Anecdotes of Oyasama 145
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Anecdotes of Oyasama 145 presents the contents of "Always in a Comfortable Place to Live," a selection from Anecdotes of Oyasama, published by Tenrikyo Church Headquarters in 1976. The content below appears between page 117 and 118 of the print edition.
Text: English translation and original Japanese
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145. Always in a Comfortable Place to Live Shobei Masuno's wife, Ito, visited her intimate friend, Cho, daughter of Yazaemon Koyama of Sannomiya in Kobe, in February 1884. She received the teachings through Cho, who taught her, "Tenri-O-no-Mikoto is truly the all-powerful God of wonders." Ito had been suffering for three years from an eye disease. Several famous doctors had treated her, but they could not help her. All she could do was to resign herself to the fact that she was destined to be blind. Shobei also had been afflicted with beriberi for many years and medical treatment did not help him at all, so he too was always in a gloomy mood. The couple decided to try and listen to the teachings of God the Parent. A messenger was sent to Koyama immediately to ask him to teach them. Thus they heard the teachings for the first time on February 15th. They had an altar built at once and God was enshrined. The couple listened together to the talk: "Illness of the body is a manifestation of the eight dusts. By repentance, one's illness will be cured without fail. Become of a sincere mind and rely on God." Also, it was said that, "Foods are all gifts of God; there is not a single one that will poison you." At these words, Shobei, who had quit drinking sake because of his illness, tried drinking the sake which had been offered to God on that day. The next day, he felt invigorated. Similarly, after just one night, Ito's sight had improved to the point where she could distinguish between black and white. Together the couple offered their thanks to God. They also went to Koyama's home to share their joy with him. But when they returned home, Ito was again almost blind even before nightfall. The couple discussed the matter together. "We were blessed with God's providence in just one night. God will surely save us if we make a firm resolution to unite our hearts and serve God for the rest of our lives," they concluded. So the couple united their hearts and prayed for God's blessing, zealously performing the morning and evening services. Shobei recovered in fifteen days and Ito received God's blessing in thirty days. Her eye disease was cured and she was able to see. With joyful hearts, they returned to Jiba for the first time on April 6th. Oyasama was to leave Nara Prison and return home that day. The couple went to Nara to greet Her and accompany Her home. They stayed till the ninth. Oyasama spoke to Shobei gently:
He was so deeply moved by these words that he devoted himself to spreading the fragrance of the teachings of God and saving others, traveling back and forth between Kobe and Jiba and neglecting his business. But whenever he was away from Jiba his health was not as good as usual, so he asked Oyasama for instructions. She told him:
Upon receiving these words, Shobei made a firm resolution to live at the Residence. |
一四五 いつも住みよい所へ 明治十七年二月のこと。増野正兵衞の妻いとは、親しい間柄の神戸三宮の小山弥左衞門の娘お蝶を訪ねたところ、お蝶から、「天理王命様は、まことに霊験のあらたかな神様である。」と聞いた。 当時いとは、三年越しソコヒを患うており、何人もの名医にかかったが、如何とも為すすべはなく、今はただ失明を待つばかり、という状態であった。又、正兵衞自身も、ここ十数年来脚気などの病に悩まされ、医薬の手を尽しながら、尚全快せず、曇天のような日々を送っていた。 それで、それなら一つ、話を聞いてみよう。ということになった。そこで、早速使いを走らせ、二月十五日、初めて、小山弥左衞門から、お話を聞かせてもらうこととなった。 急いで神床を設け神様をお祀りして、夫婦揃うてお話を聞かせて頂いた。その時の話に、「身上の患いは、八つのほこりのあらわれである。これをさんげすれば、身上は必ずお救け下さるに違いない。真実誠の心になって、神様にもたれなさい。」又、「食物は皆、親神様のお与えであるから、毒になるものは一つもない。」と。そこで、病気のためここ数年来やめていた好きな酒であるが、その日のお神酒を頂いて試してみた。ところが、翌朝は頗る爽快である。一方、いとの目も、一夜のうちに白黒が分かるようになった。 それで、夫婦揃うて、神様にお礼申し上げ、小山宅へも行ってこの喜びを告げ、帰宅してみると、こは如何に、日暮も待たず、又、盲目同様になった。 その時、夫婦が相談したのに、「一夜の間に、神様の自由をお見せ頂いたのであるから、生涯道の上に夫婦が心を揃えて働かせて頂く、と心を定めたなら、必ずお救け頂けるに違いない。」と語り合い、夫婦心を合わせて、熱心に朝夕神前にお勤めして、心をこめてお願いした。すると、正兵衞は十五日間、いとは三十日間で、すっきり御守護頂いた。ソコヒの目は、元通りよく見えるようになったのである。 その喜びに、四月六日（陰暦三月十一日）、初めておぢばへお詣りした。しかも、その日は、教祖が奈良監獄署からお帰りの日であったので、奈良までお迎えしてお伴して帰り、九日まで滞在させて頂いた。教祖は、
と、やさしくお言葉を下された。このお言葉に強く感激した正兵衞は、商売も放って置かんばかりにして、おぢばと神戸の間を往復して、にをいがけ・おたすけに奔走した。が、おぢばを離れると、どういうものか、身体の調子が良くない。それで伺うと、教祖は、
と、お言葉を下された。この時、正兵衞は、どうでもお屋敷へ寄せて頂こうと、堅く決心したのである。 |
