Anecdotes of Oyasama 58
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Anecdotes of Oyasama 58 presents the contents of "Today from Kawachi," a selection from Anecdotes of Oyasama, published by Tenrikyo Church Headquarters in 1976. The content below appears between page 50 and 51 of the print edition.
Text: English translation and original Japanese
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58. Today from Kawachi The following incident took place in about 1877. Chozo Yamada of Kawachi Province, then twenty years old, had been confined to bed for several years, suffering from illness. One day, a tradesman who came to buy cotton told him that there was a wondrous god at Shoyashiki in Yamato. Unable to move, Chozo single-heartedly prayed to the god from his sickbed. Much to his surprise, he gradually began to feel better. He would pray gratefully even when he drank water and this made him feel even better. Within several days, he was able to get out of bed. Chozo, deeply moved by God's wondrous providence, made up his mind to visit Shoyashiki to give thanks to the living god. His family thought that in his condition it was still too early to do so and opposed the plans. He insisted, however, and set out on his pilgrimage on crutches, accompanied by his brother, Yosakichi. As they reached Minamikashiwara, about four kilometers away from his home in Osakabe Village, he found himself able to walk with a single crutch. When they reached Tatsuta in Yamato Province, he was able to walk without using any crutches. He then let his brother go home, and continued his journey to the Residence alone. An intermediary told him, "You came from Kawachi, didn't you? This morning, God said,
That must be you. God has been waiting for you." Chozo was astonished and thought that this was indeed the place where the living god resided. When he was granted an audience with Oyasama, She spoke to him tenderly. During his one-week stay he recovered completely. When he bade farewell to Her, She said:
He went home in high spirits, singing folk songs as he crossed the Shigi Hills.
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五八 今日は、河内から 明治十年頃のこと。当時二十才の河内国の山田長造は、長患いのため数年間病床に呻吟していた。 ところが、ある日、綿を買い集めに来た商人から、大和の庄屋敷には、不思議な神様が居られると聞き、病床の中で、一心に念じておすがりしていると、不思議にも気分がよくなって来た。湯呑みで水を頂くにも、祈念して頂くと、気分が一段とよくなり、数日のうちに起きられるようになった。 この不思議な御守護に感激した長造は、ぜひ一度、庄屋敷へお詣りして、生神様にお礼申し上げたいと思い立った。家族は、時期尚早と反対したが、当人のたっての思いから、弟与三吉を同行させて、二本の松葉杖にすがって出発した。ところが、自宅のある刑部村から一里程の、南柏原へ来ると、杖は一本で歩けるようになった。更に、大和へ入って竜田まで来ると、残りの一本も要らないようになった。そこで、弟を家へかえして、一人でお屋敷へたどりついた。 そして、取次から、「あんたは、河内から来られたのやろう。神様は、朝から、
と、仰せになっていたが、あんたの事やなあ。神様は、待っていられるで。」と聞かされて、大層驚き、「本当に、生神様のおいでになる所やなあ。」と、感じ入った。かくて、教祖にお目通りして、数々のやさしいお言葉を頂き、約一週間滞在の上、すっきり御守護頂いたので、お暇に上がると、
と、お言葉を下さった。 こうして、かえりは信貴山越えで、陽気に伊勢音頭を歌いながら、元気にかえらせて頂いた、という。 |
