I would like to talk about the Osazuke, a prayer that God has granted us to save people. Most Tenrikyo people will disagree with me, but the Osazuke does not cure existing illness that is present. Why do I say this? It is from my own experience. My mother often went to administer the Osazuke, but I do not remember any miraculous recovery from illness. When both my parents were ill in the hospital, even the Bishop’s administration of the Osazuke did not cure them. Both died sadly.

If the Ofudesaki does not work on existing illness, when does it work? When Oyasama was physically present, people came to the Residence to ask for healing after they were first introduced to God’s teachings of the soul. I do not believe that Oyasama or her followers went out to cure existing illness. So what are the illnesses that we can cure. It is the illness that God places as guidance that the Osazuke cures. Let me explain further.

How do we spread God’s teachings to other,to the world? God has granted us two precious Services or prayers to do this. The first is the Youki-tsutome. This is a prayer asking God to place illness as guidance to the people we have introduced the soul, and pure mind. The second is the Osazuke which is a prayer asking God to cure the illness that God had placed. This gives us the opportunity to convince the people we have first introduced the teachings about the soul and pure mind. These two prayers are vital in the spreading of the teachings to the world. Presently these two prayers are not understood by church leaders, and this is why God’s teachings are not spreading to the world.

Today is the special anniversary that we celebrate Oyasama. Hopefully Church leaders will understand the instructions in the Ofudesaki to spread the teachings that will save the world. We have two special prayers!