Osashizu

"July 23, 1899 Every day I teach the eight kinds of dust, the eight kinds of dust. But just teaching it is like a picture painted on a screen; you often look at it and say it is beautiful. But that is hardly sufficient. Each of you, listen. You must settle the truth in your minds. About this teaching, you must do whatever it takes to settle the truth in your minds."

"December 27, 1899 (Nov. 25, lunar calendar) If you are all brothers and sisters, you share the same pain, just as it hurts when any of the five fingers of your hand is bitten."

"February 12, 1900, supp. vol. You might think, “What if I lose everything as a result of carrying out contribution, which may entail going through hardships and difficulties?” However, the truth of your contribution will endure for a lifetime and for eternity. The truth of delight in your mind will be accepted by Heaven. Listen and understand well. A human being lives only for a lifetime and cannot be said to live forever. However, you can take delight if I tell you that the mind is eternal. The truth of your contribution cannot be allowed to go unnoticed or be abandoned—such is the truth. The truth for eternity cannot be allowed to go unnoticed or be abandoned, because its effectiveness builds gradually year after year."

"April 3, 1900 The Seki is the same as other humans. But when he speaks as the Seki, it is God that is speaking. . . . There is the one truth of the back; there is the one truth of the front. Two are one in truth."

"October 21, 1900 Because it brings delight, you work. Because you work, things get accomplished. But work done out of a sense of obligation or duty will bring about no lasting truth."

"October 31, 1900, 2:00am To begin this path, we dismantled the house. Think of the day we celebrated the occasion, serving people sake and a little food, saying, “How joyous! How joyous!” Indeed, it is an unusual story, an unusual story. Sah, sah, from such a situation we started and have come to this day, have come to the present situation. In the world, there is such a case that a millionaire suddenly becomes poor and a person from the lowest position becomes great. This path has grown up to the present from the dismantling of the house. You must understand this."

"November 26, 1900 Almost everyone has come to this path through health disorders. Those who have come to this path for reasons other than health disorders are very few. I want you to understand and teach all the things that have already been taught. The words Oyasama spoke while physically present are the eternal truth for all generations. I teach you to impart the truth of Her words through all time to come. Listen and understand well. Few are the women who revealed divine truth. The truth Oyasama revealed while physically present did not come from scholarly learning or human wisdom. Yet, there is no limit to the effectiveness gained from the truth of Her words. If you are not attentive, you may not understand what is shown here and there."

"March 11, 1901 People in any relationship share the same causality. Understand that the bond of parent and child is the bond of causality. Whether one has a good child or a bad child is entirely due to causality."

"May 25, 1901 Blacksmith at the back, carpenter at the front. The blacksmith has come to the present day by being supported by the carpenter as the pillar. The Shinbashira is the blacksmith. The Shinbashira is at the back. Carpenter at the front. It is all recorded by the Writing Brush. Also, it is mentioned at the end of the Mikagura-uta."

"May 26, 1901, 6:05pm God desires solely to save you. That is the truth. Is there a parent who intends to have her children go through hardship or difficulties? Understand well!"

"June 14, 1901 You need not be reserved. Not saying as much as you would like out of deference will in the end become shackles. It will become a cloud over the path."

"June 25, 1901 [alternative trans.] It is reckless to say, “I don’t care what happens to me.” . . . It is reckless to say, “I can do whatever I wish, whatever I wish.”"

"March 14, 1902, shortly after 11:00am If you find delight in life each day, feeling, “Ah, how truly blessed I am!” then it is the same as playing joyously here and playing joyously there."

"September 6, 1902 Unite your minds and construct a path of hope. You must reflect it to the world so the world will be convinced that it is the true path to follow."

"September 18, 1903 If you take delight, there is the principle of delight. If you do one thing with delight, this principle will return it ten thousandfold."

"February 25, 1904 (Jan. 10, lunar calendar) Whatever kinds of things may happen, whatever kinds of events may happen, do not fear. Listen and understand the one principle of seasons. For a long time, over the years, I have instructed you. I have instructed you in the Fudesaki. There is not a single thing that is not covered by it. I have already instructed you in all matters. Once things begin, they become increasingly greater. Where can the way of settling great things be found? Listen and understand well. All of you, settle your minds. . . . I have told you that there would be a grave incident. There will be such days. Since you forget what you hear, I have instructed you in detail in the Fudesaki. There is not a single lie."

"April 3, 1904 It is not the sacred rice itself but the truth of the mind that is effective. About this path, complaining of this and that diminishes the path; not that it can possibly be diminished. Regarding what you describe as unimaginable among manifold things, that which is unimaginable from any angle whatever is God. This I thought you should know."

"August 23, 1904 Until now, about everything, I taught by word of mouth. But you forget. Because you forget, I have informed you with the tip of My writing brush. The tip of the writing brush may seem light but it is weighty. You must not take it lightly. It is the basis of My teachings. It will not do to misinterpret it. . . . Concerning the truth I have taught you until now, the kana syllabary may feel soft, yet it conveys key teachings. The spoken word is easily forgotten. The written word is unlikely to be forgotten."

"November 2, 1904 Sah, sah, words alone will not bring understanding. Words are only for the occasion. Only when the words are put into practice will they be good for all eight directions. Then people will know."

"December 11, 1905 With the New Year will come the Twentieth Anniversary. You look at the world situation. You say nothing to each other but you have long held the concern in your hearts. Listen carefully. The path will widen by and by. I shall open it. The provinces are full of complaints. I shall soon open a path out of this difficulty. Take heart everyone, take heart. Before long it will begin. I have clearly shown My working throughout the eight directions. Whatever you hear, do not be afraid."

"May 20, 1906, around 9:00pm To understand the teachings only theoretically is the same as being in the dark. All you need is to settle the truth of convincing insight—God is providing for you sufficiently."

"December 6, 1906 Your state of mind is reflected in the world."

"April 8, 1907 (Feb. 26, lunar calendar), 8:30am I have told you before that what you call “causality” is the path of the mind. It is the path of the mind, I say."

"May 21, 1907 (Apr. 10, lunar calendar), 2:30am Sah, sah, another word, another word. I shall instruct you, basing My talk on the order of development. I begin to speak on a small matter like the beginning of this path. In the beginning, forty-five or six years ago, I began the construction with a building one tsubo square. This was the beginning. That building of one tsubo has resulted in what you see now. At that time there was one who asked Me what to do through My mediators. When I gave him My answer, he responded. When he spoke to Me, I gave him My answer. This has already been recorded in the past records. It began with one tsubo. You might think one tsubo is trifling. Beginnings are such. It was the Seki who said, “I will take responsibility.” All of you, become of this mind. It began with My words, “Begin with one tsubo,” and the path progressed. It was a difficult path, a worrisome path, but from this difficulty the construction was accomplished and the path progressed. Now there are churches in all parts of the nation. But in the beginning there was nothing distinct. It was indeed vague, vague."

"June 9, 1907 (April 29, lunar calendar), 9:00am [...] I am fully satisfied. The Seki is satisfied, is satisfied. At this moment, as the Seki's position becomes critical, all of you have gathered to seek the resolution for his illness, and united your hearts in spite of your problems, to pray for his recovery once again for ten more years of life. I commend your sincerity. It is a sincerity deserving of My free and unlimited workings. You need not worry whether he will recover or not. Firmly calm your minds. All of you take heart and rejoice, take heart and rejoice."