“ 他”のために生きる
(Living for “Others”)

平成19年8月号掲載(Published in the August 2007 issue)

　今日、老人問題は多くの家庭や地域で大きな問題となっていますが、特に認知症の人々といえば施設で介護の人にお世話になることが多く、いわんや人のために何かをするということはないのではないでしょうか。

Today, the problems of the elderly have become major issues in many families and communities. In particular, those suffering from dementia are often cared for in facilities by caregivers. It may seem, therefore, that they themselves have little opportunity to do something for the sake of others.

　先日、たまたまつけたテレビで、施設に入所している認知症の人たちが、積極的に自分のことは自分でする、さらには人のために尽くす喜びを体感できるように努めている姿が放映されていました。ご覧になった方も多かろうと思いますが、この施設は広島県の庄原市にあるもので、介護の人に連れられたお年寄りたちが定期的に街に散歩に出かけ、神社にお参りし、行き交う人々に挨拶（あいさつ）して言葉を交わしていて、そこからはお年寄り方がその時々を楽しんでいる様子が伺われました。さらには、ほうきをもって掃除する人、食堂で料理を共に作る人など、人からしてもらう立場に止（とど）まっていなくて、少しでも他のため人のために役立とうとする日常を大切にしているさまが伝わってきて、胸うたれました。この施設では、入所者の皆さんの生活をこういう方向に変えてからというもの、皆さんが前と違って生き生きとしてきて体調もよく元気になってきた、口数の少ない人も口を開き出し、人との会話を楽しむようになってきた等、よい結果が報告されていました。

The other day, I happened to watch a television program showing people with dementia living in a care facility. It portrayed them striving not only to take care of themselves as much as possible, but also to experience the joy of serving others. Many of you may have seen it as well. The facility is located in Shōbara City, Hiroshima Prefecture.
Accompanied by caregivers, the elderly residents regularly went out for walks in town, visited shrines, greeted passersby, and exchanged words with them. From these scenes, one could see how they enjoyed each moment. Some took up brooms to sweep, others helped prepare meals in the dining hall. They were not confined to the role of simply receiving care, but cherished daily opportunities to be of use, even in small ways, to others. This was deeply moving.
Since the facility shifted the residents’ lives in this direction, reports have shown remarkable results: the residents became more lively and energetic, their health improved, those who had spoken little began to open up, and they came to enjoy conversations with others.

　かつて知的障害のある人々を施設から連れて出て、一般の人々と変わりない生活の場を与えるノーマリゼーションが叫ばれ、今はこの世界では当たり前のこととなっているようですが、いくら年をとり、認知症といういわば障害のある身になっていても、人間としての本質は変わらないというまことに尊いことも教えてくれたテレビ番組でした。

In the past, the principle of normalization was strongly advocated—bringing people with intellectual disabilities out of institutions and giving them opportunities to live in ordinary settings, just like everyone else. Today, this has become something taken for granted in our world. And yet, the television program reminded us of another profoundly important truth: no matter how old one becomes, even if one lives with dementia—an impairment of sorts—the essence of being human does not change. That is a truly precious lesson.

　それは、昨年96歳の長寿を重ねて昇天した私の母の場合も同じでした。年相応の老化現象は出ていましたが、最晩年までわが家“大元家”の主婦であるという誇りー実際の仕事は私の家内に任（まか）せて久しくなっていましたがーこれを持ち続けていたことが、それなりに元気でいた元であったと思います。日々の御神前のおつとめにしましても、個人としてもさることながら“大元家”という家の意識が、一層おかげをいただく受け皿となっていたように思われます。玄関などに花を活（い）けるのも大切なつとめ、そして日々、長男の私を送り迎えることはわがつとめといった感がありました。人間、何が悲しい淋（さび）しいといって、することがない、また人に無視されるほど辛いことはないのではないでしょうか。反対に、何でもいい、他のために自分が役立っているということは、その人に大きな生きる力を引き出す元だと思います。

It was the same in the case of my mother, who ascended last year at the age of ninety-six after a long life. Although the natural signs of aging were present, she retained until her very last days the pride of being the mistress of our household, the “Ōmoto family”—even though the actual duties had long been entrusted to my wife. I believe that holding on to this sense of role and dignity was a source of her vitality.
In her daily devotions before the altar, it was not only as an individual but also with the consciousness of belonging to the “Ōmoto family” that she received blessings. Arranging flowers at the entrance was an important duty, and she felt that sending off and welcoming me, her eldest son, each day was her responsibility.
For human beings, perhaps nothing is sadder or lonelier than having nothing to do, or being ignored by others. Conversely, whatever the task may be, the awareness that one is useful to others draws forth a great strength for living.

　愛の反対は憎しみではなくて無関心だといわれますが、それは同時に、関心を持つことは愛の始まりだということです。無感動、無気力、無関心の“三無”が指摘されて久しい今の世の中、密度の濃い人間関係が少なくなってはいないでしょうか。

It is often said that the opposite of love is not hatred but indifference. At the same time, to take an interest in others is the beginning of love. In today’s world, where the “three indifferences”—lack of feeling, lack of energy, and lack of concern—have long been pointed out, truly deep human relationships seem to be diminishing.

　かつて岡山県内のある教会所に、足に重い障害があって一歩歩くにも大変な努力がいるお道教師がいました。彼から聞いた話が今に忘れられないのですが、こういう身の彼は毎朝夕御神前を背に玄関口に座って、教会所の前を通る通勤通学の人々に手を合わせてその無事を祈るのを日課としていました。日に2～300人の人々が忙しく通り過ぎるのですが、何人かが会釈したり中には立ち止まって礼をして行く人もいたようですが、大多数は無関心だったようです。その人たちの1人でもこちらを向いてくれないかと思ったり、石でも投げてくれた方がましという思いにも駆られたときもあったといいます。しかし、そういう思いに駆られるのも“未（いま）だ己れの至らざる証（あかし）”と省みながら、朝夕のこのつとめを絶好の修行の場としていたと申していました。対話は互いに与え合うことだといわれますが、この人はそれを地で行った人で、身体はゆがんでいましたが、心は誰よりもまろやかな穏やかな心で一生を全うされたと、今も思い出すと胸が熱くなります。

I recall a story told by a teacher of the Way in Okayama Prefecture who had a severe disability in his legs, making each step a great effort. He told me that his daily practice was to sit at the entrance of his branch church, with the altar behind him, and pray for the safety of the hundreds of commuters and students—two to three hundred people—who passed by each morning and evening. A few would nod, some even stop to bow, but the majority passed by indifferently. At times he thought, “If only one of them would turn toward me,” and even felt that having someone throw a stone would be better than being ignored. Yet he reflected that such feelings were proof of his own shortcomings, and he embraced this daily practice as the perfect place for spiritual training.
It is said that dialogue means mutual giving, and this man lived that truth. Though his body was twisted, his heart was gentler and more serene than anyone’s. Remembering him still warms my chest with emotion.

　教祖神は「人を助けずば神にはなれぬものなり」と御教えになり、「誠はまること」と説かれました。

The Divine Founder taught: “Unless one helps others, one cannot become divine.” He also explained: “Sincerity is marukoto まること (round wholeness).”

　誠を尽くすとき、そのまごころ、誠意、慈愛の心は大きく転回して自らの心の養いになります。ひと口でいうならば、身を養うためには栄養をとり、酸素をとり、睡眠までとるというように、取り入れ、戴（いただ）くばかりです。しかし、心を養う、心の中の心たるご分心への栄養は、自分を超えた神仏、人々はもとより、あらゆることにこちらから誠を尽くし、捧（ささ）げ、与え、仕え奉（まつ）っていくところに、ブーメランのように帰ってくるものです。

When we devote ourselves with sincerity, that true heart, that earnestness, that spirit of compassion turns back upon us and becomes nourishment for our own heart. Put simply, to nourish the body we take in food, oxygen, and even sleep—always receiving. But to nourish Gobunshin ご分心 (each person’s portion of Amaterasu Ōmikami’s spirit), to feed the innermost spirit, we must go beyond ourselves: offering sincerity, devotion, service, and selfless giving to the divine, to people, indeed to all things. In doing so, the nourishment returns to us like a boomerang.

　与えられて喜ぶ喜びよりも、与えるところにいただく喜びの方が深く大きいものです。すなわち、喜んでもらう喜びが最高ということです。人は人に尽くして人となり、人に役立っての人生です。

The joy of being given is less than the joy received in giving; the joy of making others glad is the greatest joy. A person becomes truly human by serving others, and life is fulfilled by being of use to others.

　特に「人となるの道すなわち神となるの道」たる本教のお道づれは、常に他をおもんぱかり、思いやり、他に誠を尽くすことを喜びとする人でありましょう。まさに、私たちはお日の出を拝んで「人のために祈ろう」とつとめることです。

Especially in this Way of Kurozumikyō—“the Way of becoming human is the path of becoming divine”— the companions of the Way (Omichizure お道づれ) are those who always consider others, show compassion, and find joy in devoting sincerity to them. Truly, our daily practice is to worship the rising sun with the resolve: “Let us pray for others.”

　教団を1人の人間としますと、私たちは今、お伊勢様という“私”を超えた存在に、日々の祈りの中でまごころをお捧げする「伊勢神宮式年遷宮奉賛」につとめています。去る6月3日、一日神領民としていわゆる“大トリ”のお木曳（きひき）行事に参拝奉仕できた感激は、お互いに口に言い表せぬほど深く大きいものでした。

If we think of the organization as one person, then at present we are offering our true hearts in daily prayer to Ise through our participation in the support of Ise Jingu’s Shikinen Sengū 伊勢神宮式年遷宮. On June 3, as one-day shrine parishioners, we were able to serve in the so-called “grand finale” of the Okihiki お木曳 (timber-hauling) ceremony. The emotion of that experience was so profound and immense that it cannot be expressed in words.

　それは、教祖神以来の200年に近いお伊勢様との有形無形のご神縁があるとは申せ、黒住教団という“我”を離れたご存在のお伊勢様に、道の誠、まごころを尽くしたゆえにいただけたまさにご神徳でありました。

Although we may say that since the Founder-God there has been nearly two hundred years of both tangible and intangible divine ties with Ise Jingu, it was truly divine grace that we received—because we offered sincerity and true heart to Ise, a presence beyond the “self” of the Kurozumikyō’s organization.

　こういう姿で歳月を有り難く重ね、平成25年の第62回伊勢神宮式年遷宮に仕え奉り、もって翌26年の本教立教200年を大きな感動の中で迎えたいと願っています。

In this way we gratefully accumulate the years, and we hope to serve at the 62nd Shikinen Sengū of Ise Jingu in 2013 (Heisei 25), so that in the following year, 2014 (Heisei 26), we may welcome the 200th anniversary of the founding of Kurozumikyō in the midst of great inspiration.