The following is a translation of an excerpt from Ikiru kotoba (“Living words”), p. 13

If the path is cleared from down below both the people up above and the people down below can easily get near, can they not?

Anecdotes of Oyasama 28, “Clear the Path from the Bottom”

A particular person, thinking of the path, once offered, “The path will become so much better if it is cleared in the high mountains.” To this, Oyasama replied, “If the path is cleared from up above, can the people down below get near?”

Oyasama did not say, “Come and climb up to where I am,” from the high mountains (i.e., a position of political power or high social status). She instead established a path in which She walks and climbs with us. Such is Oyasama’s path.

Further reading

• Mission to the High Mountains by Yoshikazu Fukaya

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Tags: jp-en, Living Words (On Faith), translation