| In our family, I was the first to join Shinreikyo in 1976. My mother, who was in Hokkaido at the time, joined Shinreikyo after my recommendation within that same year. She had health issues such as headaches and gynecological concerns, but had recovered year after year thanks to Kyososama's Divine Power. My father, who resisted the Shinreikyo faith, had also changed dramatically, personally requesting to join Shinreikyo during 1991, upon moving to Tokyo. After that my parents were able to practice the Shinreikyo faith together as husband and wives. My father achieved Sublime Transmigration the following year in 1992. After my father’s ascension, my mother began to participate in Shinreikyo propagation activities, volunteer service to Kyososama, etc. all the more. Although my mother lived by herself, she was able to rent a place just about a minute walking distance from my house, where my family and I were able to help and watch over my aging mother. Since 2012, my mother being over 80 began to lose her physical strength. My wife, my sister, and I had taken turns carrying for my mother, meanwhile received a public support by utilizing the long-term care insurance system. During the beginning of 2013, my mother's decrease in physical capacity became noticeable, so we had her long-term care requirement authorization reviewed. By March, my mother's appetite had decreased. I thought of the future possibilities and felt the need to know her physical condition. I took a day off from work on March 22nd to take my mother with my wife to the Soka City Hospital to have her examined. My mother enjoyed the roadside cherry trees feeling the suave of spring sunlight during our drive there. After having my mother examined by a specialist, we were told they will check whether if there is another hospital that'll take her in. While we waited for the results in the waiting room, I held her hand chanting the Holy Word quietly by her side as she sat in a wheelchair. My wife also prayed to Kyososama by her side. After a while it seemed as though my mother had fallen asleep, but since she was so quiet, I had the nurse examine her. She said my mother was no longer breathing, so I pushed her wheelchair to the emergency center. We were told she had passed away. My mother lived out her natural life span, without expressing a single pain, where I could not even notice her passing being by her side. My mother was able to be at home until the very last moment, without being hospitalized a single day. Furthermore, she did not have to take any medicine for 36 years and was able to transmigrate into the next life peacefully. Even though it was the first time for the doctor to have examined her, he told us, “There is no need for dissection. I will write the death certificate.” On this day, before my mother went through examination, she had repeatedly told us she wanted to go home. I told her, “We will go home after the doctor’s examination.” It turned out just as I said. We did not have to put her through an autopsy and take her back home just the way she was, because we had her examined by the doctor before she took her last breath. My mother's body became flexible day by day as we earnestly prayed to Kyososama for my mother’s soul’s salvation. My brother in law who is not a Shinreikyo follower was surprised upon seeing her and said, “It is an ideal peaceful death.” My family and I recorded my mother's condition on video. We were able to record her without rigor mortis, where her countenance was sublime and peaceful, just like how my father was when he attained Sublime Transmigration. Under the blue sky, with the cherry blossoms in full blossom, we had her funeral held in the Shinreikyo style, having the family and relatives all gather to say their last good byes. Before carrying her out in a coffin, I demonstrated the flexibility of her chin, arms, hands, legs, etc. one more time to the mourner. 96 hours has passed since she had passed, but there were neither putrid smell nor death spots. The skin of her shin had become shiny. Her big toe that was tense while she was alive also moved flexibly. We were able to record all of this on film. After cremation, the crematorium worker said, a lot of her bones remained for an 82 years old female. I am filled with happiness and gratitude for being able to have both of my parents attain Sublime Transmigration under the great Divine Power of Kyososama. |