Anecdotes of Oyasama 25
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Anecdotes of Oyasama 25 presents the contents of "Seventy-Five Days of Fasting," a selection from Anecdotes of Oyasama, published by Tenrikyo Church Headquarters in 1976. The content below appears between page 18 and 20 of the print edition.
Text: English translation and original Japanese
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25. Seventy-Five Days of Fasting This episode occurred in 1872 when Oyasama was seventy-five years of age. During a period of seventy-five days of fasting, She visited the home of Ichibei Matsuo for the purpose of saving people in Higashiwakai Village, north of Tatsuta. Before leaving the Residence, She had three small cups of sweet rice wine and three round pieces of raw eggplant.
She said. "Please go on a litter," someone pleaded. She replied:
and, so saying, began to walk briskly. When She arrived at the Matsuo residence, Ichibei and his wife were so overjoyed that they were close to tears. Assuming that Oyasama was tired and exhausted after walking about sixteen kilometers while fasting, they had a hearty feast prepared for Her.
She said. Ichibei's wife, Haru, thought that the dishes might not have been to Her liking, so she inquired about it.
Oyasama replied. Whereupon Haru said, "But you haven't touched anything. You ask for just water and salt, but I cannot do that."
Oyasama asked. Haru was pleased and she moved the tray in front of Oyasama. Haru picked up the bowl of rice in one hand and, using chopsticks, took some rice from it. Just as she was about to move the chopsticks toward Oyasama, who was waiting to be served, Haru's knees began to shake. The rice on the chopsticks, together with the bowl, suddenly dropped upon the tray. Bowing deeply before Oyasama, Haru humbly apologized. She withdrew the tray from in front of Oyasama, who was smiling, and brought another tray that she had prepared.
Oyasama said, opening Her mouth wide. Haru again picked up the bowl and took some rice with the chopsticks. As Haru moved her hand toward Oyasama's mouth, Haru's right thumb and index finger twitched painfully, and the chopsticks and rice fell on Oyasama's lap. Feeling deeply ashamed, Haru apologized for her repeated carelessness.
Oyasama said tenderly to console her. So Oyasama continued to fast during Her stay, and news of this reached the Residence. On the fifth day, three persons—daughter Kokan, Iburi, and Yohei of Ichieda—came from the Residence. Kokan asked Oyasama to have some food.
Oyasama said. Kokan tried to feed Her, but the chopsticks jumped up and hung in the air. Witnessing this, everyone was convinced. So Oyasama's fasting continued to the day of Her return. Shuji came to take Oyasama home, and Ichibei decided to go with Shuji to borrow a litter from the Kohigashi family of Byodoji Village. They asked Oyasama to ride in the litter, and when they came to Tatsuta, Oyasama said:
So they respected Her wish, and Oyasama began to walk. Oyasama explained:
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二五 七十五日の断食 明治五年、教祖七十五才の時、七十五日の断食の最中に、竜田の北にある東若井村の松尾市兵衞の宅へ、おたすけに赴かれた時のこと。教祖はお屋敷を御出発の時に、小さい盃に三杯の味醂と、生の茄子の輪切り三箇を、召し上がってから、
と、仰せられた。その時、「駕篭でお越し願います。」 と、申し上げると、
と、仰せられ、いとも足取り軽く歩まれた。かくて、松尾の家へ到着されると、涙を流さんばかりに喜んだ市兵衞夫婦は、断食中四里の道のりを歩いてお越し下された教祖のお疲れを思い、心からなる御馳走を拵えて、教祖の御前に差し出した。すると、教祖は、
と、仰せになった。市兵衞の妻ハルが、御馳走が気に入らないので仰せになるのか、と思って、お尋ねすると、
と、仰せになった。それで、ハルは、「何一つ、手も付けて頂けず、水と塩とだけ出せ、と仰せられても、出来ません。」と申し上げると、
と、仰せられた。 それで、ハルは、喜んでお膳を前に進め、お茶碗に御飯を入れ、「それでは、お上がり下さいませ。」 と、申し上げてから、箸に御飯を載せて、待っておられる教祖の方へ差し出そうとしたところ、どうした事か、膝がガクガクと揺れて、箸の上の御飯と茶碗を、一の膳の上に落としてしまった。ハルは、平身低頭お詫び申し上げて、ニコニコと微笑をたたえて見ておられる教祖の御前から、膳部を引き下げ、再び調えて、教祖の御前に差し出した。すると、教祖は、
と、仰せになって、口をお開けになった。そこで、ハルが、再び茶碗を持ち、箸に御飯を載せて、お口の方へ持って行こうとしたところ、右手の、親指と人差指が、痛いような痙攣を起こして、箸と御飯を、教祖のお膝の上に落としてしまった。ハルは、全く身の縮む思いで、重ねての粗相をお詫び申し上げると、教祖は、
と、いたわりのお言葉を下された。 こうして御滞在がつづいたが、この様子が伝わって、五日目頃、お屋敷から、こかん、飯降、櫟枝の与平の三人が迎えに来た。その時さらに、こかんから、食事を召し上がるようすすめると、教祖は、
と、仰せられたので、こかんが、食べて頂こうとすると、箸が、跳んで行くように上へつり上がってしまったので、皆々成る程と感じ入った。こうして、断食は、ついにお帰りの日までつづいた。 お帰りの時には、秀司が迎えに来て、市兵衞もお伴して、平等寺村の小東の家から、駕篭を借りて来て竜田までお召し願うたが、その時、
と、仰せられたので、それからは、仰せのままにお歩き頂いた。
と、お聞かせ下された。 |
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