Great Construction

Healing by the Ascetic 

     There was a period some thirty years ago when I suffered from chronic toothache. I had been to almost all of the respected dentists in Tokyo, did not get relief anywhere, and was really desperate. On an acquaintance’s recommendation, I went to see an ascetic of the Nichiren Sect. While treating me, he repeatedly chanted, “Praise be to The Lotus Sutra,” and between the intervals, in a low, commanding voice he said several times, “You two, cure this person’s toothache. If he is cured, I will enshrine you as Inari, so work hard! You will be So-and-So Inari and you will be Such-and-Such Inari.” At that moment I thought, “All right, he is using two fox spirits to heal me,” and thus came to understand his healing method. When I think about it now, the ascetic’s techniques were not effective, but at the time what did come to my mind was that my toothache was caused by medicinal toxins. At that point, I stopped going to dentists, and since then I have had no problem with toothaches. It was a fox spirit who informed me about the harm of medicinal toxins, so I am truly thankful to that fox spirit for saving my life. During the worst times, the pain from the toothache would even go to my head, and I was prepared for the worst fates to befall a human being, either going crazy or committing suicide, so I can say that I am indebted to that fox spirit.

Chijtôtengoku, Number 15, page 42, April 20, 1950
translation by cynndd