Life, Death and Transcendence in Hisako Nakamura (2)

Hisako Nakamura (1897-1968) was born in Hida Takayama, Gifu prefecture. When she was three years old, a severe case of frostbite developed into gangrene, and ultimately she lost her hands and legs. In the spring when she was ten, she temporarily lost her sight. Her mother attempted to commit suicide with her poor blind daughter. Fortunately, Hisako regained her sight thanks to the tireless work of her doctor. After this event, her mother pulled herself together and determined to live this hard life with Hisako. She taught Hisako homemaking skills, such as sewing and cooking, so that she could live independently. Her instruction was extremely strict, and Hisako felt resentful towards her mother. However, her mother's strictness came from her love and concern for Hisako's future. Another person who deeply supported Hisako was her maternal grandmother Yuki Maruno. When Yuki looked after Hisako, she did not give her any special treatment. Yuki taught her proper manners and how to read and write. She also nurtured Hisako's religious mind by sharing many Buddhist stories with her. Yuki's gentle education, rooted in Shin Buddhist teachings, gave Hisako the strength to live through her hard life. In this paper, I would like to clarify how Hisako Nakamura transcended her sufferings of life and death, with her emphasis on the realization of the Great Compassion that embraces us as foolish beings filled with attachment