Japanese Buddhist Folktales

Japanese Buddhist Folktales

The Ogre Mask That Would Not Come Off

Once there was a strong-willed, spiteful old woman who had a kind daughter-in-law named Okiyo. This Okiyo was very pious, and went every evening to the temple to hear the priest Rennyo talk. One evening it occurred to the old woman, who really despised visiting the temple, that if she could intimidate Okiyo, she would not want to go to the temple any more.

So the old woman quickly made herself an ogre mask, and hid in a thicket of bamboo grass. She caught sight of Okiyo, who had finished her temple visit and was making her way home by herself along the night road. The old woman tried to jump out from the bushes, but her foot fell asleep and she could not move. All the while, Okiyo was reciting a prayer and passed right by her.

When Okiyo arrived home, she found that her mother-in-law was not there, which she thought peculiar, so she went out to look for her. And so she came upon a crying ogre. When she looked closely, she realized that it was her mother-in-law crying. No matter how she tried, the ogre mask would not come off.

Even when they pulled with all their might, the ogre mask still would not come off. Both of them were thoroughly perplexed, so they asked Rennyo for help. Rennyo took pity and recited a prayer for them. Then the old woman regretted that she had been so mean to her daughter-in-law, and with all her heart she also began reciting the prayer. The merits accumulated by their prayers caused the ogre mask to pop right off.

"Okiyo, I've been bad. The ogre was my own heart."

The old woman experienced a complete change of heart and thereafter mother-in-law and daughter-in-law went together for temple visits.

(A story from Fukui Prefecture)

This article was originally published in the July-September 2006 issue of Dharma World.


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