Gokaibi – About the Miracle of Okayama, Where It Hasn’t Rained for Several Years Oyasama (Munetada Kurozumi ) Gokaibi are the days on which Oyasama’s “Speaks”. He had decided on 2 and 7 days of the month for the monthly gatherings, and gave the sermon six times a month (Gokaibi *on 2, 7, 12, 17, 22 and 27th of the month).
However, when it began to rain during the lectures, the people who came to the lectures often began to murmur in the hall.
In Okayama, where a lot of igusa is grown, people were most afraid of rain when they were cutting and drying the igusa.
When it rained in the middle of the day, some of us would get ready to leave, and the meeting would become restless and uneasy. There were many people who still did not really understand the main intention of the path, so they would sometimes rush home, causing the meeting to become crowded with people in a hurry.
At that time, Oyasama said, “Don’t worry, everyone! It will never rain from today on. Listen to me until I tell you what I have to say! Listen to me until you feel at ease!”
The Divine Virtue of Amaterasu
As he said, even on rainy days, the weather turned out to be fine, six times a month, 72 times a year, and for several years (reportedly five years), it never rained.
For this reason, it was spread throughout the neighborhoods without anyone’s knowledge, and the people came to firmly believe in it. People began to say, “It never rains on Gokaibi,” which means it never rains on the Gokaibi.
People began to believe that there was no fear of rain, and they were able to go to meetings with peace of mind. Even on days when it was cloudy in the morning and there was a fear of rain, people would dry their sorghum in peace because today was a good day for the meeting.
However, a few years later, he suddenly thought that although it had not rained once since then, he should decline because it is truly a fearful thing to have the weather be so conveniently influenced by the weather.
Since then, it has been possible to have rain even on the day of Gokaibi.
Even today, there are many days when the weather is fine on Gokaibi. It is nothing short of marvelous that Amaterasu, through Oyasama, has demonstrated Her vast divine virtues to such an extent that even the weather of a region can be affected for a long period of time.
Thus, the divine virtues of Amaterasu are vast and boundless. Oyasama , who has brought such divine power to the Okayama region, is an existence that is beyond the scope of human beings.
The Deity’s Rarely Seen Deity’s Writing in Japan
One year, Mr. Katsusuke Fujita, a senior vassal of the Bizen clan and a student of Oyasama, came to the New Year’s celebration.
Oyasama said, “I have written the divine name you have requested for some time. I wrote this divine name with the heart of an 18-year-old. Oyasama said, “I wrote this divine name with the heart of an 18-year-old.
Fujita-sensei received it gratefully, and on his way to Kyoto, he stopped at a house in Kyoto to have his work done there, as he had just arrived in Kyoto that year. He stopped at a house in Kyoto on his way there, which was the home of an expert in judging ink color.
When I showed him the scroll, he said, “This is a truly wonderful calligraphy, probably one of the rarest and most virtuoso brush strokes of all time in Japan.
However, there is one thing I cannot agree with. It is puzzling that a person who has accumulated such great virtues should have reached the age of 20 years old.
Perhaps a person who has acquired this great virtue must be 60 to 70 years old, but this brush stroke is not above the age of 20. At any rate, it is a fearfully virtuous brush! It is said that he was amazed at the calligraphy.
On another occasion, one of his students wanted to test the value of a painting by Oyasama and asked a famous connoisseur for his opinion. The connoisseur looked at the calligraphy carefully and was greatly impressed.
I don’t think anyone since “Sugawara no Michizane” has been able to write like this. Only a person of very high virtue could have written it like this.
Masaharu Yamada, author of “Kurozumi Munetada, God-Man of the Sun,” says in his book that when he saw the hanging scroll of “Amaterasu God” displayed in the treasure house of the Kurozumi Sect headquarters, he was truly surprised by its power and elegance, and involuntarily applauded and worshiped it.
Calligraphy is a direct expression of a person’s humanity, and there is no way to deceive it. When I was young and devoted to Zen, my teacher gave me a lecture on Hakuin’s ink seki during the Edo period (1603-1868).
Among the many calligraphic works of Hakuin, there is a famous Zen painting depicting an Iron Bar, which has been a topic of discussion among Zen practitioners since ancient times.
The painting is so powerful that even if it were displayed in a living room, it would be so overwhelming that it would be impossible to keep it there.
Hakuin’s overwhelmingly powerful calligraphy was once described as “so powerful that even if it were displayed in my living room, it would be so overwhelming that I would not be able to display it. Hakuin is indeed a rare Zen master who is considered the founder of the revival of the Rinzai Zen sect in Japan.
In this way, the power of Hakuin’s works can be felt even after several hundred years, and his humanity is faithfully reflected in his writings. The handwriting of Sochu is characterized by virtue and elegance, and differs from that of Hakuin.
Emperor Meiji’s father, Emperor Kōmei, was a great devotee of Sōchū Oyasama and designated Munetada Shrine in Kyoto as the sole place of worship for him in 1885. Emperor Komei was deeply devoted to Oyasama.
The number of people who believed in the shrine increased one after another, including the Kujo family, the Nijo family, the Rokujo family, the Kanroji family, and the Tokudaiji family, as well as the nobles. Sanjo Sanetomi, who contributed to the Meiji Restoration, was one of them. This was due to the activities of his younger brother Tadaharu Akagi.
It is said that Admiral Togo, who defeated the Baltic Fleet in the Russo-Japanese War, trusted in Oyasama and fought with all his might while chanting Oyasama’s Shinto Songs in his heart.
The victory of the Battle of the Sea of Japan, a rare victory in history, was not only due to Admiral Togo’s command, but also to the blessings of God.
There are still some marvelous stories about the personality of Kurozumi Munetada, the Great Spiritual Examiner, that I would like to share with you.
1. Prayer for an arsonist
One morning the roof of Munetada’s house was charred in some places, so someone went up to the roof to take a look and found that seven places had been set on fire.
Fortunately, it was not serious, but there were remnants of torches that had been set on fire, and when he came down with them and presented them to Munetada,
he said, “ Oh, this was truly a terrible thing. Thank you very much for your hard work ! It is truly a terrible thing to set fire to someone’s house.
If it had been discovered, he would have been severely punished and even burned at the stake ! Fortunately, it was not serious. I was sorry to God that I had caused people to commit such a serious crime.
I must thank God for the safe outcome and apologize to God for the person’s transgression. I pray that the person will change his mind and turn back to a righteous and true human being ! “
He washed the torch clean, purified it with salt water, and prayed with sincerity for three weeks for the reformation and recovery of the person who had set the torch on fire.
Arsonist Appears to Apologize
Strangely enough, on the evening of the three-week period, a stranger came to the house and said in a trembling voice,
“About 20 days ago, I went up on the roof of your house and set it on fire, but somehow, it did not catch fire even though I put it on.
It was impossible for a roof made of dry grass not to catch fire, but I lit fires in as many as seven places. I was so frightened that I realized that it was the Goddess of Mercy, so I threw the torch’s cinders there and fled home.
I was deeply sorry for what I had done, and I continued to be troubled by my regret. Please forgive me.”
Munetada was pleased that the sincerity of his prayer had been received, and he explained the purpose of the path to the man. The person was so moved to tears that he finally offered the Divine Grant and proceeded on the right path.
The story goes that this person was a kind of ascetic or exorcist who gradually became a devotee of Munetada, and out of envy and resentment he set himself on fire. There is a noble saying, “Pray for those who curse you,” and Munetada’s example is a perfect example of this.
This story shows how pure and innocent he was. It is a precious story that the act of praying with sincerity for 21 days for the arsonist reached God.
2. being blessed with money by a highway robber
Munetada was walking home at sunset in a deserted area (around a rice granary, I hear) when a man appeared from the shadows and suddenly blocked his way, saying, “I really need 10 Ryo of Gold. Please lend me the money! He was a robber. He was a robber.
Munetada, who was listening to this, stared at the man’s face, but then quietly said,
“You need it ? I am surprised that you would stand on such a lonely nighttime street and ask a stranger for money. I understand. I will lend you the money.
But I only have five cars on me at the moment. I am sorry to say this, but please take this much with you tonight and go home.
I will bury the other five by the water bowl at the shrine in Imamura. Leave a small stone to mark the spot. Please pick them up tomorrow night. I will definitely bury the five cars.”
The chaser looked at Munetada’s face for a while, but then said, “He seems to be an honest-looking old man. He would not tell a lie. He is a very polite man.
When I told him that I would give him 10 cars, he took it as it was and gave me 5 Ryo of Gold, and then gave me another 5 Ryo of Gold orrow night ! The “Mere Old Man” left that night with a sense of dismay and admiration.
The next night, I went to the Imamura Shrine with half a doubt in my mind and found the 5 Ryo under the stone as promised.
There is no one like a god nowadays ! He was deeply ashamed of his wrong mind and actions, and eventually came to have strong faith in him as one of his students.
It may sound like a lie, but Munetada never had any blame to the other party and was given a chance to recover from the crime of being chased.
3. being falsely accused
Munetada was once again asked to repay a debt of 6 Ryo by a relative, which was repaid in full. However, the other party demanded another repayment. At that time, Munehata paid the high demand of 6 Ryo without telling anyone.
If he had said flatly, “I have already paid,” he would have caused suspicion, scrutiny, and various other problems, and so he silently put on the “robe of shame” himself.
4. accepting the guilt of embezzlement
Whenever a person who owed a debt to a certain samurai was urged to repay the debt, he would simply make up a perfunctory excuse, but finally the samurai grew tired of the situation and came to him himself to repay the debt.
The warrior was determined to make the debtor pay even if he had to “cut off” the debtor if the debtor did not pay. Knowing that the troubled warrior respected Munetada Sensei, he took advantage of his respect for Sensei and lied, saying that he had already given the money to Kurozumi Sensei, who had first spoken to him long ago.
The warrior thought this was a little strange, but the other party insisted so strongly that he changed his face and came to Munetada’s house.
When Munehada was visited by the samurai at the entrance, he saw that the samurai was in an unusual mood and immediately said,
“I have indeed received the money, but I have only half of the money on hand. For now, I will give you only half of the money today. I will bring the rest in the near future.
After that, his wife asked me, “Is it true what you just said ? Is it true what just happened ? Was it you who received the money ?
If you have spent other people’s money without telling them, it would be a disgrace to you, who preach the Way of the People !” In response, Munetada said, “Now, that money is being spent.
In response, Munetada said, “When I looked at the samurai’s face, it was bloodthirsty and furious ! If I had told the truth, he would have turned around and been cut down.
I must take the blame for this, so I immediately made up my mind to lie. Thankfully, a man’s life was saved ! What is my name ? The heavens know it. This is the true way !” He replied, “This is the true way !”
5. the story of the kitten who fell into the well (Live freely in the infinite cosmic world ! Do not spend your time trapped in the cramped material world.)
It is a story about a time when He went to Okayama city on a divine mission. A large group of people had gathered and looked as if something was happening, so Munetada stopped to look.
He saw that a kitten was stuck at the bottom of a well and was about to drown, and people were rescuing it. A small colander was hung from a rope and lowered, and the kitten jumped onto the colander.
When they pulled it up and almost reached the top of the well, the kitten tried to jump out of the way and plunged with a thud into the deep bottom of the well.
No matter how many times we tried, we could not save the cat as it jumped out prematurely and fell into the well over and over again.
Munehata, who was watching the scene closely, eventually became teary-eyed and cried uncontrollably. The attendant, Ginjibei, said, “I feel sorry that we could not save the cat, but it was only one cat. There is no need for you, Oyasama, to weep !”
Hearing this, Muneada said, “Gin-san, I am not talking about a kitten! I am talking about human beings! People may look clever, but they are repeating the same thing as that kitten.
Even though God makes every effort to save them, they could be saved if they would just stay still a little longer, but they immediately give up their own unnecessary ego and throw away their lives.
And then, he himself plunges into the abyss of deep karma. I cannot help but weep, thinking of how much God pities mankind ! “
He said, “I cannot help but weep ! ” It is exactly as he said.
If we leave everything to the heavens and live with a generous heart, we can live in the world as we wish. We must put aside our materialistic, self-indulgent ego and live freely and joyously under the blessings of God. 6.
6. the story of how the ship was saved from capsizing in the nick of time
In this story, Munetada was on the verge of capsizing his ship when he threw a piece of paper with a poem written on it into the sea, and the storm subsided in an instant.
The story is described in “Anecdotes of Munetada” under the title of “Kogushi Oki Gosainan Boat” (A ship in distress off Kogushi). On March 8, Koka 3 (1846), Munetada was on her way to Shodoshima when she encountered a storm off the coast of Kogushi (Okayama City).
The previously calm sea was suddenly swept away by a gust of wind, and the large and small boats under sail were rocked so violently by the heavy waves that they nearly capsized. The ship on which Munetada was riding was also in a state of near capsizing.
The boatmen tried their best to avoid capsizing, but they could not avoid capsizing, and the passengers on the boat were in an uproar, praying to the gods and Buddha for help.
Munetada sat quietly with his eyes closed. The boatman said, “This ship is about to capsize. Please be prepared.”
Hearing his voice, Munetada took out his Yatate, opened a piece of kaishi paper, and wrote a poem on it.
Wadatsutsukami, the god of the sea, who calms the wind and waves To the rider who knows the heaven and the sun
(I, who am spreading the divine virtues of Amaterasu, God of the sun, to the world, do you dare to sink the ship on which I am riding? O Dragon God who controls the sea, calm the waves and winds.)
The stormy waves that had been swept out to sea were suddenly calmed, and the people who had been thrown overboard were saved.
Among those saved was a man named Ito Sadasaburo from Matsuzaki, Tottori Prefecture. He was on another boat with his son on their way to worship at Kompira-Sama when they were caught in a great storm and both father and son were thrown into the waves, but the waves suddenly subsided and they were saved.
Ito Sadasaburo was the chief watchman of Funaki, a large merchant, and he told his master, Funaki Keishige, about this miraculous experience, and Funaki became interested in the Kurozumi-kyo.
He later learned that the reason the storm suddenly stopped was due to Oyasama on a different ship, and he became a Kurozumi-kyo member. It is said that he eventually became a teacher and devoted himself to missionary work.
There is another story that seems to be related to this one. Once, when Kobo-Daishi was about to travel to Tang China in search of Buddhism on a Japanese envoy’s ship, the ship was struck by a storm and heavy waves, and was in danger of capsizing and sinking.
However, the Master was not upset at all because he was going to Tang China to lead the people of Yamato to the teachings of Buddha Dharma, and he was completely unperturbed.
I have taken this up as proof that there is an invisible force in this world that can end a storm.
Carrying a dead child on his back for more than half a day, he visited Dr. Ishida.
Shima, the second daughter born to Iwa Ikeuchi and Iwakichi, fell ill at the age of 3. Without assistance, her pulse and breathing stopped, and doctors diagnosed her as dead.
It was 5:00 a.m. on April 9, 1882. Relatives were making arrangements for her burial. (Honorifics omitted in the text.)
Ikeuchi’s parents, who had always had deep faith in Oyasama and adored Sakichi Ishida (the first director, who was known as Ishida’s one blow and had saved many lives), received “OKAGE” (miracle) from Dr. Ishida,
In order to save the life of their dead child, the mother, Iwa, left home with her husband, Iwakichi, to visit Dr. Ishida with the cold child on her back.
Carrying the dead child on their backs, they walked on foot along mountain roads from Sakamoto Village to Ishii Village on the Misaka Pass in search of Dr. Ishida in the inconvenient Meiji Era
and finally found the doctor they sought at the home of a man named Asayama in Matsuyama City.
It was already night when I was able to meet Dr. Ishida. Imagine, dear readers, that the time of the child’s death was written at 5:00 a.m.
It says that the child died at 5:00 a.m., so it was night when he was able to meet Dr. Sakichi Ishida after carrying the dead child on his back for more than 40 kilograms. More than 12 hours had already passed since the child’s death.
Is it conceivable that the dead child could come back to life? Even in this day and age of advanced modern medicine, it is inconceivable.
If it is immediately after death, artificial respiration may bring it back to life, but if more than half a day has passed, it is impossible.
Modern medicine diagnoses that the brain tissue loses function over time after death and that resuscitation after a few hours is irreversible, but how do you explain such a case scientifically?
However, a miracle happened to my parents who believed in Dr. Ishida single-mindedly.
Here, we have to admit that there is indeed a world beyond the common sense and the three-dimensional world.
Miraculous case of a dead child being resuscitated
When Iwakichi, a believer, asked at the door, “Is Ishida Sensei around?” at the entrance.
Dr. Ishida replied, “Oh, it’s Mr. Iwakichi, isn’t it? Isn’t that Mr. Iwakichi, what can I do for you this midnight?”
I’ve come to visit you because my three-year-old child is ill and no longer breathes! I have come to visit the doctor!
In response, Dr. Ishida said, “I’m surprised you carried him all the way here on your back! Come on, get up!”
He began his visit early in the morning, and we were finally able to meet him.
The teacher performed a purification ceremony, placed his hands on his stomach, and performed Otoritsugi (a word unique to the Kurozumi-kyo sect).
As he did this, her abdomen became warm and She let out the words, “Milky, baby, baby! The dead infant was resuscitated.
Amazingly, the infant, who had been dead for more than half a day, began to breathe and came back to life! This is a truly wonderful experience that would have been impossible.
In Kurojumi-kyo, such miracles were often performed by Oyasama . We can see many such cases in anecdotes. Even if it cannot be proven scientifically, there are many spiritual experiences.
Parents who had been walking with their dead children on their backs now became warm and were able to return home with their revived children in their arms.
The revived Shima later became the bride of Kikuzawa Enzaburo, and her mother, Iwa, gave her a sacred title as she carried him in her arms.
She gave it her, saying, “Your wedding present is lousy, but this is a precious tool and you should treat it with care and pride! She gave it her.
Kikuzawa Enzaburo is described as an elder of the former Myojin Church. Her mother, Iwa Ikeuchi, who lived to be 97 years old, was a pious believer who worked as a missionary in the Gunaka area.
This book was published in a small number for believers about half a century ago. When I called the church the other day, I was told that there are no copies of this book left.
In Kurozumi-kyo, it is commonplace to hear such stories passed down from place to place, and they are expressed with the word ” OKAGE (thanks).”
It is an irreverent idea to say, “Miracles happen when you want them to happen,” but the idea is that the universe is full of living things, and we should seize them! It means, “Seize it! It is possible only with a sincere heart.
It is interesting to note that those who later became great propagators of the teachings were all those who at first viewed the teachings as evil or bogus.
They thought that the teachings were false because of their academic knowledge, and they were reluctant to listen to the precious teachings because they assumed that “there is no mystery in the true law.
Even the third director, Sasao Ishida, was as indifferent as an ordinary person in his early days.
I have no doubt that a similar reaction would occur even today. That is how high the hurdle is to be initiated into Amaterasu.
It is only when “thanks” actually fall on our bodies that we can feel the miracle or have faith in it.
Unless you have a miraculous experience that shakes you to the core, you will not be able to understand how grateful you are in reality.
Metal Plate Paste (paste material can be paper) Words Bronze and Seated Statue
In 2019, a compression fracture of my spine and the side effects of antibiotics turned me from a healthy, disease-free body to a crippled state that at one point made it difficult for me to even walk.
I decided to sell the Word Bronze on this blog as a reminder of a plan I had 20-odd years ago. It is a bit of an exaggeration to call it a sale, but I would like to make it a souvenir of my journey to the underworld.
When I leave my body, I want to do so with no regrets and go to God with as much peace of mind as possible.
This exhibition is also an introduction to the excellent, almost previously unseen work of Isao Tabata, a leading sculptor in Japan and a resident of Takaoka City.
He was a young man when we asked him to create the sculpture, but he is now one of the most prominent bronze sculptors in Japan. I am sorry for all the trouble I have caused you.
When I took the liberty of calling him on the phone, I was very impressed to find out that he remembers those days very well. He is an artist with a deep sense of nostalgia who willingly agreed to our minor modifications.
Looking back now, I feel ashamed that I asked him so many times to make minor changes, without regard for the trouble it would have caused.
The reason for this small-scale sale of only 20 pieces is that I want the world to know and recognize the bronze works that I poured my heart and soul into,
even if it is only a small number of pieces, after quitting my job as a salaried worker. When I pass away, they will be disposed of and buried forever.
I put all of my savings and retirement money into creating this work with passion.
I am sure it would sell well if sold at a lower price, but I do not want to sell it at a discount. Since the sculptor is a well-known sculptor,
it is understandable that the work was recognized by the world only when it sold at a reasonable price.
