要（かなめ）は下腹
(The Importance of the Lower Abdomen)

平成21年9月号掲載(Published in September 2009)

　今年の春先、岡山市内のある会議で同席したかねて親しくしている人が、体調を崩しているというのでご一緒して病院に急ぎました。その車中、激しい息遣いにふと見ますと、その顔は朽ちたようなブドウ色になり手の甲も同じような色になっていました。私はとっさに祈りお取り次ぎしますとともに、親しいがゆえですが、「ここで死んでもらったら困るな。病院に着くまでは死ぬのを待ってくれ……」と言いましたら、彼は腹を抱えて笑い出しました。すると見る見る顔や手のブドウ色は消え失せ、激しい息ながらも顔色はよくなり、「もう大丈夫」との声まではっきり出せるようになりました。勿論（もちろん）、病院にお連れして直ちに診てもらいましたら、肺炎で肺の多くが冒されていて入院ということになりました。ひと月足らずで退院し、程なく元の元気に戻られましたが、あの時の豪傑笑いが一命を取り留めたのだと笑い合いました。

One day early this spring, at a meeting in Okayama City, I was seated with a long-time acquaintance who suddenly fell ill. We hurried together to the hospital. In the car, I noticed his labored breathing, and when I looked closely, his face had turned a decayed grape-like color, as had the back of his hands.
Instinctively, I prayed and interceded for him, and—because of our closeness—I said, “It would be a real problem if you were to die here. Please wait until we reach the hospital before you die…” At that, he clutched his stomach and burst into laughter.
Amazingly, the grape-like color of his face and hands quickly vanished. Though still breathing heavily, his complexion improved, and he was even able to say clearly, “I’m all right now.” Of course, I took him straight to the hospital, where the doctors found that much of his lungs were affected by pneumonia, and he was admitted.
In less than a month he was discharged, soon regaining his former vigor. We later laughed together, saying that it was that hearty, heroic laugh which saved his life at that critical moment.

　「笑いは祓い」との御教えのように、笑いは心の罪けがれを祓い身体の調子も調えてくれるということを、かねて申し上げていることですが、ここまで顕著な笑いの力を目の当たりにしたのは初めてでした。笑い、しかも腹を抱えて笑うような笑いは、心の祓いはもとより100パーセントの呼吸、完全呼吸のできる元であることを彼は身をもって示してくれたのでした。

As the Divine Founder teaches, “Laughter is purification (Warai wa harai 笑いは祓い),” I have often remarked that laughter cleanses the heart of sin and defilement and also restores the body’s condition. Yet never before had I witnessed so striking a demonstration of laughter’s power.
Laughter—especially the kind that makes one clutch the stomach in hearty mirth—not only purifies the heart, but also serves as the very source of full breathing, of complete respiration. He himself showed this truth through his own body.

　笑いを医療の上でも取り入れる病院やお医者さんが次々とあることは、かつてこの項でも紹介したことがありますが（平成17年7月号）、今日、「笑いの療法士」なる資格者を育成するほど、笑いの効用を重んじているようです。それは、笑いは心を和らげ明るくし、ストレスの解消と同時に、声を上げて笑う笑いはよい呼吸ができ、しかも免疫力を高める効果があるということが分かってきたからだといわれます。

As I once noted in this column (July 2005 issue), more and more hospitals and physicians have begun to incorporate laughter into medical practice. Today, its value is taken so seriously that there is even a program to train certified “laughter therapists.”
It is said that this is because laughter softens and brightens the heart, relieves stress, and—when one laughs aloud—it promotes good breathing and even strengthens the immune system.

　これとても宗教の世界では珍しいことではなくて、宗教という宗教は祈りの詞（ことば）を持っていて、いずれも下腹からの声で息継ぎを長くして唱えます。祈りの副産物かもしれませんが、下腹で息をするところに生まれる完全呼吸が心を鎮め身体を調え、私たちで言うならばご神徳をいただく受け皿をしっかりとしたものにしてくれます。

This, too, is not unusual in the world of religion. Every religion has words of prayer, chanted with a voice rising from the lower abdomen and extended through long breaths. Perhaps as a byproduct of prayer, the complete breathing born from abdominal respiration calms the heart and restores the body. In our terms, it makes us a firm vessel ready to receive divine blessings.

　実に下腹こそ神秘の世界で、わが国心療内科の創始者池見酉次郎（いけみゆうじろう）先生は「肚（はら）・もう一つの脳」とまで言って、肚＝下腹を養うことの大事を訴えてこられました。下腹には様々（さまざま）な臓器がありますが、最も大きく場を占めているのは小腸と言えましょう。今日の医学では「小腸は免疫のコントロールタワー」とまでいわれているようで、改めて「下腹で息をせよ」「御陽気をいただきて下腹に納めよ」の御教えが強く迫ってまいりますし、高弟星島良平先生の「起きがけと寝がけと腹を二百ずつさすり下してみたま鎮めよ」の道歌が蘇（よみがえ）ってきます。しかも、この小腸の活動を弱め炎症まで起こさせる元凶はストレスだといわれています。罪けがれというストレスをいかに祓うか、心の祓いの大事を改めて思います。

Indeed, the lower abdomen is a realm of mystery. Dr. Ikemi Yūjirō, the founder of psychosomatic medicine in Japan, even described it as “the abdomen—another brain,” stressing the importance of cultivating hara 腹, the lower abdomen.
Within the lower abdomen are many organs, but the one that occupies the greatest space is the small intestine. In modern medicine, the small intestine is even called “the control tower of immunity.” This makes the teaching all the more compelling: “Breathe from the lower abdomen” and “Receive the Goyōki (the sun’s divine energy) and store it in the lower abdomen.”
It also brings to mind the verse of High Disciple Hoshijima Ryōhei: “Upon rising and before sleep, rub down the abdomen two hundred times, and thus calm the soul.”
Moreover, it is said that the very factor that weakens the small intestine’s activity and even causes inflammation is stress. Once again, I am reminded of the vital importance of purification of the heart—of how to dispel the stress that is sin and defilement.

教祖神は、
「道は満（みつ）るなり。天照大御神の御分身（ごぶんしん）のみちて欠けぬよう遊ばさるべく候（そうろう）。人は陽気ゆるむと陰気つよるなり。陰気かつときはけがれなり。けがれは気枯（きが）れにて、大陽（だいよう）の気を枯らすなり。そのところから種々いろいろのこと出来（しゅったい）するなり。何事も有り難い有り難いにて、日を送りなされ候（そうら）えば、残らず有り難いに相成り申すべきなり。……」（御文143号）

The Divine Founder teaches:
“The Way becomes full. You must ensure that the divine manifestation of Amaterasu Ōmikami remains whole and never fades. When yōki 陽気 (the sun’s divine energy) weakens, inki 陰気(the negative energy, opposite of yōki or gloom) grows stronger. When inki overcomes brightness, impurity arises. Impurity is the depletion of divine energy—it dries the great solar spirit. From this, various conditions emerge. If you greet each day with gratitude, everything will become a blessing.” (Gobun No. 143)

と御教えになり、また、
「……常祓（じょうばら）いと申すことをお忘れなされず、これを生かしてつかい申し候（そうら）えば、ほかに道はござなしと存じ奉（たてまつ）り候（そうろう）。ねてもさめても御心の祓い一筋にござ候（そうろう）。けだいなく祓い給わば心ばかり、心はこごるなり、ほこるなり。かの日月（じつげつ）なれば、我なきところにいたり候（そうろう）なり。我なきはまことの日月（ひと）なり。しれたことながら申し上げ候（そうろう）。いよいよ御生かしおつかいなさるべく候（そうろう）」（御文2号）
と説かれるのです。

He also says:
In short, never forget the practice of constant purification (jōbarai 常祓い). If you utilize this in practice, I believe there is no other way. Whether awake or asleep, focus solely on the purification of your heart. The mind is the congealed Spirit (of Amaterasu Ōmikami) and it expands in all the directions. The mind is the Sun and Moon (that are Amaterasu Ōmikami) and She takes you to the state of selflessness. Selfless is the true sun and moon that is the true person. Even though you already know this, I mention it to you. May you make ever greater use of it.” (Gobun No.2)

　御道信仰は「ありがとうなる」こと、今流に申せば、感謝と感動の心を常に求めることです。これこそ、心生きて祓い切られた心であるわけですが、そのためにも大切なことは、下腹、丹田（たんでん）を養うことです。
　実は、私たちの祈りはすべて下腹を中心になされていることが分かります。お祓いを上げることも、毎朝の御日拝の中心をなす御陽気修行も、また鎮魂（ちんこん）の行もしかりです。「道の理（ことわり）」の一条「御陽気をいただきて下腹に納め、天地と共に気を養い」は、その極致です。

Faith in the Way means living in a spirit of “thankfulness,” or, in modern terms, constantly seeking a heart of gratitude and deep emotion. This is precisely the heart that is alive, purified, and free from defilement. And for this, it is essential to cultivate the lower abdomen, tanden 丹田.
In fact, we can see that all of our prayers are centered in the lower abdomen. This is true for recitations of Oharai お祓い (Ōharae no Kotoba 大祓詞 or the Purification Prayer) , Goyōki Shugyō 御陽気修行 (the training to receive the sun’s divine energy) that forms the core of our daily morning Nippai 日拝 (the sunrise worship), and also the chinkon 鎮魂 (soul-calming) practices. A verse of Michi no Kotowari 道の理 (the Principle of the Way) states: “Receive Goyōki 御陽気 (the sun’s divine energy), store it in the lower abdomen, and, together with Heaven and Earth, nourish the vital breath.” This is the ultimate expression of the teaching.

　ここで改めて、下腹で息をすることの大切を身をもって再確認していただきたく存じます。

Here, I would like you to once again confirm through your own body the importance of breathing from the lower abdomen.

まず、正座か胡座（こざ）（安座）して下さい。女性の場合は亀居（かめい）でもよろしい。あるいは椅子（いす）に座ってでもよろしい。いずれの場合も添”腰骨”を立てて、頭の上に一冊の本を置いているような思いで座って下さい。そこに自然に背筋が伸びます。
ここで肛門（こうもん）を締めますと肩の力が自然に抜けます。
おへその下、5センチの辺りに意識を集めて、そこを後ろへ、背中にひっつくほどへこませて下さい。おのずから自然に息が口から出ていきます。この息が出ていくとき、いわゆる息を吐くときに声ならぬ声でわが身の奥深くに語りかけるように「ありがとう……」と唱えて下さい。息を出し切ったところで口と肛門を閉めます。そしてそれをバネにするように下腹を前に突き出します。息は自然に鼻から入ってきます。

First, sit either in a kneeling posture or cross-legged posture. Sitting on a chair is fine as well. In any case, keep the hip bones upright, and sit as if balancing a book on the top of your head. This naturally straightens the spine.
Next, tighten the anus, and you will find that the tension in your shoulders is released. Focus your awareness about five centimeters below the navel, and draw that point inward, as if pressing it back toward the spine. The breath will naturally flow out through the mouth.
As you exhale, silently speak to the depths of your being with the word “Thank you…” Then, when the breath is fully expelled, close both the mouth and the anus. Using that closure as a spring, push the lower abdomen forward. The breath will then naturally enter through the nose.

　この繰り返しがいわゆる丹田呼吸です。この呼吸法で息を吐くときに言葉が付いてくるのがお祓いを上げるということであり、この呼吸法で口を開いて息を呑（の）み込みながら御光を呑み込んで下腹に納めるのが御陽気修行です。

This repetition is what is called tanden breathing. When words accompany the exhalation in this breathing method, it becomes the act of reciting Oharai. And when, with the mouth open, one inhales while swallowing the divine light into the lower abdomen, this is Goyōki Shugyō.

この呼吸法でお祓いを上げるときに、お祓いの声はおのずから下腹から湧（わ）き出るようなものとなり、それはすなわち御神前を真っすぐに射るような、温かくも強い大祓詞（おおはらえのことば）となります。

When Oharai is recited through this breathing, the voice of the prayer naturally wells up from the lower abdomen. It becomes a warm yet powerful chant of Ōharae no Kotoba, striking straight toward the divine presence.

またこの呼吸法で空気を呑み込みながら御光をいただく御陽気修行のためには、口中に少し空気を含んで唾（つば）と一緒に飲み込むことから始められればよいと思います。一度お腹に空気を呑み込むことができますと、あとは楽にできるようになりましょう。

For the practice of receiving Goyōki by swallowing air together with the divine sunlight, one may begin simply by holding a little air in the mouth and swallowing it along with saliva. Once you succeed in swallowing air into the abdomen even once, it will become easier thereafter.

まずは、「御陽気をいただきて下腹に納め」るべくつとめていただき、いずれさらに「天地と共に気を養い」始められて、御日拝、そしてその中心をなす御陽気修行という「宝」を自らのものにしていただきたく願うことです。

Thus, I hope you will first strive to “receive Goyōki and store it in the lower abdomen.” In time, may you also begin to “nourish the vital breath together with Heaven and Earth,” making the daily worship of the sun—and at its center, the practice of receiving Goyōki—your own treasured possession.