"March 26, 1898 This path teaches everything from previous lives to the present life and even to rebirths. This being so, I speak of the 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. . . . 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. But do not think they are all to do the same thing. 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 principle. Listen and understand this point well. . . . I make no distinction between men and women. . . . Is it a man or woman who opened this path? You can understand everything if you look at it from this perspective. . . . If you members of the Women’s Association would grasp what is taught in the path of single-hearted salvation that Oyasama followed, a feeling for what your association ought to do would arise in your minds."