All to the GoodAll to the GodAll to the God
2018/10/26
Once, when a flood washed away a follower’s rice fields, he visited Oyasama to explain the situation. She then said:
“Sah, sah, that’s all to the good. That’s all to the good. Now that your goods have been carried away to the bottom of the sea, it will come to good in the future.”
There are times in our lives when we face a very severe challenge. At such times, some people may say to us, obviously with good intentions: “Don’t worry. You are going to be OK.” Yet we might think: “They make it sound too easy. I wonder if they really understand what I’m going through.”
However, if it is Oyasama who is telling us that we will be fine, then things are totally different.
Viewed from our human point of view, Her life was filled with difficulties. For a long time She lived in penury, often with no food to eat. She faced a lack of understanding from relatives and villagers, who slandered Her, and was subjected to harassment and persecution by the authorities. Also, She lost not only Her husband but also almost all Her children. Indeed, She appeared to plumb the depths of misfortune. Yet things became even more difficult as She grew older.
Nonetheless, there was no hint of sadness or pessimism in the way She conducted Herself. She brought Her natural spontaneity and playfulness to everything.
No matter how dire a situation we find ourselves in, we can have our spirits lifted thanks to the model Oyasama provided by radiating joy in the face of circumstances that make our situation look like a mild hiccup.
Indeed, if we recall Her model, we can feel our spirits soar in any situation whatsoever.
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