教主退任・感謝のことば
(Retirement of the Chief Patriarch – Words of Gratitude)
平成29年9月号掲載(Published in September 2017 issue)
昭和４８年５月１３日、父黒住宗和五代教主様の急逝のため、教団の掟（おきて）定めるところにより、直ちに教主就任を御神前に奉告いたしました。その年１０月１４日に、霊地大元・大教殿において、多くの皆様のご参集のもと六代教主就任奉告式を斎行していただきました。もの心つく頃からこの日のあることをそれとなく教え諭（さと）されてきていましたし、この年に先立つ１２年前の昭和３６年の正月からいわゆる白衣の生活に入っていて、いずれはとの思い、その心構えは私なりにあったつもりですが、この日は緊張と責任の重さで口もからからになり、祝詞（のりと）も声にならなかったことを思い出します。その先の月、９月１８日に満３６歳になった私の双肩に、ずしりと重いものが伸（の）しかかってきた思いでありました。
On May 13, Shōwa 48 (1973), due to the sudden passing of my father, the Fifth Chief Patriarch Kurozumi Munekazu, I immediately reported my succession as Chief Patriarch before the Divine Presence, in accordance with the rules of the organization. That year, on October 14, at the Daikyōden 大教殿 (the Main Shrine) at the sacred site of Ōmoto 大元 with the attendance of many, the ceremony of reporting my succession as the Sixth Chief Patriarch was solemnly conducted.
Since I can remember, I had been gently taught that this day would come. Moreover, twelve years earlier, at New Year of Shōwa 36 (1961), I had entered the life of the white robes of priesthood, and so I had my own sense of readiness and resolve. Yet on that day, the tension and the weight of responsibility left my mouth dry, and I recall that even norito 祝詞 (the ritual prayer of Shintō) would not come forth as a voice.
In the previous month, on September 18, having just turned thirty‑six, I felt a heavy weight pressing down upon my shoulders.
その前の年の、昭和４７年１１月１１日、五代様斎主のもとに、神道山・大教殿の地鎮祭が、五千人の参拝者の祈りとともにつとめられていました。その時すでに五代様の心臓は限界状態で、現在の大教殿御神殿の所を斎場とし、その北東の一角を紅白幕で囲んでベッドを置き、ここに前もってお連れしてお休みいただいてからの斎主のおつとめでした。
On November 11, Shōwa 47 (1972), the previous year, under the leadership of the Fifth Chief Patriarch as celebrant, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Daikyōden at Shintōzan was conducted, accompanied by the prayers of five thousand worshippers.
At that time, the Fifth Chief Patriarch’s heart was already at its limit. The present site of the Daikyōden sanctuary was designated as the ritual ground, and in the northeast corner, enclosed with red‑and‑white curtains, a bed was placed. He was brought there to rest before he carried out his role as celebrant.
いよいよ神道山に大教殿ご建築の、まさに地を鎮め、工事にかかる御（み）祭りです。全教団の期待を一身に担（にな）われての斎主で、副斎主として側（そば）に侍（はべ）る私には、五代様の真剣な思いがひしひしと伝わってきていました。実に身の硬くなる思いでした。私にとりまして、最も厳しい教主継承の時でした。
It was truly the festival to pacify the ground and begin construction of the Daikyōden at Shintōzan. Bearing upon himself the expectations of the entire organization, the Fifth Chief Patriarch served as celebrant. Standing beside him as assistant celebrant, I felt his earnest resolve pressing upon me with great intensity.
Indeed, it was an experience that made my whole body stiffen. For me, it was the toughest moment of succession to the office of Chief Patriarch.
思い返せば、昭和３９年１０月に執り行われた立教百五十年記念祝祭の日、教場に入りきれず、境内に敷きつめられたむしろの上に正座して参拝の方々に、五代様はご挨拶（あいさつ）に行かれ、「いよいよ本格的な大教殿をお建て申しましょうぞ！」と声も一段と大きくお話しになったのが、そもそもの始まりでした。折から岡山に新幹線がやって来る、瀬戸の海には橋が架かるということから、岡山の街の拡大を目途に、岡山市西部地区土地区画整理事業という名のもとに、霊地大元の周辺の大変貌が予想された時でした。紆余曲折（うよきょくせつ）の揚げ句、神道山十万坪の境内地を購入し、１５００メートルの参道も完成しての、全教団人が待ちに待った大教殿地鎮祭でした。
Looking back, in October, Shōwa 39 (1964), the day of the 150th Anniversary Festival of the Founding, so many worshippers attended that they could not all fit into the hall, and many sat in formal posture on straw mats spread across the precincts. The Fifth Chief Patriarch went out to greet them and spoke with a voice raised even louder: “Now at last, let us build a full‑scale Daikyōden!” That was the true beginning.
At that time, plans were underway for the Shinkansen bullet trains to come to Okayama, and a bridge to be built across the Seto Inland Sea. With the expansion of the urban area of Okayama City in view, the area around the sacred site Ōmoto was expected to undergo great transformation under the name of the West Okayama District Land Readjustment Project.
After many twists and turns, ten thousand tsubo (approximately 3.3 hectares) of precinct land at Shintōzan was purchased, and a 1,500‑meter approach road was completed. Thus came the long‑awaited groundbreaking ceremony for the Daikyōden, anticipated by the entire organization.
教主就任一年後の、昭和４９年１０月２７日午前０時３０分、大元の旧大教殿を御発輦（ごはつれん）になった御神体は、斎主の私の直（す）ぐ後に続く当時小学校６年生１２歳の七代宗道をはじめ５００名の祭員参拝者方の奉仕で、二時間半の道程（みちのり）を進んで、神道山の新大教殿にご遷座なったのでした。
On October 27, Shōwa 49 (1974), at 12:30 a.m., the Sacred Body departed from the former Daikyōden at Ōmoto. Following immediately behind me, the celebrant, was my eldest son, Munemichi, the future Seventh Chief Patriarch, then a sixth‑grade student, twelve years old. Together with five hundred priests and worshippers serving in the procession, we advanced for two and a half hours, bringing the Sacred Body to its new seat in the Daikyōden at Shintōzan.
深夜の浄闇（じょうあん）の中を粛々（しゅくしゅく）と進むご遷座の列が、立ち止まる度に、真後（まうし）ろの宗道が私につき当たります。実に眠りながら歩き、歩きながら眠っていたのです。その昔、陸軍の兵隊さんが、あまりの強行軍で眠りながら歩いたということを耳にし、そのようなことができるのかと思っていた私には、長男の現実の姿にまさに目が覚める思いになるとともに、教主就任程ない重大事のこの時に、後継への何よりの場をいただいていると胸熱くなったことでした。
In the pure darkness of midnight, the solemn procession would halt from time to time, and each time, Munemichi, directly behind me, would bump into me. Truly, he was walking while asleep, and sleeping while walking. I had once heard that soldiers of the former army, under forced marches, walked while asleep, and I had wondered if such a thing were possible. Seeing my son’s reality, I was awakened to the truth of it.
At the same time, in that moment of utmost gravity, so soon after my succession as Chief Patriarch, I felt deeply moved that this was the most fitting occasion to receive a sign of succession for the heir to come.
こうして教主就任以来４４年、振り返ってみますと３６歳といえば若いですが、この歳での教主（昔は管長）就任はそれまでで最年長でしたし、齢（よわい）８０を迎えるのも歴代で初めてですし、４４年の長き教主の座も初めてのことでした。ある意味、遅きに失した感もなきにしもあらずですが、新教主となる長男はもとより身内親族とも話し合い、昨年３月の教議会でお認めいただき、続く４月２日の教祖大祭で正式に発表して以来の、この９月１８日斎行の教主継承式です。
Thus, looking back over forty‑four years since my succession as Chief Patriarch, I realize that thirty‑six years of age is still young. Yet at that age, my succession was the oldest ever at the time. Likewise, reaching the age of eighty was the first among all predecessors, and serving forty‑four years in the office of Chief Patriarch was also unprecedented.
In a sense, there is a feeling that it came somewhat late. However, after discussions with my eldest son, the new Chief Patriarch, as well as with family and relatives, the matter was approved at the Council of Teachers in March of last year. Following that, it was formally announced at the Founder’s Grand Festival on April 2, and now, on the coming September 18, the succession ceremony of the Chief Patriarch will be solemnly conducted.
何より感謝すべきは、歴代の教務総長をはじめ当局、本部職員の皆さん、そして全国教会所々長お道づれの皆様のお心組みです。教祖神の血を引く者とはいえ、私を教主として立てて下さる態度は一度も変わることなく、あらゆる場で誠意を尽くして下さいました。大学生時代に体育会ハンドボール部でグラウンド生活に明け暮れた者だけに、言動に荒々しいところが抜けきれず、その分、迷惑をかけた人も数々あります。にもかかわらず、道の誠を貫いて下さったのですから、感謝以外に言葉がありません。本当に有り難うございました。
Above all, I must express gratitude to the successive Chief Administrative Officers, the authorities, the staff of headquarters, and all the companions of the Way, the heads of branch churches throughout the nation. Though I am one who bears the blood of the Divine Founder, your attitude of establishing me as Chief Patriarch never wavered, and you showed sincerity in every circumstance.
As one who, in my university days, spent all my time in the athletic handball club and the life of the grounds, my words and actions retained a certain roughness, and I caused trouble for many. Yet despite this, you upheld the sincerity of the Way. For this, I have no words but gratitude. Truly, thank you.
９月１９日から名誉教主という名称になりますが、呼称はどうぞ「六代」と呼んでいただければ幸いです。
From September 19, Heisei 29 (2017), my title will become “Chief Patriarch Emeritus.” Yet I would be most grateful if you would continue to call me simply “the Sixth.”
どこに行くのか、何をするのかと尋ねられることもありますが、神道山を措（お）いて他に行く所はありませんし、毎朝の御日拝をぬきにして私の人生はありません。七代教主の邪魔にならぬよう心くばりしながら、毎朝の御日拝に始まる祈りの時を柱に道を説き取り次ぎ、今までもそうでありましたように、社会的には福祉問題、文化教育問題に「御用（おんもち）え」いただけるかぎりつとめてまいりたく思いおります。
When asked where I will go or what I will do, there is nowhere for me apart from Shintōzan, and without Nippai, my life has no meaning. While taking care not to hinder the Seventh Chief Patriarch, I wish to continue, as always, to make prayer beginning with the daily Nippai the pillar of my life, to preach the Way and mediate it. Socially, I hope to devote myself, as long as I am entrusted with service, to issues of welfare and of culture and education.
教祖神以来、本教が時の世の中から信頼を寄せられ、まさに御用えいただいてきた歴史を大切にしたいと思っています。かねて申し上げてきたことですが、信仰の信は、信頼、信用の信でもあるわけで、熱き信の心を中心に、人様から信用され信頼される教団活動は、今後も重ねていかねばならないと考えます。
Since the time of the Divine Founder, Kurozumikyō has been trusted by society, and indeed has been entrusted with divine service. I wish to cherish this history. As I have often said, the character shin 信 in shinkō 信仰 (“faith”) also means shin’yō 信用 (“trust”) and shinrai 信頼 (“reliability”). Centered on a heart of fervent faith, we must continue to build organizational activities that are trusted and relied upon by people.
私自身といたしますと、ここ数年重ねてまいりました、昭和４０年代に勤められていた各地の教会所々長の墓前参りを、続けていきたいと思っています。
As for myself, I wish to continue the visits I have made in recent years to the graves of the heads of branch churches who served during the Shōwa 40s (1965–1974).
霊地大元から神道山へのご遷座に際して、所長方はお道づれの皆様に事の訳を理解していただくべく努め、しかも莫大な浄財を取り次いで下さったればこそ、今日（こんにち）の神道山があるのです。時の所長そして当時のお道づれには、いくら感謝してもしきれないものがある私ですので、このお参りはどうぞや完遂させていただきたいと願っています。
At the time of the transfer from the sacred site of Ōmoto to Shintōzan, those heads strove to help the companions of the Way understand the reasons for the move, and moreover, they mediated the offering of vast donations. It is precisely because of their efforts that today’s Shintōzan exists. To the heads of that time, and to the companions of the Way then, my gratitude is beyond measure. Therefore, I earnestly wish to complete these visits.
皆様にあらためて心から厚く御礼申し上げます。
Once again, I extend my heartfelt and profound thanks to all of you.
（編集部より：今号をもって、六代宗晴教主様の「道ごころ」は最終回となります。
次号からは、七代宗道新教主様の「道ごころ」を掲載いたします。）
(Editorial note: With this issue, the Michigokoro series by the Sixth Chief Patriarch Kurozumi Muneharu comes to its conclusion. Beginning with the next issue, the Michigokoro series by the new Seventh Chief Patriarch Kurozumi Munemichi will be published.)
