God and Humans The Biography of the Founder Konkō

Daijin of the Konkō Religious Sect in

Japan

The Author : Hideki Kubota Translated by Joan Stamm Introduction

I want to introduce the biography of Konkō Daijin, the Founder of the Konkō religious sect, as a typical pattern of new religious movement which sprang up between 1814 and 1883. Until then, there were mainly Buddhist sects, Shintoism, and only a few folkloric beliefs.

But, the new political power of the Meiji Restoration destroyed an isolation policy of the Tokugawa‒Shogunate and feudal traditions. Among ordinary people, new religions were put forth, derived from folkloric beliefs. The biography of the Founder, Konkō Daijin which I translated here, can be said to represent one of these sects. I hope the readers will understand the Japanese mind through this story.

Joan Stamm

Preface

We are touched by the great love of Konkō Daijin, the Founder of the Konkō‒ kyo religious sect. His spirit enriches our heart and minds, enabling us to feel more love.

It is usually said that children in the third year of elementary school can look at human life as a story. I wrote

about the Founder, Konkō Daijin’s life in the Konkō news paper as a serious of chapters.

The Founder, Konkō Daijin was born in a poor famer’s home at the end of the Edo period (The Tokugawa Shogunate), and was adopted by an acquaintance, who had no children. His childhood name was Genshichi. Genshichi was very diligent, and as a grown‒up man, was valued by the villagers.

Genshichi was subjected to many ordeals, such as disease and death in his family and that of his domestic animals.

He felt like bursting into tears every day. During this time, Genshichi noticed that someone was

encouraging him, through all his many hardships. When he was seriously ill, and suffered from a high temperature, he recognized that that someone was God, because he heard God’s voice.

While writing this story, I became very impressed with his attitude and how he prayed deeply to God, growing nearer to God’s sacredness every day. I often couldn’t continue writing because of my strong emotions.

Hideki Kubota

1. The Child of God As the day of the autumn festival grew near, the village

farmers took a rest from their work. They went to the forest shrine to worship God and pray for protection of their land.

On the evening of the autumn festival, a bouncing baby boy was born in a farmer’s house. His parents named him Genshichi.

His father, Mr. Juhei Kandori and his mother, Mrs. Shimo Kandori were very pleased to have a child.

They said, “The baby was a present from God.” When the sun rose in the eastern sky, they set out for the

fields, and when the sun set in the west, they returned home by starlight.

The villagers produced the rice for the lord of the castle. Genshichi’s father expected him to be a good farmer when he grew‒up. His parents often visited the shrine or temple of the village with Genshichi, and they would say this prayer.

“We pray to God for our boy to be kind and courageous.” After many years, his parent’s wishes were granted. As a

grown up man, Genshichi helped a lot of suffering and sorrowful people, according to God’s love.

The Founder, Konkō Daijin was born at Urami village in 1814, at the end of the Edo period.

2. Praying to God while Playing

Genshichi imaged that God lived somewhere near the sacred shrine in the woods. He built his own shrine out of soil and joined his hands in prayer. “Please God, bless my parents. Help them in their work and

keep them healthy.”The villagers were impressed with his honest attitude, and

said. “Today, the boy built a play shrine.” “ Even a man doesn’t pray to God as hard as him.”One day, a villager asked him the following. “Genshichi, people often say that you are a great

worshipper. Do you talk with God ? ” “No,L have not heard God’s voice, even though I’ve asked him

repeatedly. But, doesn’t God live everywhere ? ” Genshichi asked the villager. “Well now, I don’t know,” answered the villager, and

Genshichi left him deep in thought.Genshichi returned to the shrine in the woods. He stood in a

clump of trees, and strained his ears to hear. A puff of wind came sweeping over the tops of the trees, making a soft sound. Next, he went to the rice field and strained his eyes. The

rays of the sun on the ears of the rice plants were obscured

for a moment because a flowing cloud blocked the sunlight. Genshichi thought it was a signal from God.

3. The Prayer of the Parents

Genshichi was weak, and often got ill. At five years old, he accidentally got red pepper in his eyes an suffered much pain. At six years old, he came down with smallpox, and at nine with the measles. Smallpox and measles gave him a terrible fever. In those days, children died of these diseases.

For many days, Genshichi thought he would die. Through a crack in the door, he looked at the sunshine, the blue moonlight and the faint twinkling of stars in the night sky.

Genshichi imaged he heard God’s voice. “Genshichi, you must not be defeated by disease. Be

patient.” Genshichi continued to pray to God, barely moving his

lips. His parents returned home from the field by turns, and carefully nursed him.

After several days, Genshichi woke up in the middle of the night, and heard the voice of his parents praying to God to heal his disease.

Before he knew what was happening, his fever went away. He listened to the hearty songs of the “bell‒ring”insects from the grass.

“To humans, the grass, and the insects, God gives life to all.”

Genshichi gave deep thanks to God.

4. An Adopted Child

When Genshichi was twelve years old, an unforeseen event happened to him. An acquaintance of his parents, who had no children, often asked the sons of other families to his home. One day, Genshichi’s parents agreed to let this acquaintance adopted him.

When Genshichi heard about this adoption, he felt deep sorrow and his whole world seemed dark.

“I hate to be separated from my parents,” he cried. His father, although sorrowful, stood firm with his arms crossed. His mother felt sadness and cried with Genshichi.

Two uncles were also eager to adopt Genshichi into their homes.

One of them said, “Your family is very lucky to have so many lively children, but a home with no children is lonely.”

And the other one said to Genshichi. “Go now to the acquaintance’s house, and help him,

won’t you ? ” Since the request for Genshichi was so earnest, he made

up his mind to be adopted, feeling partly sorrowful at being separated from his parents, and partly proud for being useful at the other home.

Genshichi wiped his tears off his cheek with the back of his hand and smiled so as to put them at their ease.

5. Otani Village

Genshichi was adopted by the acquaintance, the Kawate family living in the neighboring village of Otani.

His father’s name was Mr. Kumejiro Kawate, and his mother’s name was Ms. Iwa Kawate. Genshichi changed his name to Bunjiro.

The Kawate house was very poor and had only a small room. “What food do yo hate?” His new parents asked him. “I hate rice boiled with barley.”Bunshichi said truthfully.

The farmer’s duty was to supply rice to the lord of the castle, but the farmers could only eat barley, or millet. To eat rice was considered very luxurious to the farmers, but Bunjiro’s parents gave their son rice meals by trading barley for rice.

Bunjiro worked in the fields with his parents. He sold pine branches to the tile factory near his house, and often made

time to visit the forest shrine. The villagers talked about him, saying “The child will be respected by many people.”

Bunjiro occasionally visited the Kandori house in Urami village where he was born. His real parents felt happy for him because he was very healthy and useful to the Kandori house.

6. A Teacher

“Don’t go to the field today, come with me.”His father walked quickly ahead of Bunjiro. The way was different from the normal route to the field. And his father looked more serious than usual.Bunjiro felt a little uneasy. Before long, his father

stopped in front of the largest mansion in the village which belonged to the village headman.

The Shoya, or village headman, represented the village. “Shoya wants to speak to you for a moment,”his father said.

Bunjiro trembled with fear because of the strict atmosphere of the Shoya’s residence.

Mr. Mituemon Ono told Bunjiro to sit down near him.“From the village rumors, I’ve heard that you are very

diligent. You must learn to be useful for the society. I will be your teacher.” For one year, Bunjiro studied reading, writing, and how to

use soroban (a Japanese abacus). A lot of villagers visited the mansion of Mr. Ono to accept his orders or to consult with him about problems.

Bunjiro noticed that people had suffering and sorrow in their lives. He prayed quietly to God for these people’s safety.

7. Visiting a shrine to thank the blessings of God.

Bunjiro saved steadily while working with his father constructing a road and a pond.He had suffered with stomach pains since he was fifteen

years old, and it had been difficult to get rid of them, but Bunjiro continued to visit the shrine, and one day, his pains went away. Then his grandmother died and he experienced much sorrow.

Bunjiro began to understand that there were a lot of sorrowful and trying things. He had a habit of praying to God for other people.

Bunjiro was asked to visit the Ise shrine by Sakutaro, the son of the village headman. Ise shrine was the largest shrine in Japan, and it was said that people went there topray for special things.

For the last two years, many men and women died from famine and infection due to the cold weather. Because of this, many people visited the Ise shrine topray for safety and protection.

Bunjiro was deeply impressed by the people who offered free food and lodging to the worshipers visiting the shrine.

8. The Baby

Bunjiro grew up to be a strong young man. His family became more well off through the hard physical labor of his father. When he was eighteen years old, his younger brother was born. The baby was named Tsurutaro. “It is very mysterious to see a baby come into my home.”Bunjiro thought the power of life was unfathomable as he looked at the baby’s crying face. It looked like the red face of a monkey.

“My baby brother was able to come here from the land of God as the result of my continuing prayers.”

His mother lay in bed, holding the baby and smiling. All people come from the land of God, and they are called the sons and daughters of God. God always keeps a very close watch over all people.

Bunji visited the shrine to pray for his parents and his young brother’s health. The villagers, passing near the shrine, said, “The poor lord passed away, at only fourteen years old.”“We don’t know what to do about birth and death. ”

But, Bunjiro thought this was God’s action. The love and blessing of God enabled the grass to grow naturally, and the birds to fly.

9. The Name

After the death of the lord, there came a new lord to Bunjiro’s land. He was the son of the lord of Shimane country ( now Shimane Prefecture).

The villagers were excited when seeing an announcement put up on a board in the corner of the village. The board described Sojiro Maita, the new lord. “Don’t use the same name as Jiro the lord.”The lord’s soldiers issued an official notice to each village, announcing that they were not to use the samename as the lord, as it would be rude.

The villagers wanted to preserve their parents names, but they could not protest against the lord’s order. Unwillingly, they thought hard to find new names. In the end, the village headman, Mr. Ono found new names for some villages who couldn’t find names for themselves.

Both the father, named Kumejiro and the son, named Bunjiro, had to change their names because of the pronunciation. The father named himself Tarozaemon, the same as the brave samurai’s name, and Bunjiro

named himself Kunitaro, because Kuni means the country, and taro means strong man.

One day, the lord changed his name to Gonnosuke‒Matazaemon. Because of this, Bunjiro changed his name again, this time to Bunji.

10. The Death

The great famine visited the Tenpou era in 1833. There were crop failures all over the country because of too much rain and low temperatures.

Riots broke out in Osaka and Edo. The merchant’s ware houses were attacked and thw rice was taken by force.There were especially severe famines in the

northeastern region, and many people died. It is said that a few people who suffered from the famine, ate the dead people.There was sorrow even in the Kawate House. The young

brother, Tsurutaro died. The doctor was at a loss as to how to heal his terrible stomach pains and he grew thinner and became worn‒out. His father then became seriously ill because of losing his

son.Bunji visited the shrine and prayed to God as hard as he

could, reciting the following, “Please help my father, anyway you can.”His father remained seriously ill, and seemed to be infected with his son’s disease.His father called Bunji to his bedside, and said in a faint voice, “Our family’s ancestors gave our family the name Akazawa, and then later changed it to Kawate. I feel a series of misfortunes has happened under the influence of this name. I hope that you will change it back to Akazawa and live happily.”

His father died in less than twenty days after his son, Tsurutaro’s death.

11. The Bride

Bunji changed his family’s name back to Akazawa as his father wished. His mother felt lonely, after losing two members of her family so suddenly.

“I want you to have a happy marriage, and children.” Granting his mother’s wish, Bunji married a young

woman named Tose, who lived in the same village. The wedding procession took the long wy around and went up to Bunji’s house.

The villagers feared the God called Konjin very much, and said.

“There is a terrible God who is said to kill any humanwho acts rudely towrd the God in the north. If the procession faces the north, the bridegroom, the bride and their family will be under the direct influence of this terrible God, Konjin.”

Bunji’s bride was very smart, and her cheerful voiceencouraged his family to brighten up and to forget their loss. Even Bunji’s mother began to smile again.

Tose was also a good worker, as good as Bunji. Bunji was eager to work, and prayed to God day and night for his family’s prosperity.

He asked a carpenter to build a new bath and a lavatory. Bunji felt proud, throwing out his chest and saying, “I have enlarged my house to prepare for our children.”

12. Sweat Through Working Hard

Bunji worked harder. He cultivated the cotton plant which was set at a high price. To gain more money, he

worked on the construction of a road and a river bank, and with this money, he bought more and more fields.

Bunji was able to increase his harvest by observing the weather. He became very good at reading the signs of nature.

He understood how much manure to put in the field by looking at the colour of the soil and recognizing the feel of it. He also studied when to sow seeds and harvest farm produce by observing nature. His cow worked very hard for him, and never tired, because he treated her kindly.

Bunji became a master‒hand at agriculture, and received the largest quantity of farm produce.

Shoya depended on him for important things. Bunji designed an irrigation system by channeling the village pond water to the fields. He also brought much money for the village to the public office of the lord.

Bunji eventually gained an important post in the village meetings.

Servants of the Tokugawa－Shogunate came to investigate the life of the villages, murching in procession.

Shoya ordered Bunji to carefully manage the important servants. Bunji worked hard, guiding the servants, and bringing the documents, scarcely sleeping at all.

The servants were very satisfied with his industriousness, and Shoya was also pleased with him. Increasingly, the villagers came to respect him.

13. The Autumn

Bunji’s bride had a baby boy. “This baby is my heir, I am very happy, ”said Bunji. Bunji named the baby Kametaro.

Bunji’s mother looked at the baby with pleasure in her eyes, and said, “Finally, I have a grandson.”But,

Shortly afterwards Bunji’s mother began to shake with fever and turned pale. Bunji immediately called a doctor.

Bunji worried, “I feel that my mother’s disease is an unlucky sign or a message from God, as if evil spirits will cause something bad to happen to my baby.”

The following summer, it rained for many days. The embankment of the Satomi river broke in front of the village.The flood did a great deal of damage to the crops, since they lay under water in the fields. The farmers were again subjected to a famine.

At the beginning of the autumn of that year, Bunji’s only son, Kametaro died at four years old, from dysentery. Bunji sat down before the household Shinto altar, and sobbed. Bunji envied the insects very much as they sang with life in the hills and fields.

14. The Hope

Bunji was overcome with sorrow at having lost his only son, but he eas determined to remain strong.

“If I do nothing but fell sorrow, I will be scolded by God. I must support my old mother and my lonely bride.”

Bunji prayed earnestly to God. “Why didn’t God help Kametaro ? ”

Bunji thought for a moment, but he begged God’s pardon for doubting his deep love.

After about two months, his wife had another baby boy, her second son, who they named Makiemon.

“Surely, the late Kametaro must be born again as this baby,”said his mother.

“We must bring up this time. We know wecan do it because all members of the family will continue to pray to God,”said his grandmother.

They prayed to God, facing a household Shinto altar. Bunji also prayed with them.

Bunji felt a deep calm spread through his mind, and thought it must be God’s expression. He closed his eyes and involuntarily prayed with his hands pressed together.

Bunji made plans to extend his house in celebration of his young son’s birth.

He built a barn in which to store a beautiful crop. It seemed to renew his hope whenever he extended his house.

15. Visiting Around Shikoku

Bunji’s bride had a third baby boy, named Nobujiro. Bunji now had a family of five.

He was thirty three years old, which in Japan is considered an unlucky year. It is said that unhappiness, disease or anaccident could happen to one during this year. People strictly believed in the unluckiness of the age of thirty three.

Bunji made up his mind to visit the Shikoku region. There are eight temples there where Kōbō－

Daishipreached in the beginning of the eighth century. He was the Founder of Shingon－shu, the largest Buddhist sect in Japan. People believed they received the blessing of Buddha by visiting these temples.Bunji visited both the shrines and temples, praying to God and Budda for tenderness and honesty, reflecting on his past conduct. He also prayed to God to lead him towards peace and further from misfortune.

Bunji set out with his acquaintances to visit the eighty eight temples of Shikoku. He carried a walking stick, rosary and a bell. The visitors of the eighty eight temples

were called Ohenro－san. Bunji’s party met many Ohenro

－sans, who had lost their children in illness, or had their parents killed by robbers, or been cheated out of their property, or were simply lonely. Bunji understood that there were many people who had no one to talk to about their sorrow. He visited all temples of the Shikoku region in thirty four days.

16. In the Evening

When Bunji was thirty four years old, his wife had a baby girl. He named her Chise. One dawn in summer, Chise felt ill. A doctor came at once to Bunji’s house to examine her. But he hung his head in doubt, not knowing how to help her, and finally left, giving her some medicine. Bunji felt somehow that something unlucky would occur, and called in another doctor to see Chise. Feeling anxiety, Bunji depended on his relatives and neighbors to pray to God to help his daughter.

Chise breathed her last that evening. She was not yet nine months old. Buddha didn’t beat her disease though Bunji visited the temples in Shikoku and prayed to Buddha to protect his family. Bunji had now lost his first－born daughter and his eldest son. Bunji made a little coffin, and laid Chise in it, stroking her head. In silence, he kept his eyes fixed upon her dead face, and was consoled by his neighbors. Chise seemed to be sleeping quietly, and would open her eyes wide at any moment.

After finishing Chise’s funeral rites, Bunji worked silentlywith his cow in the rice fields from morning till night.

Bunji didn’t want to be seen with tears in his eyes by anyone, and so he yielded to sorrow in private.

17. The House

The next year in April, his wife had a fourth son, named Mohei. “I think that God presented this baby to us in time for the flowering of the cherry tree,”said his wife.

And his mother said, “The spirit of Chise has come back to us, just like the spirit of Kametaro came back through Makiemon.”

Bunji felt encouraged at having a new baby boy Mohei, and wanted to extend his house. He vowed to God to keep a spirit of tolerance while extending his house. A villager wanted to sell his house, and so Bunji bought it. He analyzed the design of the house, and then used the materials to build a new house. “If Bunji is rude to God by building his houseimproperly, he will invite the wrath of the terrible God, Konjin.”

The villagers believed this, because in old Japan there were strict rules concerning the building of houses, and it was believed that God would bestow misfortune on a household that violated these rules.

Mitsuemon, who tought Bunji how to read and write, served a very important post of the Great Shoya. But, Mitsuemon denied his extension plan, saying the following.“You cann’t build your new house because of the wrath invited by God.”

18. Smallpox

Bunji had already made a commitment with the villager to trade a house in exchange for thhe extension work, and was now cofused over what to do because Mr. Mitsuemon Ono, the Great Shoya, had advised him against doing so.

Mitsuemon told Bunji the following. “It is better to build a temporary hut, and transferit to your new house. I think that is the only metgod in which to avoid God’s anger.”According to his advice, Bunji built a hut, and planned to live there with Makiemon, his second son of nine years old, until a new house culd be built. While arranging for the construction work, Makiemon developed a temperature. He saw a doctor two times, but his fever got higher and higher until he couldn’t utter a word. The neighbors prayed to God and Buddha, purifying themselves with water, but Makiemon died.

A visitor at the wake, found that both Nobujiro, the third son and Mohei, the fourth son had smallpox rashes on their faces. Smallpox passes from person to personwith a high temperature.

Bunji’s relatives served at Makiemon’s funeral because he and his bride were busy nursing their two sons. Bunji was seized with fear, because of Makiemon’s death and he became depressed as if he’d fallen into a deep hole.

But, he also noticed the blessing of his other two sons, and muttered a prayer of thanks to God.

19. A Cow

Bunji’s cow got ill. A veterinarian from the next village treated his cow for two days, and the cow began to recover his strength.

Bunji felt relieved and went out to buy wood for his new house. On the way back to Otani village, Mr. Sansaku Hurukawa a brother of Bunji’s bride, came along, looking miserable.

“Your cow took a sudden turn for the worse, and ―”As he said this with sympathy, Bunji knew his cow had died.

Bunji couldn’t represse the tears flowing out of his eyes. The cow had worked hard with him and shared in his hardships through rainy and windy days.

Bunji loved and took good care of his cow the same as a member of his family.

Bunji said to his brother－in－law, “I am overwhelmed with sorrow over the death of my cow. Would you please bury the cow for me ?”

He agreed, and Bunji set out for the next village to search the woods for building materials.

Bunji built a completely new house, but he felt cold in his heart and mind because of the death of his son.

Were his son and cow killed by the anger of God, Konjin ?Bunji wondered and thought it was hardly possible that

humans could understand God’s great love.He thanked God for the completion of his new house,

offering sekihan ( a kind of rice) and rice cakes on the household Shinto altar.

20. The Tomb

There were two rooms, a clothes closet, a kitchen, and an earth floor in Bunji’s new house. Later, this house would become the church where Bunji would preach and help many suffering people, according to God’s love. Bunji felt relaxed as he had more room. After he sweated hard, he felt his sorrow lessening.

“God, bless my life.”Bunji always prayed to God, while working with his new cow. But, the new cow died of disease. He came very close to being discouraged over this.

The two cows had become diseased on the same date, July 16th, and had died on the same date, July 18th. Bunji shivered, thinking this must be the wrath of God Konjin.

There is no case where so many misfortunes followed another in Otani village. His misfortunes included the death of his father, Kumejiro and brother, Tsurutaro, who died within twenty days of each other.

Then Bunji’s eldest son, Kametaro, eldest daughter, Chise, and his second son, Makiemon, all died one after the other. Their tombs were built in a line. The death of his two cows, who died within one year on the same date, added to his list of loss.

The villagers fearful of the wrath of Konjin, said, “The wrath of God, Konjin, killed seven members of his family, even their cow and horse.”

21. A Votive Light

Bunji’s family were worn out from their misfortunes.“Although all members of the family continue to pray to

God, why doesn’t God help our family, and respond to our prayers ?”

Bunji cried out. He offered a votive light before the altar to worship the spirits of his dead family.

“My late family is invisible.”Bunji thought as he saw the broken and shining light

before the altar through the tears flowing out of his eyes. “Bunji, don’t be sorrowful. God notices your flowing tears,

because God loves you and your family. God loves you for feeling sorrow for your family.”Bunji was startled to hear a voice like his late father’s. He

felt that the spirits of his late children were whispering around him.

“Daddy, cheer up.”Bunji felt his warm tears running down his cheeks. Thinking that God loved him, warmed his lonely heart. “God will watch over me.”

Bunji gave deep thanks to God.

22. Heaven and Earth

When Bunji was fourty two years old in 1855, a great misfortune befell him.

At that time, Matthew Calbraith Perry, an American admiral, and Evfimii Vasilievich Putyatin, a Russian admiral came to Japan by warship.

After Bunji heard of this occurance from his friends Sansaku, he went home, feeling unwell.

He couldn’t even drink water because his throat had become very swollen.

“You can not be too cautious when you are in danger,”the doctor said anxiously to him.

Bunji’s family asked Mr. Jiro Furukawa, Bunji’s brother－

in－law, to pray to God to heal his disease.Joro prayed to God by worshipping at Ishizuchi

mountain in the Shikoku region.Through his fever, Bunji heard his praying from the

next room, like a distant song.His mind was fuzzy, and he imagined the fields under

the sunshine, a cow freely eating the grass, and many flying chirping sparrows.

“Oh, I also may die, soon. I am about to part forever from my family, villagers and home town.”

Imagining this to be so, Bunji came to think that the mountains, the rivers, the grass, the trees, and all things between heaven and earth were shining beautifully.

23. God’s Voice

Bunji depended only on God, thinking that he was going to die at last.

“I will resign myself to God.”Bunji prayed, putting forth his last effort to God, together

with his friends in the next room.This fear and sorrow gradually went away. “When you

were rude to God, Konjin, ”said Jiro.The voice was diggerent from Jiro’s voice.“God of Ishizuchi mountain spoke to us.”Everyone was startled by the voice. “We investibated how to build a proper house, and were

not to offend God, Konjin,”said Mr. Yaozo Furukawa, Bunji’s father－in－law in a loud voice.

“Do you talk about making things right with God ?” said the God from Ishizuchi mountain.

Just as he was making up his mind to apologize to God with a unified mind, Bunji’s sore throat got better, and he could speak easily.

“I deeply apologize to God for my error. Bless me God, please.”

As he spoke to God, he could hear this voice, “I will help you, you who are a pious man.”

Bunji heard the voice of God. He got up from the bed forgetting his illness, and prayed

to God for a long time. The terrible God, Konjin changed to a loving God for

Bunji.

24. God and Humans

Bunji trembled for joy, noticing God’s blessing. He visited the shrine from morning to evening on his dayoff from work, and the villagers nicknamed his Pious Bunsa.

Until then, it was said that God lived in a distant Heaven. “If you turn your face to me, I will help you. I will always

watch you and all people closely,”God, Kojin said to Bunji. Bunji announced this to many people. People were

surprised to hear it because they thought Kojin was an evil spirit.

According to Bunji’s teaching, people should pray to God with their whole heart, and let themselves be filled with strength and courage.

Bunji and his family studied that God’s blessing was granted according to ones entreaty through purified prayer.

All members of Bunji’s family spoke of God helping the people. People who had met with severe misfortune, or had serious illnesses or had lost their hope, began to visit Bunji.

They could see light around him and this renewed their hopes. Bunji’s warmhearted teachings dissolved their anxieties and the terrors lurking in their minds.

According to God’s divine message, Bunji chaged his name to Konkō Daijin. He did away with the superstitions of days and directions concerning houses, marriage, and many other things.

He preached reverence for life and nature under the blessing and love of God. He broke with the old prejudices of the feudal period before the Meiji Restoration of 1868.

Konkō Daijin thought that agod, who was invisible, appeared through a voice, and that all living beings were influenced by the power of God.

Heaven and Earth have evolved clearly in God’s mind, and seem to spread into the glittering stars of the universe.

At dawn on October 10, 1883, while praying to God to help all people on the earth, Konkō Daijin joined God’s infinite universe.

The End

The Japanese Spirit No. 396 God and Humans, issued on June 25, 2014.