Anecdotes of Oyasama 33
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Anecdotes of Oyasama 33 presents the contents of "The Bridge Between Countries," a selection from Anecdotes of Oyasama, published by Tenrikyo Church Headquarters in 1976. The content below appears between page 26 and 28 of the print edition.
Text: English translation and original Japanese
| 33. The Bridge Between Countries
Risaburo Yamamoto of Kashiwara Village, Kawachi Province, injured his chest in a village sumo-wrestling match in the autumn of 1870 at the age of twenty-one. For three years from that time he was sick in bed. Doctors were consulted and prayers were offered here and there at shrines and temples for his recovery. But it was to no avail. In fact, his condition became worse until he was on the verge of death. Just at that time, during the summer of 1873, his family heard of God the Parent from a sawyer named Kuma. He had come from Furu, Yamato Province, to work at the To Sawmill in that same village of Kashiwara. Upon hearing of God the Parent, Rihachi, Risaburo's father, promptly returned to Jiba in place of his son. Oyasama said:
Receiving such encouraging words, Rihachi returned home and conveyed them to his son. Whereupon Risaburo began to say, "I want to go and worship the god in Yamato." The family members tried to stop him by saying, "You will never make it to Yamato." But Risaburo pleaded, "I don't care, I still want to go. I want to be near that god." In response to his earnest pleas, a stretcher was prepared. When it became dark, he was quietly carried out of the gate. However, on the way, when they came to a big bridge over the Tatsuta River, Risaburo stopped breathing, and so they turned back. But when they reached home, he miraculously started to breathe again. Because he pleaded, "I don't care if I die," the family, according to custom, drank water from a sake cup at what might be a final parting. Carrying him on the stretcher, they again departed for Yamato late at night with lanterns. It was a dark night. The group finally reached Jiba on the evening of the following day. The gates of the Residence were already closed, so they sought lodging in a nearby home. The next morning, Risaburo, who was on the verge of death, was brought before Oyasama. She said:
Continuing, She gave him the following words:
Oyasama ordered a bath for Risaburo, and said:
When he returned from the bath, Oyasama said:
Although he had been in no condition to take the bath, he had no trouble doing so. In fact, Risaburo's suffering disappeared and his pain faded away. He heartily ate three bowls of the rice gruel that Oyasama gave him. Due to Oyasama's warm parental love, Risaburo received God's blessing and regained his health on the sixth day. After staying a month he returned to Kashiwara. The villagers were struck with admiration when they saw his vigorous health.
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三三 国の掛け橋 河内国柏原村の山本利三郎は、明治三年秋二十一才の時、村相撲を取って胸を打ち、三年間病の床に臥していた。医者にも見せ、あちらこちらで拝んでももらったが、少しもよくならない。それどころか、命旦夕に迫って来た。明治六年夏のことである。その時、同じ柏原村の「トウ」という木挽屋へ、大和の布留から働きに来ていた熊さんという木挽きが、にをいをかけてくれた。それで、父の利八が代参で、早速おぢばへ帰ると、教祖から、
と、結構なお言葉を頂いた。もどって来て、これを伝えると、利三郎は、「大和の神様へお詣りしたい。」と言い出した。家族の者は、「とても、大和へ着くまで持たぬだろう。」 と止めたが、利三郎は、「それでもよいから、その神様の側へ行きたい。」 と、せがんだ。あまりの切望に、戸板を用意して、夜になってから、ひそかに門を出た。けれども、途中、竜田川の大橋まで来た時、利三郎の息が絶えてしまったので、一旦は引き返した。しかし、家に着くと、不思議と息を吹き返して、「死んでもよいから。」 と言うので、水盃の上、夜遅く、提灯をつけて、又戸板をかついで大和へと向かった。その夜は、暗い夜だった。 一行は、翌日の夕方遅く、ようやくおぢばへ着いた。既にお屋敷の 門も閉まっていたので、付近の家で泊めてもらい、翌朝、死に瀕している利三郎を、教祖の御前へ運んだ。すると、教祖は、
と、仰せ下され、つづいて、
と、お言葉を下された。それから、風呂をお命じになり、
と、仰せ下され、風呂を出て来ると、
と、仰せ下された。そんな事の出来る容態ではなかったのに、利三郎は、少しも苦しまず、かえって、苦しみは去り、痛みは遠ざかって、教祖から頂いたお粥を三杯、おいしく頂戴した。こうして、教祖の温かい親心により、利三郎は、六日目にお救け頂き、一ヵ月滞在の後、柏原へもどって来た。その元気な姿に、村人達は驚歎した、という。
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