Anecdotes of Oyasama 57
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Anecdotes of Oyasama 57 presents the contents of "A Boy Should Be Accompanied by His Father," a selection from Anecdotes of Oyasama, published by Tenrikyo Church Headquarters in 1976. The content below appears between page 49 and 50 of the print edition.
Text: English translation and original Japanese
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57. A Boy Should Be Accompanied by His Father In the summer of 1877, nine-year-old Narazo Yaoi of Izushichijo Village, Yamato Province, was playing with two or three neighborhood children in the Saho River that flowed on the west side of the village. Somehow his penis was bitten by a leech. It did not hurt much at the time, but two or three days later it became swollen. Although there was no pain, his parents were worried because it was such an important organ. Doctors were consulted, faith healing was tried and the best of care was given, but there was no sign of recovery. Jirokichi Kita's aunt, Ko Yaoi, of the same village, and Isaburo Masui's mother, Kiku, were already devout followers at that time. So they urged Narazo's grandmother, Koto, to join the faith. Being religious by nature, she readily agreed. But Narazo's father, Sogoro, was only interested in farming and he laughed at those who were religious. Koto asked him, "Do you wish to cancel my sixtieth birthday celebration or do you wish to join the faith?[1] Please choose one or the other." So Sogoro finally consented to join. It was January 1878. Then grandmother Koto took Narazo to Jiba at once. They were received by Oyasama, who was shown his ailment. Oyasama gave them the following words:
From then on grandmother Koto and Narazo's mother, Naka, took turns returning with him to the Residence, a distance of about six kilometers, every third day. But there was no sign of any blessing. In the middle of March 1878, while Koto was visiting the Residence with Narazo, Chusaku Tsuji told them, "We are told that 'a boy should be accompanied by his father.' Please have Sogoro himself return here accompanying his own son." Whereupon Koto returned home and asked Sogoro, "Won't you please return to the Residence?" So Sogoro returned to Jiba, accompanying Narazo, on March 25th and returned home that same evening. However, Narazo's penis became swollen the following morning, just as it did when it was first bitten. But on the morning of the twenty-eighth he received the blessing of a complete cure. The whole family was happy beyond description. Narazo, then a boy of ten years, was thrilled from the bottom of his heart to have received the providence of God the Parent. This became the foundation of his devout faith for the rest of his life.
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五七 男の子は、父親付きで 明治十年夏、大和国伊豆七条村の、矢追楢蔵（註、当時九才）は、近所の子供二、三名と、村の西側を流れる佐保川へ川遊びに行ったところ、一の道具を蛭にかまれた。その時は、さほど痛みも感じなかったが、二、三日経つと、大層腫れて来た。別に痛みはしなかったが、場所が場所だけに、両親も心配して、医者にもかかり、加持祈祷もするなど、種々と手を尽したが、一向効しは見えなかった。 その頃、同村の喜多治郎吉の伯母矢追こうと、桝井伊三郎の母キクとは、既に熱心に信心していたので、楢蔵の祖母ことに、信心をすすめてくれた。ことは、元来信心家であったので、直ぐ、その気になったが、楢蔵の父惣五郎は、百姓一点張りで、むしろ信心する者を笑っていたくらいであった。そこで、ことが、「わたしの還暦祝をやめるか、信心するか。どちらかにしてもらいたい。」とまで言ったので、惣五郎はやっとその気になった。十一年一月（陰暦 前年十二月）のことである。 そこで、祖母のことが楢蔵を連れて、おぢばへ帰り、教祖にお目にかかり、楢蔵の患っているところを、ごらん頂くと、教祖は、
と、お言葉を下された。それからというものは、祖母のことと母のなかが、三日目毎に交替で、一里半の道を、楢蔵を連れてお詣りしたが、はかばかしく御守護を頂けない。 明治十一年三月中旬（陰暦二月中旬）、ことが楢蔵を連れてお詣りしていると、辻忠作が、 「『男の子は、父親付きで。』 と、お聞かせ下さる。一度、惣五郎さんが連れて詣りなされ。」と、言ってくれた。それで、家へもどってから、ことは、このことを惣五郎に話して、「ぜひお詣りしておくれ。」と、言った。 それで、惣五郎が、三月二十五日（陰暦二月二十二日）、楢蔵を連れておぢばへ詣り、夕方帰宅した。ところが、不思議なことに、翌朝は、最初の病みはじめのように腫れ上がったが、二十八日（陰暦二月二十五日）の朝には、すっきり全快の御守護を頂いた。家族一同の喜びは譬えるにものもなかった。当時十才の楢蔵も、心に沁みて親神様の御守護に感激し、これが、一生変わらぬ堅い信仰のもととなった。
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