Osashizu 1898-03

Translated entries from the Osashizu, March 1898.

26

March 26, 1898

Directions concerning the Women’s Association were given during the course of yesterday’s Divine Direction regarding the illness of Ito Masuno. On the request for instructions on how to proceed from now:

Sah, sah, concerning the matter about which you have asked, things have so far been hopeless. What I teach consists in the one truth, based on which I gave instructions concerning any given matter. Although the principle has existed, it is as if it did not. That is the reason serious problems have occurred on many occasions. I have already told you about it many times. Also I gave you instructions through Timely Talks. Depending on how you took them or listened to them, you found them difficult to understand. You advocate expediency to conform to the law, and what God teaches is not in the depths of your heart. Those of you who serve at the origin need to have effectiveness worthy of the origin. It is true that you have long devoted yourselves. Because of your devotion, you can serve as a foundation for the world. Yet it will not do if you make mistakes in your devotion. No matter how much I teach you, it will not do if you make a mistake in the use of the mind. If mistakes are made, things will become impossibly difficult. That is why I have taught this truth through what I call the Timely Talks. On this day today, which I decided on, you need to listen to and understand what I am telling you, and then you must instruct others on all matters far into the future. This path teaches everything from previous lives to the present life and even to rebirths. This being so, I speak of Jiba, from which everything originated in the beginning. All of you must settle it in your mind. But it will not do to say that it is good enough for you to settle it in your own mind alone. You seem to feel no need to impart it to others. You mind has to keenly feel that need. There is no distinction between men and women. If you go along the path with a purified mind, there would be no distinction between men and women. Yet it will not do to think, “Then it does not matter how many men and how many women there are.” I shall explain through the metaphor of instruments. Some instruments are for rough work, some are for fine work, and some are for the sort of work in between. It will not do, not to understand this reasoning. Listen and understand this point well. I am trying to hasten the path. Because of My hastening, people are gathering here even from faraway places. Yet there is what I call dust. It will not do to think it is good enough so long as you have no dust in your own mind. As for what I have to say from now, I make no distinction between men and women. Listen carefully and understand how I began this path. Is it a man or woman who opened this path? You can understand everything if you look at it from this perspective. Some say that everyone is to do one and the same thing. That will not work. The explanation using the metaphor of instruments mentioned fine work, rough work, and the sort of work in between. Because you have failed to explain who should do what type of work, people do not understand. I have been expecting you to begin instructing others at any moment on matters I have taught you thus far. I have spent days waiting for you to begin. You have been assigning this role to this person or that person and that role to that person or this person based on only a rough understanding. That comes from the truth of human thinking. Understand this clearly. Human thinking, no matter what you say based on it, is only what it is. Until now you have done things this way and that way based on human thinking, and I have tolerated that. But I shall start teaching you by explaining what I have tolerated. Remembering the beginnings of this path, live today as if it were the original day. I have explained this truth little by little but I have not given you a comprehensive explanation. Listen carefully and understand. Resident followers are very important. They are to be a basis for teaching. If you treat them improperly, they will not become a basis for teaching. You say, “In that case, I will not treat them improperly.” Although you say that you are following the path in a pure way, you are negligent in this and that. You are negligent in many ways. You will understand if you each base yourself on the important fundamental truth. Aside from differences of years, there are also differences of rough work, fine work, and the work in between, as I told you. What is fine work, what is rough work, and what is the work in between? Each of you should have an understanding of your own situation, as I have told the world. The work in between involves making adjustments here and there and communicating things to everyone, thus ensuring that the tasks of truth are carried out. Yet there are some that fail to get carried out. So, making the Women’s Association the foundation, you should discuss things together. Otherwise things will not get done however long one waits. Neither will any inspiration arise in your mind. This is what I hope for in the beginning, and it involves the three matters. There can be different roles among men. There can be different roles among women. Understand this. It will not do to forget this or neglect this. The Women’s Association is for the path of single-hearted salvation. If you clearly perceive all aspects of the course of the path you have taken, a true feeling will well up in your minds.

After a while:

Sah, sah, it is good if you have understood. If you do not understand, ask Me again. If you ask Me from the perspective of what you understand and do not understand, you will understand quickly. If you fail to take the opportunity or if you procrastinate until the next opportunity, then nothing will be achieved no matter how many times I teach. No matter how persistently I give these talks, they will not accomplish anything.

Further, during a discussion about whether anyone among those who went through hardships in the early days of the path has been inadvertently overlooked for the women’s gatherings:

Sah, sah, it goes without saying that someone or other among you may sometimes be overlooked. It goes without saying that there are others like that. As for those who live in this Residence, some move in and some move out. This naturally applies to the instruments. Although some work over there and others over here, the truth is one. When you get together and study, things will become clear and plain to you, and in your mind you will feel that, indeed, everything makes sense.

Again, after a while:

Here, there are a number of people, this many men and that many women, and you need to listen and understand. Among the men, there are some who are in humble positions and some in intermediate positions. Yet, as for women, they are buried in humble places. If you think about this, you will understand and be convinced of what I am saying.

Then continuing:

Sah, I shall tell you more. You have not at all understood. All of you have totally forgotten. Because you have forgotten, you do not understand. They are all performing humble tasks, saying that is what they should be doing. Today, kitchen duty or cleaning work, they say. If the high and low become one, you will find that there are women who can do equal work.

Again, continuing:

I have told you to study. Things are fairly hopeless. Even when you are cooking or cleaning, you should be trying to reach out to the world. While cooking and cleaning, you should follow the path mutually dedicating your efforts to one another. Otherwise, you may fall into unpleasant speech and behavior.

Again, after a while:

Sah, sah, I shall speak in detail. Perceive My intention fully. Listen carefully and understand well. Concerning the matter of the Service, I shall speak of the beginnings of the matter of the musical instruments. I shall speak of the beginnings of the musical instruments. Count the years and see how long it has been. We started with practice in former days. There were three people and an alternate. I started by having them wear red clothes. Through that, try to understand. You have not discussed this matter to the point of saying, “This is indeed so,” and “That is also so.” Through this, understand. If you understand, you will gain a convincing insight.

Again, after a while: Sah, it will not do. It will not do if you do not understand the truth. Listen carefully and try to understand, understand. There was a day on which the practice began. On that occasion, I had them wear red clothes. You will be able to understand and say, “Indeed, this is so.”

“Is this about Naraito Ueda?”

Sah, sah, now, now, now, you do not understand, do not understand. If you are not going to try to understand, I might no longer–. But if I leave it at that, you will understand nothing. I had three persons and one alternate–four persons altogether–wear red clothes and practice. If you apply this foundation to your day-to-day situations, you can live splendidly. The way things are in the path, it will not do. Likewise, with regard to cooking and cleaning, I have told you that there is no discrimination. Because I have not instructed you about who is to do this or that despite the many repeated Directions, you still, even now, do not understand.

Further, “Is this about Okoto or Oie?”

No, no, that is totally wrong. I am not talking about those who received the red clothes. I am referring to the ones I had wear the red clothes–performers who practiced.

When discussing whether it is about Yoshie Nagao or someone like that:

You have understood, understood. The truth of the path, the truth of the path, you have understood, understood.

After a while:

Now that you have understood that, you will be able to understand the rest. Sah, sah, I shall retire, retire.

27

March 27, 1898

On the illness of Yoshie Nagao:

Sah, sah, the matter you are inquiring about concerns an illness. You wonder if the illness means this or that. A disorder of the body has appeared somewhere. You all come out and inquire. You wonder what might emerge this time. You wonder if this might emerge. If you inquire about the illness, ready to do whatever it takes to find out, you will have nothing to worry about concerning any illness or any other problem. In fact, you must not worry. You are inquiring about an illness. Since you are inquiring about the matter of illness, you need to listen carefully and understand well. Even where nothing is the matter, those from remote, out-of-the-way places may ask a question if they wish to. With each Direction, on each occasion, I teach by considering the number of years involved in each case. For every situation, compare your thoughts with the Directions. It will not do to crumple up the Directions and treat them like scraps of wastepaper. If you are just going to crumple them up, there is no use in giving you any Directions. You seem to use only the Directions that you like, saying, “God says this,” and simply ignore the ones that do not suit you. Could there be any truth in picking and choosing among the Directions? Listen well and understand. No matter what tasks you may or may not have and regardless of whether you say you cannot cut corners with them, you must carry out what I teach. I am instructing you because of an illness. The instruction will apply to all matters. This Direction has come because of the pain of illness. The condition of the body may not change; you must carry out the Direction. It is not as if you have never heard this before. Everything has been taught in the Directions now and then. Yet, depending on how you take them, they can be useless. You have been wondering what to do and how to do it and delaying things day after day. From time to time, I instruct you in the truth. You may take up a Direction, saying it has been given at this time. If you take up a Direction, there is no telling when a further Direction will come, whether in the morning or at night. Again, I need to give you a Timely Talk. Although I have until now been seeking to instruct you, you have not at all responded. Concerning how to carry things out, you simply leave My instructions unheeded and remain unresponsive. If you leave them as they are, they will weaken. You must listen and understand this. So you should each count the years and look at the world. THe present state was not attained instantaneously. It was possible because the previous instructions were carried out. From now on, I shall give you Directions as occasion arises. Compare them together. If there are things you do not understand, discuss them together, saying, “I have interpreted them this way,” or “I don’t understand this part.” You should then inquire of Me again, saying, “What does this mean?” If you are given a Direction concerning matters within or instructions about where to begin concerning a disorder of the body, you need to carry out everything you are told. Concerning various matters, I want to instruct you step by step. I want to give you instructions night after night. With regard to scribes, however, some can write them down properly while others cannot. Therefore, I am unable to convey them to you. If some say, “I’ve heard this,” and others say, “I haven’t heard it,” it will be as if I have three-year-olds to deal with. From now, there is no telling whether I shall give you a Direction in the morning or at night. Regarding a Timely Direction, you need to take it to heart on the very day it is given, thinking, “That is indeed so.” You need to make a renewed effort to carry it out. Gathering only the Directions that are convenient to you and leaving others as they are–this can only be called a self-serving truth. If you are going to insist on self-serving truths, you might as well do as you please.

Further, on the illness:

Concerning the matter you are inquiring about, you do not need to worry about the illness. Listen carefully and understand well. You do not inquire unless you have one problem or another. I instruct you when you inquire, but the present situation will not do. Thus I give Timely Talks. Otherwise it will not do. I give you this Direction today but you probably have no clue as to what the old Directions were all about. Thus you should compare them with the new Directions, and you will see what has been forgotten and think, “What have we been doing?” I instructed you yesterday. I instructed you referring to the Women’s Association. At this time, perceive the truth of the intention and be convinced, thinking, “Indeed, this is what we must do.” I do not make a distinction between men and women. There is no distinction between men and women. You need to work in harmony with everyone, whether you get along or not. For those who are not up to doing so, the truth may be ineffective when they are in out-of-the-way places. This is like a poor harvest. There need to be seeds. If each of you conveys My intention day after day, seeds of sameness will be found.

28

March 28, 1898

Based on the Divine Direction given on the previous day, an inquiry was made of the Kyocho. Then, the question was raised as to whether, with regard to the Women’s Association, the intention of the Divine Direction is to allocate a place and name it accordingly.

Sah, sah, concerning the matter you are inquiring about, the situation you are inquiring about, sah, sah, if I tell you a little, there will be some understanding over there and some understanding over here. If you bring together what you have understood, you can understand anything. Until now, no matter how long I have waited, thinking, “Will it be now? Will it be now?”–no matter how long I have waited, thinking, “Will today be the day?”–you have fallen behind. It will not do to be complacent and think that the present situation is good enough. This Origin is called Jiba. Things have begun in various places in the world, in the world, yet I did not start them all at once. From one person, I began one thing at a time. You know the rest without me having to say it. You say the path is present in various places, but think seriously about the beginnings of this path. You will see that the path did not come about in one day, two days, or three days. It did not come about all at once. It has been built over many years. If you work on one thing from this perspective, you will receive one gift. If you work on two things, you will receive two gifts. Listen to this truth and understand it. Various countries and places, people say. The beginnings were unsteady. People used to say of this path: “What are they telling us?” “What are they trying to do to us? How could they dare?” Yet, over the years, the path has become what it is now. In the early days, things were forbidden by those from outside. I let them do as they pleased. As years went by, the path became steadier, thereby allowing people in various places to start gaining a vague understanding of the truth of the path. Everything is what God does. I speak of the Origin. As I said before, one person came from over there seeking salvation from a problem and another person came from over here seeking salvation from a problem; it all flowed from the one truth of salvation. Over there and over here, there are church names in various places, people say. There are churches, people say. They did not come into being instantaneously. If you are following the path as if you were going through the early days in the dark, then it will be the same as if you had actually gone through the hardships of those days. If I see you do that, then I cannot leave you to fend for yourself. Truly, I cannot leave you to fend for yourself. You are worried in your mind about what will happen. No matter how many times I instruct you, that will be useless. There is no need for human thinking, no need at all. What you do based on human thinking may seem enduring for the time being, yet you cannot be like that even if you try. I could not let you remain that way even if I wanted. This will not do. Nothing can be done about matters on which I have already given you instructions. You are carrying things out step by step on the basis of human thinking. The world is unaware. It assumes that humans are strong. Yet how did humankind originally come into being? Concerning the truth that I began where there was no form, do you call it a weighty truth or a light truth? It will not do to think of it as light. The truth is enduring. Based on that, I shall speak. Listen carefully and understand well.

Sah, sah, regarding what I have begun, I speak of the Women’s Association. This, too, has started in a small way, yet it has flowed from providence. Although I have started speaking of it, there is no telling whether it will be unwittingly delayed half a year or one year. Therefore, the world may say, “What is it?” when it is not very well known. Even then, salvation needs to begin. The truth that has been contributed thus far is completely buried. Concerning those who come to move in, saying, “This is Jiba,” and serve here day after day, if you say their efforts are nothing important., you make them unimportant. Calling them unimportant amounts to basing yourself on human thinking. The truth that has been contributed until now needs to be duly looked at. Regarding that day, begin by trying to find those who serve as God’s intermediaries. If you truly see things for what they are, they will be clear. How many people did God give instructions to? Look into people’s minds. Among women, are there, or are there not, many who went through hardships from childhood? You will see, if you count them on your fingers. Also there are many upon whom I bestowed the Sazuke. Yet who has the truth of having saved anyone? From this, understand. Women, too, if they settle their mind, saying, “It is indeed so,” can serve, providing that they are treated equally. There is no need for you to say, “There aren’t enough people, there aren’t enough people.” Things can become sufficient even through some slight effort.

On an inquiry about determining who should play the musical instruments for the Service:

Sah, sah, you need to listen carefully and understand well what I have to say. Are you able to handle things in such a way at this time? Are so many working? Count the heads of those who can take part in the Service today. Look into it. I began it this way: I first taught some people, and a number of people have since taken turns. Listen carefully and understand well. Indiscriminately having those within participate is something that comes from your human thinking. If you inquire of God, I shall explain the actual situation. Apart from that, you cannot have the necessary number of persons participate, even if you try. When you based yourself on human thinking in discussing who should participate, what was the result? Everyone in this Residence has heard of it. Take that to heart. It will not do to leave those who are equally capable buried through human thinking. Women, too, have been able to rise because the truth they contributed has been safeguarded by God. Indeed, everything indicates the need to study. If you set about in this way, one will become strong. One will become strong. If you leave aside those who are competent and keep saying that you have not enough people, not enough people, it does not make sense. Thus I have been waiting for the season, yet there is no one who says anything hopeful. When there is a rough understanding, you might say they are just women, women, yet listen carefully and understand. I do not discriminate between men and women. You do not in the least understand My intention. It will not do. Those who are not competent may not be capable of inquiry even if you try to have them inquire. They will become capable after years. If you sow seeds today, they will not yield any crop today. When the season comes, they will sprout and fruit will be borne. Listen well and understand this.

Further, on learning the musical instruments from the persons who were originally taught them:

Sah, sah, respect divine truth. If you respect it sufficiently and fully, there will be as much effectiveness as is appropriate. The truth of this may not be achieved immediately after being mentioned today. If you maintain this frame of mind, the truth of effectiveness will appear.

Further, on how to identify the right people:

Sah, sah, regarding the matter you are inquiring about, now that you have begun to understand, you need to acquire a fuller understanding. Here, at Jiba, increasing numbers of people are beginning to come to the seat of the lectures. “I attended a lecture delivered by a woman. Until now, I had no idea that this was possible. If only the mind is settled and the truth is contributed, splendid things are possible. That reflects an accumulation of effectiveness,” people may say. “I have finally started to see this path,” people may say.

You have again inquired of Me. Women, too, should come to the fore; this cannot be said to be for temporary piece of mind. The truth called a Church Headquarters’ official may not be a simple thing to handle. Yet the mind that is up to it is found within. It will be found in the heart of each of you.

After hands were clapped, the Direction continued:

From now, from now, you should inquire like this. Inquire, and I shall speak. If I give you a Timely Talk and you each bear it in mind, you will not be able to doubt God’s talks. In the beginning when there was no easy understanding, a path of great difficulties and hardships was followed. It will not be understood unless it is talked about day after day. You must listen to this and grasp it for the future. From here and from there; people will come, saying how marvelous and unbelievable. Yet they can understand, depending on how you explain. Day after day, keep your mind from becoming twisted or clouded and, instead, maintain its clarity; I am instructing you in the truth called the effectiveness of your years.

Again, after a while:

Sah, sah, take up a brush, take up a brush. Sah, sah, well, well, now that I have started to speak, you have begun to understand a little. “Someone is not present now. He is not here,” people say. I want to tell you a little about it. So long as three to five persons get a rough understanding and write down the Directions with their minds in unison, there will be no complaints. In fact there should not be any complaints. No one will say, “I have not heard that.” It will not do after a Direction is written down to say, “I think this means this and that.” To those who do not understand, explain. It will not do to remain silent. Among all of you who are gathered together, things that are not understood need to be explained. Bringing understanding to one another is what brothers and sisters do. Without it, this place could not be called a clear Residence or the Mirror Residence. It could only be called a clouded Residence. Such a state will hinder things. If there are people who are slow, treat them all the more kindly. Now that I have instructed you thus far, you will surely understand. The more humble a person’s position is, the more you need to take care of that person. Some instruments are stored away, wrapped in paper, until the day they are carried and used, and other instruments are left unattended only to be taken out and put to use the next day. God gives you just this little talk.

30, morning

March 30, 1898, morning

Timely Talk:

Sah, sah, write this down carefully. So that you will not leave out even one word, I shall speak deliberately. Prepare the brushes. Sah, sah, I say, “a Timely Talk, a Timely Talk.” Until now, somehow even with regard to Timely Talks, you have only grasped a little there and a little here of what I told you. If you understand the main points, however vaguely, even that will do. Yet the main points are left unaddressed. About what you call good things and bad things, you need to correct your understanding of the truth. I have already told you. Understand clearly. Because you bent with human thinking what I told you, you have over the past one or two years followed the path in ways that lack unity. Sah, listen and understand clearly, understand clearly. Well, well, over the past short period of time, over the past year or two, both those of you who are useful and those of you who are not so useful have been totally hopeless. Not even a little has been done in truth in the cause of the path. When finally someone comes to the seat of the lectures, I have that person hear the teachings. There is the one truth of the Sazuke, the Sazuke. One may also speak of sufficient work or fertilizer for the future. I accept it as sufficient truth. In other respects, you have taken a journey that is not at all worthy of being described. If you look back now, you will find no bridge. Without a bridge, you will not be able to cross over. Until now, I have guided all of you along the way, no matter what you are like. Because impossibly difficult journeys had to be taken, I was unable to tell you the truth of the inner heart. Sah, what will remain from now on will be true sincerity and nothing else, as I have told you. At this Residence, a number of women have moved in. I am letting them work. They are all useful, useful. Listen and understand well. Today, you should distinguish between what can be done and what cannot be done. If one says, “Now,” you should set about salvation work. Since this is a path that comes from single-hearted salvation, you need to know the truth of the path.

I have bestowed the Sazuke to a certain extent. Yet despite having received it, some do not know the origin of the Sazuke. They have no idea what they are doing. On the other hand, those who are using it day after day know what they are doing, I expect. If you fully settle the truth of the teaching of the Sazuke in your mind, the one truth may be seen at that time. It will not do to say that just receiving the Sazuke is good enough. In various other places, people are doing whatever they can to help others, even one person, be saved. This place is called the Residence; it is called the Origin. What would become of it if people in the world were to say, “Ah, I wonder if things are always like that there”? That is why I had you begin the matter of the Women’s Association. Regarding those who are buried in humble places, you need to bear them in mind. You need to gather many who have the travel allowance for the mind. Now, the foundation for the Women’s Association has come into being. People will come from the world. They may say, “Today I attended a lecture given by a woman. It was really easy to understand. I had no idea such a person was at Jiba.” Thus can the one truth be conveyed. Today’s Timely Talk is not the sort of Timely Talk that is provided frequently. Because you are all totally slacking off, I came out just to gather and focus your minds.

30

March 30, 1898

A request for instructions was made after those present discussed matters concerning the Residence in relation to the Women’s Association–an issue raised in the Divine Directions in recent days.

Sah, sah, what were you listening to? You have turned My Directions over. Sah, sah, you will not understand unless you pay close attention. In My previous Directions also, I have told you by the truth of repetition that there is in truth no discrimination between men and women. Surely you have all heard that. How are you treating women whose minds are more settled than those of men? I have even told you that I would have women, too, deliver the lectures. Did you fail to write it down? Did you misunderstand it? Sah, suppose you start using new instruments today; would they serve as useful instruments from today? Even with the kind of instruments that are promptly replaced with new ones when they are damaged, it will take time to get used to using them. Although she has devoted herself to the path like everyone else, she was lagging behind. Yet she has reached the point where she is able to deliver the lectures. Women, too, can do anything, do anything, so long as the truth has settled in their mind. Is this path only intended for men so that women are not allowed to come to the fore? I refer to the Women’s Association. Take advantage of this day to let them study. Let them try, so you can see if they can.

“Is it about Rin Masui?”

Now that you have mentioned that, I shall tell you. You are all equally people of the path. You do not understand unless I explain everything. It is all embodied in the red clothes. You might say, “I have also received red clothes.” It is embodied in the red clothes worn during the early days when things were begun in the face of danger. If this is not so, say it is not so.

Sah, sah, there are many others. There certainly are many even in faraway places. Some among them were taking delight even before they understood anything. Someone came all the way across the mountains and hills, when She was physically present. You talk about this. Listen carefully and understand well. It is not as if you still do not understand. Even if you understand deep down, you go wrong because you get caught up in fulfilling human obligations. Therefore, I have made a small beginning by giving a Timely Talk. I had three persons practice. You will recall there was another person whom I designated as an alternate for days that are not good for one or another of the three. Ponder well. Can treating their tasks as the same in truth as cooking and cleaning be said to be the truth that is taught day after day? No matter how many years or how long a time you may say have passed, things are as have been said in previous Directions. There are many kinds of instruments, but an instrument that is an inch long cannot perform a task meant for an instrument that is three feet long. Both instruments can be referred by the same word “instrument,” yet can the three-foot-long instrument and the inch-long instrument be used for the same purpose? You will agree that the inch-long instrument must be used for a task for an inch-long instrument, and the three-foot-long instrument for a task meant for a three-foot-long instrument. As for those who are at this Residence, there is a truth for each one of them, a truth that has reached them. Concerning this Residence, the truth cannot be brought to naught even if one says, “What are they doing over there?” Through the truth that I convey, you go through each day step by step. You will understand this if it is explained through the analogy of a household, for example. It is the same as water. If you scoop up water, you can drink it. Because of the parents, the children exist. No matter how many children there may be, they are all dear to the parents. Yet children who are difficult to deal with tend to be treated accordingly. Some may pass away for rebirth. The parents do not have control over their own children. The parents could not throw them out or sever their ties even if they tried to. Even if a parent thought, “I’d be happy to see him go away wherever he pleases because he is like that,” surely the truth of their ties could not be severed. From this truth, try to grasp my meaning.