Anecdotes of Oyasama 37

Anecdotes of Oyasama
Author: Various authors Date Published: 1976 Pages: 159 (English ed.) Anecdotes Index

Anecdotes of Oyasama 37 presents the contents of "You Are Faithful in Your Work," a selection from Anecdotes of Oyasama, published by Tenrikyo Church Headquarters in 1976. The content below appears between page 32 and 33 of the print edition.

Text: English translation and original Japanese

37. You Are Faithful in Your Work One day in 1874, Naragiku Nishio returned to the Residence and was sitting in front of Oyasama with other people. When they were preparing to leave, Oyasama called the name of Kokan, Her daughter, and asked: "Dear daughter, isn't there anything to do? These people will not leave if they are asked to do something. There is something, isn't there?" To this question, Kokan answered, "Yes, there are many things to do, but I was hesitating to ask them." Then Oyasama said: "Why not ask them?" Kokan asked them to spin yarn. They worked hard at spinning and winding yarn on the spindle. Soon Naragiku, who was then eighteen, completed one spindle. Oyasama went to her and tapped her on the shoulder. She raised the spindle to Her head three times and said: "Dear Naragiku, girls of your age yearn for many things. You are so young, yet faithful in your work, I admire you. There are a lot of things to do in this Residence if you are of the mind to work. While working in this Residence, you will not be able to leave, even if you want to. I recommend that you work as hard as possible when you can. Then, in the future you will be quite free from hardship, even if you want it. So work hard now." Note: Naragiku Nishio's name was changed to Osame in accord with Oyasama's words when she married Masui in 1876.

三七　神妙に働いて下されますなあ 明治七年のこと。ある日、西尾ナラギクがお屋敷へ帰って来て、他の人々と一しょに教祖の御前に集まっていたが、やがて、人々が挨拶してかえろうとすると、教祖は、我が子こかんの名を呼んで、 　 「これおまえ、何か用事がないかいな。この衆等はな、皆、用事出 して上げたら、かいると言うてない。何か用事あるかえ。」 と、仰っしゃった。すると、こかんは、「沢山用事はございますなれど、遠慮して出しませなんだのや。」　と答えた。その時、教祖は、 　 「そんなら、出してお上げ。」 と、仰っしゃったので、こかんは、糸紡ぎの用事を出した。人々は、一生懸命紡いで紡錘に巻いていたが、やがて、ナラギクのところで一つ分出来上がった。すると、教祖がお越しになって、ナラギクの肩をポンとおたたきになり、その出来上がったのを、三度お頂きになり、 　 「ナラギクさん（註、当時十八才）、こんな時分には物のほしがる最中であるのに、あんたはまあ、若いのに、神妙に働いて下されますなあ。この屋敷は、用事さえする心なら、何んぼでも用事がありますで。用事さえしていれば、去のと思ても去なれぬ屋敷。せいだい働いて置きなされや。先になったら、難儀しようと思たとて難儀出来んのやで。今、しっかり働いて置きなされや。」 と、仰せになった。 註　西尾ナラギクは、明治九年結婚の時、教祖のお言葉を頂いて、おさめと改名、桝井おさめとなる。

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