(Voice actor) Ms.Carolyn Miller

There is a term called “kudoku” (*merit) in Buddhism. It is a concept that if you follow the Buddha’s teachings you will be repaid in some other way. Helping others with your good deeds is said to accumulate your kudoku. “He who gives to another bestows on himself,” is the idea. Speaking of Buddhism, the incarnations of some Buddhist deities often appear throughout the history of Japan. The incarnations are the appearance of Buddha in different forms in different times. Some are said to be the incarnation by the ways of their lives and their influences on others. The most well-known is the warlord, Kenshin Uesugi, who was praised as invincible during the warring states period of 1550’s~70’s. He was called the “incarnation of Bishamonten (*one of the Four Heavenly Kings)” for his mightiness. Otake, about whom you will read here, was a handmaid working for a merchant in Edo Ningyocho in the early 1600’s. She was a mere maid but her kindness was outstanding, such as feeding the poor her own food. The constant wars had just ended at the time, and people were still living in fear that it might start again at any time. One can imagine that there were few who would consider others over themselves at a time like that. Otake’s generosity was even more noble because of the historical background. Whether Otake’s noble deeds resulted in her kudoku, or she was born with it, a Shugendo (*ascetic monk) prophesized she was the incarnation of Dainichi Nyorai (*Vairocana; a celestial Buddha). Dainichi Nyorai is considered to be the supreme Buddha in Vajrayana Buddhism, such as in Shingon and Tendai (*Tiantai) Buddhism, watching over the whole world with mercy and looking after the developments of all. The compassion of Otake truly reflects the mercy of Dainichi Nyorai. Read ahead for the story of Otake who came to be worshiped by many.