if they were being ripped apart. Powerful as he was, Nakano
could not bear the pain any longer. "I am overwhelmed. Please release my hands," Nakano conceded to Oyasama.
Then, She said:
"You need not apologize at all. If you let go your strength, God will also let go God's strength. If you exert
strength, God will also exert strength. This applies not only now but always,"
and She quietly released his hands.
175. Seventeen Children
One day in 1885, Oyasama joyously told the people who were with Her:
"Seventeen children will come home from Awa tomorrow."
However, not only did the seventeen not return, but no one at all came on that day, nor the next day, nor even on
the following day. People grew tired of waiting and forgot Oyasama's words.
About sixteen or seventeen days later, seventeen persons arrived from Awa. People were surprised, as the
number of persons who returned was exactly the same as Oyasama had mentioned. According to what they said,
they had planned to sail off the very day that Oyasama had spoken Her words. However, the weather was bad, and
after repeated attempts to set sail, they returned to Jiba some sixteen or seventeen days behind schedule. When
Unosuke Tosa and his group heard about Oyasama's words, they were astonished and deeply moved.
When they were granted an audience with Oyasama, She was very pleased to see them, and said:
"At the present, Awa Province seems a faraway place. There will come a day when you will be able to return
here in one night while you are asleep if you wish to do so."

176. Person with a Pure Heart

On December 26, 1885, Oyasama spoke the following words to Gisaburo Nakata:
"I can hear the words of a person who has purified his heart. But I cannot hear the words of a person who has
not purified his heart."

177. At Least One Person

Oyasama always said:
"I must save at least one person a day. Otherwise, I cannot let the day pass."

178. Our Body is of Prime Importance

Oyasama said:
"Where there is life, there is hope, it is said. The body is the foundation. Money is secondary. In the case of fire,
one would take out as many valuables as possible, but one would not do so at the risk of burning one's body. In
the case of flood, it is the same. In the case of robbery, because life is important, one lets the robber have the
money, even though one does so reluctantly. The same thing is true in the case of illness. One should give
quickly to charity the things that are of secondary importance, and have one's illness cured. But when the dust
of miserliness is strong, it is like removing money from a fire even though one is in danger of death from burns.
One saves the money and treasures but throws away one's life. This is in accord with one's mind. If by giving to
charity what is of secondary importance one's illness is cured, this is the principle of a disaster turning into a
smaller misfortune. Understand well."
This instruction has been handed down by word of mouth from Jirokichi Kita.

179. God is Laughing

Once Iye Murata had palpitation of the heart. It became so severe that it troubled her a great deal. So she asked
Oyasama for instructions. Oyasama told her:
"Your palpitation of the heart is God laughing. God is saying that you do not understand the divine will."
180. A Reluctant Offering of Rice Cakes
Once a family quarreled about the rice cake offering. "Let's give six pounds." "No, let's give nine pounds." "It is
too much but let's make the offering anyway." When the offering was made, Oyasama tried to eat one of the cakes
with chopsticks. But the chopsticks flew up violently. She could not eat it no matter how many times She tried.

181. Oyasama's Rice Bowl

"Among the rice bowls used by Oyasama was a chipped one that had been repaired. I saw the bowl: a patterned,
ordinary rice bowl which had been repaired with a colorful chip of porcelain. It is now a treasure of the Church
Headquarters. When people see it, they will not be able to be extravagant.
Also, among the flat dishes that Oyasama used was one that had been repaired."
The above is a recollection of Narajiro Kajimoto.

182. The Residence of Origin

Naka, wife of Denshichi Oura of Kasama Village in Yamato Province, suddenly felt an acute pain in her forefinger
which would not abate. She asked their neighbor, Hyoshiro Kami, to pray for her. When Hyoshiro prayed for her,
the pain stopped. But a short while later, her finger became painful again. Again, she had Hyoshiro pray, and then
again the pain stopped. After this happened three or four times, Hyoshiro said, "Let's return to Jiba and ask
Oyasama."
So Naka, accompanied by Hyoshiro, returned to the Residence and was received by Oyasama. At their request,
Oyasama breathed three times upon Naka's forefinger. At that moment, the acute pain stopped instantly. Naka was
deeply moved by this instantaneous blessing and thought, "What a truly marvelous God!" On this occasion,
Oyasama said:
"This is the Residence of Origin where human beings were first created. In the future, people will come here
from all over the world and say, 'This is indeed the place of man's origin, the parental home.' This village will
be a busy town where you can buy anything by just taking a step outside the Residence."

Note: The incident related in this anecdote is said to have taken place in 1885 or 1886.

183. A Stormy Wind

About 1885 or 1886, opposition from Buddhist and Shinto priests and other people became stronger in proportion
to the rapid expansion of the path. Some of the followers lost their patience to such an extent that they suggested
active resistance. One day during such a period, Kuyemon Hayashi, head of a [confraternity] in Kire Village,
Settsu Province, returned to Jiba to seek counsel on the matter. Then, an intermediary consulted Oyasama, who
said:
"Sah, sah, I will tell you, comparing it to a stormy wind. A stormy wind never lasts forever. Therefore, wait by
crouching down when it is blowing and set out after it stops.
If you try to walk against it, you might stumble or fall to the ground. So stay still. If you set out slowly after
the storm stops, you can go."
A few days later, a request for support came from followers in Wakasa Province who were caught in the same
persecution. Oyasama answered to an inquiry:
"Sah, it is the flash flood, the muddy water. Try to pour a glass of clear water into it. Even if you wish to try to
purify the muddy water with it, the muddy water will not be cleared."
The people, it is told, calmed themselves after hearing Oyasama's words.

184. A Way of Perceiving

On February 6, 1886, Shirobei Umetani, while at the Residence, received a message from home that his second
daughter Michie, who had been sick for some time, had died. When he was granted an audience with Oyasama, in
the course of the conversation he mentioned this. Oyasama responded:
"How fortunate."
Umetani, thinking Oyasama had misunderstood, repeated once more, "My child is dead." Oyasama only said:
"Fortunately, it was not the elder one."

185. You Do Not Know Where I Work

On March 12, 1886, Chushichi Yamanaka and Ihachiro Yamada returned to the Residence together. Oyasama
would stay in bed for most part of the day ever since She returned from the Ichinomoto Branch Police Station.
When they said to Her that they had returned, Oyasama gave them these words:
"No one knows where I intend to work. If I am awake, it may hinder My work. So I will sleep until I wake up
by myself. Do never think that I have grown weak or that I am losing strength.
Now, I will prove this with my fingers. Anyone can poke with one's fingers. But, see the strength of My
fingers with which I pick things up, and consider for yourselves."
She pinched the hands of the two persons at the same time, and Her fingers were so powerful that their hands
hurt very much. They were amazed. She went on to give them the following words:
"Would anyone who is too old to turn over in bed have as much strength as I?
To live to be two hundred or three hundred years old without becoming ill or feeble -- would not the joy of
man be great? If children were never to suffer from measles or smallpox? If there were no diseases of the head?
If an are could yield fifty-six or seventy kilograms of rice? For all these things, God hastens.
Oh, how I regret that the authorities have stopped Me again and again. I cannot help but clear away My
regret.
In this world, there is nothing at all for which God does not care or work. There is no knowing what you will
hear, or when, or where. I tell you that you must be convinced that whatever you hear, it is the working of
Tsukihi. Tell it to those who have sincere minds.
Now is like a time when farmers sow their seedbeds. If you sow the field with unhulled rice, the rice will all
sprout in due time. It is just like that."

186. Such a Fine Present

About the middle of March 1886, Kinjiro Nakanishi, who had just begun to follow the path, returned to Jiba for
the first time with Tokichi Izumita, and was granted an audience with Oyasama.
Oyasama was resting at that time, but when it was announced, "Kinjiro Nakanishi of Ten'ei Fourth
[Confraternity], a follower of Tokichi Izumita, has returned," Oyasama's voice was heard:
 "Yes, Yes,"
and She immediately made Her appearance.
When Kinjiro returned on August 17th of the same year and was granted an audience with Oyasama, She sipped
one third of the sweet rice wine in a sake-cup with the moon and sun design, and gave the rest of the wine as well
as the sake cup to him.
On September 20th of the same year, Kinjiro and his wife brought and presented a cushion which they had
made, wishing to have it used by Oyasama. They were unable to meet Her at that time, but later Oyasama asked:
"Such a fine present! Who is it from?"
When the person in attendance answered, "It is from Kinjiro Nakanishi," Oyasama was pleased. The next day,
on the twenty-first, while Kinjiro and his wife were staying at an inn, there was a messenger from Oyasama. They
received one of Her red garments. It was Her kimono-undergarment.

187. Solely to Jiba

Kunisaburo Moroi was so saddened by the passing of his three-year-old fourth daughter, Hide, that he returned to
Jiba in June 1886. "I may have been mistaken about some things, so please let me know my shortcomings," he
said to Oyasama. Oyasama gave him these words:
"Sah, sah, concerning your child, three years was the life of the child. For the rest of your life, the heart of a
three-year-old child. Unite your heart solely to Jiba. If you unite your heart solely to Jiba, then roots will spread
to four sides. If the roots spread to four sides, even if one side decays, three sides will remain. If two sides
decay, two sides will remain. Strong buds shall sprout."

188. Permanent Staff of the Residence

Around noon on August 25, 1886, a short and stocky man came to the Residence and announced himself as the
head of the Nara Police Station. He was received by Oyasama, and afterward left the Residence.
That night, someone pounded at the gate of the Residence, almost to the point of breaking it. Yoshie Iburi asked
who it was, and the answer came, I am the head of the Nara Police Station. I visited here this afternoon. Open the
gate!" Although Yoshie thought it was strange, she opened the gate and suddenly five or six ruffians rushed into
the kitchen, all shouting, "Let's set fire to this Residence and burn it down tonight." Yoshie was shocked, ran into a
room and shut the door behind her. The room led to Oyasama's room.
The ruffians then hurled the brazier from the kitchen, raising a storm of ashes in the room. Bowls and dishes
were smashed. Intermediaries who were sitting in conference upstairs heard the rumbling sounds and screaming
voices, and rushed downstairs. They fought the ruffians at the risk of their lives.
This happened to be the day of Ohimachi,* and villagers were meeting in a neighbor's house. They also heard
the uproar and hastened to the scene in a crowd. They helped to overcome the ruffians and then informed the
police of the situation.
Narazo Hirano, took the six ruffians to the Tofuya Inn and, after giving them a serious lecture on their
misconduct, released them.
On that day, Oyasama paid Her tribute of praise to Hirano:
"It was a chance for you to show your courage. Starting tomorrow you shall join the permanent staff of the
Residence."
 * Ohimachi originally was an overnight gathering where people purified themselves and on the following morning worshiped the

sunrise. Later it became a festival where villagers feasted together after rice-planting or harvest.

189. The Hearts of Husband and Wife

In the summer of 1886, Narazo Hirano and his wife, after abandoning the family occupation, were devoting
themselves to missionary work in utter poverty with the resolve, "When we think of Oyasama, we never mind
going for four or five days without food." As it was summer, they had no possessions with them except the light
summer clothing they wore: one cotton kimono each and a summer kimono for Narazo.
One day, when they returned to the Residence, Oyasama gave them these words:
"In this path the hearts of husband and wife are the foundation. I have discerned your sincerity which could
thrust through a great tree or pierce a huge stone. One year from now, I will grant you an uchiwake-basho, a
place of salvation."

190. This Path

In the summer of 1886, Kichitaro Matsumura returned to the Residence. In the eyes of Matsumura, who had
acquired some education, the illiteracy of the people who gathered at the Residence and their very uncouth
manners seemed questionable. He had even come to harbor a sense of contempt toward them. One day, when he
had an audience with Oyasama, She said to him:
"This path is not the way of intelligence or knowledge. I do not say, 'Do not come,' to those who come. I do not
forcibly say, 'Come,' to those who do not wish to come."
Upon hearing these words, Matsumura realized his arrogance and repented from the bottom of his heart. Thus
the preciousness of the truth of Jiba became deeply embedded in his heart.

191. Welcome Home

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 Torakichi 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.

192. A Kite Cries "Toh, Toh"

This is a story about Sataro Kajimoto, Oyasama's great-grandson, which took place in approximately 1887 when
he was about seven. Oyasama gave him a section of a tangerine, turning it inside out by inserting Her finger. She
said:
"The kite cries 'toh, toh,' and the crow, 'caw, caw,' "
and continued:
"Stick out your finger."
When he stuck out his finger, She placed the section on his finger. Sotaro enjoyed eating it that way.
When he received another section of the tangerine, he, imitating Oyasama, put it on his finger, and then he stuck
it out in front of Oyasama. She enjoyed eating it that way.

193. By Himself Soon

These are incidents reminisced by Sotaro Kajimoto:
Receiving some cookies or candies from Oyasama, we, children at that time, went toward the Main Sanctuary
and ate them while playing together. When the sweets were gone, we ran back to Oyasama. We held out our hands
and She gave us more. We ate them up and ran back to Her again. We must have said, "Grandma, may we have
some more?" and I believe we ran back to Her three or four times.
However, She never once said, "Didn't I just give you some?" Neither did She give the sweets to us all at once
to avoid the bother. She gave us just enough to eat, a little at a time. Oyasama loved children very much. When I
asked Hisa Yamazawa, my wife's mother, she agreed.
Now and then Oyasama visited the Kajimoto family in Ichinomoto. On such occasions, she brought some
sweets in Her purse to give to the children of the family and to the children of the neighborhood.
Among great-grandchildren of Oyasama, I was the first born of the boys. Among the girls, there was Omoto.
Now, it is said that Oyasama said of me:
"Oh, I hope that he will be able to come by himself soon!"
It is also said that when my younger brother Kunijiro Shimamura was born, Oyasama said:
"My, what a fair-complexioned fine boy!"
and held him in Her arms. I often heard of these incidents from both my mother, Uno, and my mother–in-law
Yamazawa.
Once Oyasama carried both Manjiro Yoshikawa and me on Her back at the same time. There was a time when
She came to the east side of the Nakaminami-Gatehouse wearing zori similar to fujikura-zori (thongs which are
knitted with rush at the front).
Oyasama's voice was sweet and gentle. She had a slender figure. Her face was oval and Her mouth and chin
were identical with that of Her daughter, Omasa, although Omasa's face was a little rounder. Now in regard to
their figure, Omasa was on the masculine side but Oyasama was on the feminine side. Oyasama's back was not
bent.
194. Her Favorite Dishes
When She was advanced in age, Oyasama from time to time ate raw sweet potatoes grated with a horseradish
grater. Also, She occasionally drank sweet rice wine from a small cup. Her favorite brand was made by the
Matsumoto brewery in Senzai. So people in the Residence went with a gourd-shaped flask to buy sweet rice wine
for Oyasama.
Her favorites were dishes of rice with assorted vegetables. Among these were rice with sweet potatoes, rice with
beans, rice with dried gourd shavings, with matsutake mushrooms, and with pumpkins.
If people came by chance while She was having one of these rice dishes, She would make a rice-ball and offer it
to them.
She was also fond of kakinoha zushi, marinated fish and rice wrapped in persimmon leaves which are plucked
when they have a pleasant aroma after new buds have sprouted.

195. Thank You for Your Trouble

"Oyasama made no distinction between people and She was a very compassionate person. No matter what kind of
person She met, She never showed any sign of discrimination. No matter what kind of person came to the
Residence, She considered everyone to be Her child. No matter how great a man came, She said:
'Thank you for your trouble.'
Even when beggars came, She would say:
'Thank you for your trouble.'
Her attitude and manner of speaking never changed. She considered them all to be Her loving children. Once a
person met Oyasama, no matter what kind of person he was, he would be moved by Oyasama's parental love and
be reformed at once. Perhaps they were moved by Oyasama's compassion.
For example, even a police officer who came to investigate and a local ruffian had been converted to the faith.
After just one visit, many either entered the faith or experienced a change of heart. These are recollections of
Naokichi Takai.

196. Maturing of the Child

Oyasama taught us again and again:
"It is not that the incorrigible child does not understand. It is that the teachings of the Parent have not reached
him. If the teachings of the Parent reach every nook and corner, the maturing of the child can then be seen."
Through the grace of Oyasama, the path was made in which those who could not understand would be able to
understand, those who could not be saved would be saved, and those who were to suffer would not suffer.

197. Hands that Work

Oyasama always taught us:
"If all the people of the world help one another, there will be no worry or danger for the future. There are
families with plenty of work to be done but with no one to do the work, and there are families with plenty of
people to do the work but with no work to be done.
When apprenticed, think of all the work as your own instead of as your master's, and work faithfully whether
 being watched or not. For example, in the fall, if you notice that it is a cloudy day, take care of the straw mats
and any other things as though they were your own and be sure to put them away.
Because you work faithfully and help others in various ways, in the fall people will make new kimono to give
to you and do other good things for you. When it reaches this stage it will be advantageous for both. If you are
going to do work, do it as faithfully as you would do your own, whether being watched or not. Then people will
say, 'That person is considerate, so I will hire him.' When you become such a person, there will be plenty of
work for you.
The people living in this Residence work as though all the work here were their own; therefore, night and day
each of them is thinking, 'What is there to be done? What can I do next?' They do the work thinking that it is
their own work; therefore, it becomes their own. If you work with the thought, 'This is my work; this is my
home,' then it will become your home. If you work only when you are being watched and become idle when not
being watched, then soon you will not be able to stay here as if it were your home.
This Residence needs as many hands as possible that work and none at all that do not work."
Also, one time She taught us:
"Work (hataraku) makes those close to you comfortable; for that, it is called hataraku (hata: those nearby, raku:
comfortable)."

198. With Any Flower

Once Yonosuke Shimizu, Shirobei Umetani, and Tora Hirano had gathered before Oyasama and were talking with
each other about how their fraternities were not advancing as they had hoped. Oyasama said:
"With any flower, there are years when it blooms and there are years when it does not bloom. Even if it does not
bloom one year, when the year changes it will bloom again."
It is said that Oyasama comforted them in this way.

199. Just One

Sei Honda, an official of the Heishin Shimmei-ko [Confraternity], returned to Jiba in 1882 for the second time.
She had chronic abdominal edema and her stomach was beginning to swell. Oyasama told her when She saw her
condition:
"Osei, Osei, it must be very trying to carry that stomach. But this is not the dust accumulated in your present
life. It has been carried over from your previous lives. God will surely save you. You must not change your
heart. You must not let go of this string at any cost. Since you know nothing about your previous lives, just ask
God for forgiveness and just thank God."
From that day on, Sei could not stay still when she thought of all the dust that she had accumulated during her
past three lives. Despite her swollen stomach, she went forth every day to do missionary work.
Sei poured water over herself even on the coldest days in winter before going out. As people gradually began to
come to her in increasing numbers, she would offer water in the sake offering-bottle at the altar and then give it to
them. By this means marvelous healings took place one after another. For several years, she went forth with zeal
to do missionary work. But in the autumn of 1886, when she was forty-nine years of age, her abdominal edema
became worse until she was in critical condition. She suffered so much that she alternately said, "Please let me sit
up," and, "Please let me lie down." Hisakichi Hashida, who was the head of the [confraternity], returned to Jiba.
Through the arrangement of Gisaburo Nakata he was granted an audience with Oyasama, who said:
"Let me lie down. Let me sit up. You must have heard her wrong. What she meant was to enflame the
[confraternity] with zeal. She will not die. Go back quickly and perform the service sincerely."
So Hashida hurried back to Kobe. For three days and three nights, day and night, six times in twenty-four hours,
he performed a special prayer service for her recovery.* The third day came but there was no sign of
improvement. Another series of the special prayer service was performed for three days and three nights, but her
condition became worse. From the sixth day on, she clenched her teeth and slept for twenty-eight days as if she
had been dead. During this period she was given sacred water daily, and three sacred sugar candies were cooked
and given to her through a bamboo tube three times a day.
The doctor refused to come, saying, "She will die this time." However, during those twenty-eight days she
urinated so frequently that it must have been over twenty times a day. On the morning of the twenty-eighth day,
her younger sister, Sue Nadatani, was changing Sei's clothes. Sue noticed that her sister's swollen stomach had
shrunk to its normal size. She was so astonished that she shouted out. Hearing Sue's voice, Sei opened her eyes for
the first time and looked around. Sue asked, "Can you hear?" Sei spoke for the first time, "How thankful I am!
How thankful I am!"
A thin rice gruel was cooked and given to her. She ate two mouthfuls and said, "It is delicious. How thankful I
am!" She then ate two bowls of the gruel with some pickled plums. She ate grated yam next. Day by day Sei
regained her strength. But she was just like a baby, wetting the bed, and her memory was very short.
About a month later, Kichigoro Kataoka, another official of the [confraternity], returned to Jiba in her place to
report it. He was granted an audience with Oyasama, who said:
"It is natural. It is natural. She is just one year old. She was reborn without having to die. She is still young. She
is only one. She does not know anything yet. She will not know until she becomes two or three."
Sei had lost her memory completely. When sewing a kimono, she would make mistakes in the measurement.
She could no longer play the shamisen, she was that bad. But within two or three years she gradually began to
understand things, and from the fourth year she was so blessed as to lead a normal life.
Thus, Sei was given a second life at the age of forty-nine, and she lived on for thirty years to the age of seventy-
nine, devoting herself to saving others with yet greater zeal.

* This service consisted of the seated service and the entire teodori, and was performed three times during the day and three times

during the night. As it was performed in this way for three days and nights consecutively, the performers went without sleep or

rest.

200. Cherish It
On January 11, 1887, Kyuhei Kontani and some members of his [confraternity] set out for Jiba, carrying on their
backs Her red garments and two large red cushions which all the [confraternity] members had made with sincerity.
At Jiba, they stayed at Koyemon Murata's house. Accompanied by Risaburo Yamamoto, they were granted an
audience with Oyasama on January 13th. She was then resting in the raised chamber of the Resting House and Her
eldest daughter, Omasa, was with Her.
Risaburo Yamamoto presented the garments before Her and said, "This is an offering that Kyuhei Kontani, a
[confraternity] head from Shikama of Banshu Province, has brought for you to wear." Oyasama accepted it and it
was received in the raised chamber. Then, presenting the two cushions before Her, Yamamoto said, "They have
also brought these for Your daily use." Oyasama accepted these, too, with joy.
Then She told them to close the paper sliding-doors separating the raised chamber from the other room, and to
step back. Yamamoto stepped back from the sliding-doors in the eight matted room. Kontani waited in the room
with the others, sitting respectfully. After a while, Omasa opened the sliding-doors and called Yamamoto. When
he stepped up into the raised chamber close to Oyasama, She handed him a red garment and said:
"Give this to him."
She continued:
"Never handle this carelessly. Cherish it. Treasure it."
Yamamoto then said, "I will certainly tell him so." Stepping down into the eight matted room, Yamamoto
repeated to Kontani in detail what Oyasama had just said. This was how Kyuhei Kontani received the red
garment.