Anecdotes of Oyasama 152
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Anecdotes of Oyasama 152 presents the contents of "Twice as Strong," a selection from Anecdotes of Oyasama, published by Tenrikyo Church Headquarters in 1976. The content below appears between page 124 and 125 of the print edition.
Text: English translation and original Japanese
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152. Twice as Strong It was rare to be admitted to an audience with Oyasama around 1884 as the police exerted very strong pressure in those days. On one occasion, Unosuke Tosa returned to Jiba with twenty-five or six followers. An intermediary told Oyasama, "He is here from Awa." Oyasama appreciated Tosa's effort and said:
Continuing, She said:
Oyasama told an attendant to bring a hand towel and, holding its border between Her thumb and index finger, She asked Tosa:
After bowing respectfully, Tosa tried to pull it toward himself with all his might, but he could pull it no closer. Oyasama said, smiling:
Tosa pulled, his face reddening with the effort. However strongly he pulled it, he was unable to draw it close to himself. Tosa was a strong-armed man by nature, and proud of the strength which he had gained as a sailor, yet he could not draw the towel closer to himself. At last he bowed his head and said, "I am overwhelmed." Then, Oyasama stretched Her right hand toward him and said:
Tosa said, "Pardon me," and respectfully gripped Oyasama's hand. Oyasama said:
The more strongly he grasped, the more painful his hand became. So he admitted his defeat at last, and bowed deeply before Oyasama, saying, "I am overwhelmed." Then, Oyasama said to him with a pleasant smile:
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一五二 倍の力 明治十七年頃は、警察の圧迫が極めて厳しく、おぢばへ帰っても、教祖にお目にかからせて頂ける者は稀であった。そこへ土佐卯之助は、二十五、六名の信者を連れて帰らせて頂いた。取次が、「阿波から詣りました。」と申し上げると、教祖は、
と、おねぎらい下された。続いて、
と、仰せになり、側の人に手拭を持って来させられ、その一方の片隅を、御自分の親指と人差指との間に挾んで、
と、差し出された。土佐は、挨拶してから、力一杯引っ張ったが、どうしても離れない。すると、教祖は笑いながら、
と、仰せになった。土佐は、顔を真っ赤にして、満身の力をこめて引いた。けれども、どんなに力を入れて引いても、その手拭は取れない。土佐は、生来腕力が強く、その上船乗り稼業で鍛えた力自慢であったが、どうしても、その手拭が取れない。遂に、「恐れ入りました。」と、頭を下げた。すると、教祖は、今度は右の手をお出しになって、
と、仰せになるので、「では、御免下さい。」と言って、恐る恐る教祖のお手を握らせて頂いた。教祖は、
と、仰せ下さるのであるが、力を入れれば入れる程、土佐の手が痛くなるばかりであった。そこで、土佐は、遂に兜を脱いで、「恐れ入りました。」と、お手を放して平伏した。すると、教祖は、
と、仰せになって、ニッコリなされた。 |
