現在只今の私の想い
(My Thoughts at This Moment)

平成28年9月号掲載(Published September, Heisei 28 (2016))

　この月９月１８日に満７９歳になります私は、すでにご存じ下さっている方もあろうかと存じますが、来年の満８０歳のこの日に六代教主の座を退かせていただくことになりました。これはもちろん七代を継ぐ現副教主である長男宗道や教団幹部と相談した上で、去る３月１８日の黒住教教議会でお認めいただき、４月２日の教祖大祭で正式に発表したことでした。

On September 18 of this month, I will reach the age of seventy‑nine. As some of you may already know, I have decided that on my eightieth birthday next year I will step down from the position of Sixth Chief Patriarch. This decision was, of course, made in consultation with my eldest son, Munemichi, the current Vice Chief Patriarch and successor as the Seventh, together with the senior leaders of our organization. It was formally approved at the Kurozumikyō Council on March 18, and officially announced at this year’s Grand Festival of the Founder’s Ascension on April 2.

　おおげさな、またおこがましい思いもありますが、教主就任以降永年筆を執ってきましたこの「道ごころ」であらためてその由を記すことをご了承下さい。

I realize it may sound grandiose or presumptuous, but please allow me to record here in Michigokoro, where I have long taken up the pen since becoming Chief Patriarch, the reasons behind my decision.

　本教は、教祖神以来、先代が亡くなられて次の「宗」の字を頂く長男が教主（昔は管長）に就任してまいりました。父であります先代宗和教主・五代様が昇天されたのが昭和４８年５月１３日で、教団の掟定めるところにより直ちに私が六代教主としてのつとめを始め、しばらくの後、その就任式を執行することとなりました。その年９月１８日に私は３６回目の誕生日を迎えました。それより来年の９月１８日まで４４年の永きに亘り、黒住教教主という尊い場にあらせていただけることは、自らを振り返ってみて忸怩たる思いの方が多い身でありますが、それだけにわが身には過ぎた有り難い歳月であったと心から感謝しています。それは教祖神をはじめわが先祖への感謝であり、今日までお支え下さったお道づれの皆様への感謝であります。

Since the time of the Divine Founder, our tradition has been that upon the passing of the Chief Patriarch, the eldest son who inherits the character “Mune 宗” assumes the position. When my father, the Fifth Chief Patriarch Munekazu, ascended on May 13, Shōwa 48 (1973), I immediately began my duties as the Sixth Chief Patriarch, in accordance with the rules of our organization. Shortly thereafter, the enthronement ceremony was held. That same year, on September 18, I celebrated my thirty‑sixth birthday.
From then until next year’s September 18, I will have been privileged to serve for forty‑four long years in the sacred role of Chief Patriarch of Kurozumikyō. Looking back, I often feel a sense of inadequacy, yet all the more I am deeply grateful for these blessed years. My gratitude is to the Divine Founder and to my ancestors, and to all of you, my companions on the Way, who have supported me until today.

　あらためて過去に目をやりますと去来するものは数えきれませんが、私の青春時代を懸けたと自分で思っています学生時代の体育会ハンドボール部の生活は、私の全人生の基盤ともいえるものであり続けました。ある意味で鼻持ちならぬところのあった私を鍛え正してくれたのは、グラウンドの先輩であり仲間たちでした。慶應義塾大学とか東京大学との定期戦におけるＯＢ戦にももう出場はできませんが、それでも毎年の春の合宿に神道山にやって来る現役の選手たちと、キャッチボールをしたりシュートの真似事をしながら青春の血を蘇らせてきました。年のわりには元気なと言われるのも、このハンドボールのおかげですし、もとより毎朝の御日拝と全国のお道づれの皆様が私に寄せて下さる熱いまなざしの賜物です。

Looking back, countless memories arise, yet I believe that the life I devoted to the Handball Club during my student days was the very foundation of my entire existence. It was my seniors and teammates on the ground who disciplined and corrected me, for I was at times rather arrogant.
Though I can no longer take part in the alumni matches against Keio University or the University of Tokyo, each spring I have revived the blood of youth by joining the current players during their training camp at Shintōzan—playing catch, imitating shots, and sharing in their energy.
If people say I am unusually vigorous for my age, it is thanks to handball, and above all to my daily Nippai and the warm gaze of all my companions on the Way throughout the nation.

　お道づれの熱いまなざしといえば、学校を終えて教団に帰ってきて２年目の、昭和３７年から３９年１０月の立教百五十年記念祝祭までの約２年半、全国の教会所を初めて巡拝した時にいただいた皆様の熱い御心です。私のつとめる拙い話を聞いて下さる皆様の真剣なまなざし、それは将来六代教主になる私への期待と、未熟な身ながら私を通して教祖神をみつめていらっしゃることを肌身にいたいほど感じました。それは、私に課せられた責任の重さを教えて下さるまなざしでもありました。

Speaking of the warm gaze of companions on the Way, two and half years until October Shōwa 39 (1964) when I first made pilgrimage to churches throughout Japan leading up to the 150th Anniversary Grand Festival of the Founding. The pilgrimage started in my second year back to Kurozumikyō after finishing university. The earnest eyes of those who listened to my humble words impressed me deeply. I felt, almost painfully, that they were looking at the Divine Founder through me, immature as I was, and at the same time placing expectations upon me as the future Sixth Chief Patriarch. Those eyes taught me the weight of responsibility laid upon me.

　その数年後に、近い将来岡山にやって来る新幹線、瀬戸の海に架かる大橋といった大型プロジェクトに対応するための岡山市の土地区画整理事業が始まりました。そのため霊地大元周辺の大変貌が予想され、結局、現在の神道山への大教殿ご遷座に至るわけです。この未曽有の教団の危機的な事態を、私個人としても逆に好機とすることのできたのも、あの２年半の教会所巡拝でいただいた皆様からの熱いまなざしであったことを思うとき、あらためて熱く胸に迫るものがあります。あの目、あの御心があるかぎり、「神道山は成る」の確信をいただいたのです。それまでの教団では考えられないほど莫大な浄財を、次々とお寄せ下さったおかげで現在の神道山はあります。まことに有り難いことでありました。

A few years later, large projects such as the coming Shinkansen to Okayama and the great bridge across the Seto Inland Sea prompted a land‑readjustment program in Okayama City. This foretold great changes around the sacred site Ōmoto, and ultimately led to the transfer of Daikyōden 大教殿 (the Main Shrine) to Shintōzan. What could have been an unprecedented crisis for the organization became, for me personally, an opportunity—thanks to the fervent gaze I had received during those two and a half years of pilgrimage. Remembering those eyes and hearts, I was convinced: “Shintōzan will be established.”
It was through the extraordinary offerings of pure devotion, far beyond what had ever been imagined in Kurozumikyō, that Shintōzan as it stands today was built. Truly, it was a blessing beyond measure.

　現在、各地の教会所で、この神道山へのご遷座当時に所長であった方の墓前にお参りすることを続けています。

Now, I continue to visit the graves of those who were heads of the branch churches at the time of the transfer to Shintōzan, offering prayers before them.

　日本人を教祖とする宗教である本教が立教二百年を迎えることのできたこと、しかもその記念の大祝祭を神道山で斎行できた奉告と感謝のお墓参りです。かつて戦役にあった方に伺った戦友のような思いで、当時の所長さんのお墓に頭を垂れています。

That our faith, founded by a Japanese, has been able to reach its Bicentennial, and that we could hold the commemorative Grand Festival at Shintōzan, is the very reason for my visits to the graves—to report and to give thanks. I bow my head before the tombs of those who were heads of the churches at the time, with the feeling of comrades who once shared the battlefield.

　「よくぞあの時、神道山へご遷座せざるをえないことを理解し、御日拝こそ本教の『いのち』であることを皆様に話し伝えて納得してもらい、しかも莫大な浄財を取り次いで下さった」と、御礼申し上げるお参りです。

My prayer of gratitude is: “How well you understood then that the transfer to Shintōzan was unavoidable, how you explained to everyone that daily Nippai is the very life of our faith, persuaded them to accept it, and moreover conveyed the immense offerings of devotion. For this I thank you.”

　教主就任直後の昭和４９年１０月、大教殿は神道山に竣工なりました。その月２７日未明、教祖神のご降誕の地でありご立教以来１６０年の霊地大元からのご遷座祭を、若い教主の私を盛り立てて下さる多くの教師お道づれのおかげで果たすことができたのでした。深夜の大元から神道山までの約８キロ余の道のりを、斎主の私の後を小学校６年生の長男宗道が、かつての陸軍の行軍そのままにねむりながら、時には前を行く私にぶつかりながら歩き続けたことも、長男と神道山を結ぶ貴重な絆となったと、なつかしく有り難く思いおこしています。

In Shōwa 49 (1974), soon after my accession as Chief Patriarch , Daikyōden was completed at Shintōzan. In the early hours of the 27th of that month, we held the transfer ceremony from Ōmoto, the sacred site of the Divine Founder’s birth and the place of revelation for 160 years. Thanks to the support of many teachers and companions who encouraged the young Chief Patriarch, I was able to fulfill this solemn duty.
I still recall with gratitude how my eldest son, Munemichi, then a sixth‑grade student, followed behind me along the eight‑kilometer route from Ōmoto to Shintōzan. Sleepy, sometimes bumping into me as he walked, he resembled a soldier on an old army march. That night became a precious bond linking my son to Shintōzan.

　これからの一年間は、六代教主としての仕上げの時と位置づけ、教祖神、そして五代様の御心を忖度、拝察しながらつとめ上げたいと願っています。そして引退後は、ちょうど、平成２４年の神楽岡・宗忠神社ご鎮座百五十年記念祝祭、平成２６年の立教二百年大祝祭、平成２７年の大元・宗忠神社ご鎮座百三十年記念祝祭を長男宗道が斎主で私は参列した姿でつとめましたように、七代教主の邪魔にならぬよう、いかに縁の下の力持ちになれるかを修行の眼目として月日を重ねることができれば有り難いと思っています。

The coming year I regard as the time of completion for my service as the Sixth Chief Patriarch. I wish to fulfill my duties with reverence, discerning the heart of the Divine Founder and of the Fifth Patriarch. After retirement, I hope to serve as unseen support, just as I did when my son Munemichi officiated as ritual master at the 150th Anniversary Festival of Munetada Shrine in Heisei 24 (2012), the Bicentennial Grand Festival of the Founding in Heisei 26 (2014), and the 130th Anniversary Festival of Ōmoto Munetada Shrine in Heisei 27 (2015), while I attended as participant. To continue in that spirit, striving to be a strength beneath the surface, will be my training and my joy.

　あらためて皆様に心から厚く御礼申し上げます。

I once again extend my heartfelt and profound gratitude to you all.