Page:TASJ-1-3.djvu/197

 were to manifest themselves to our sight and give treasures, and even if the good do not obtain material rewards, they enjoy exemption from disease, good luck and long life, and prosperity is granted to their descendants. Never mind the praise or blame of fellow-men, but act so that you need not be ashamed before the gods of the Unseen. If you desire to practise true virtue, learn to stand in awe of the Unseen, and that will prevent you from doing wrong. Make a vow to the god who rules over the Unseen, and cultivate the conscience (Ma-go-koro) implanted in you, and then you will never wander from the way. You cannot hope to live more than a hundred years under the most favorable circumstances, but as you will go to the Unseen Realm of Oho-kuni-nushi after death, and be subject to his rule, learn betimes to bow down before him.’ In the Tama no Mi-hashira Hirata says that the spirits of the dead continue to exist in the unseen world, which is everywhere about us, and that they all become gods, of varying character and decrees of influence. Some reside in temples built in their honour, others hover near their tombs, and they continue to render services to their prince, parents, wife and children as when in the body. Besides praying to the primary spirit Oho-kuni-nushi, Hirata enjoins on his followers the necessary of addressing themselves also to his “Rough Spirit,” worshipped in Yamato under the name of Oho-kuni-mitama, his “Gentle Spirit,” the god of the famous temple of Miwa in the same province, and his son Kotoshiro-nushi, the god of truth. The dogma here implied must not confounded with that before alluded to in speaking of “Parted-Spirits.” “Rough Spirit” (ara mi tama) denotes a god in his character as a punisher of the wicked, while as a “Gentle Spirit” (nigi mi tama) he pardons the penitent. There is a third character called saki mi tama, in which a god confers blessings. Human beings are also said to possess the rough spirit and the gentle spirit, which are explained to be the powerful excitement of the soul separating itself from the body, and acting independently. Thus the feeling of hatred is