諭達第四号　INSTRUCTION FOUR

立教189年、教祖140年祭を迎えるにあたり、
In anticipation of the 140th Anniversary of Oyasama to be obeserved in 2026(Tenrikyo 189),

思うところを述べて、全教の心を一つにしたい。
I would like to share some of my thoughts in the hope that they will serve to unite the minds of all followers.  




親神様は、旬刻限の到来とともに、教祖をやしろとして表にお現れになり、
God the Parent became openly revealed by settling Oyasama as the Shrine upon the arrival of the Promised Time and

世界一れつをたすけるため、
━out of the desire to save all people throughout the world━

陽気ぐらしへのたすけ一条の道を創められた。
laid the path of single-hearted salvation that leads to the Joyous Life.





以来、教祖は、月日のやしろとして、
Thereafter, Oyasama, as the Shrine of Tsukihi,

親神様の思召をお説き下され、
conveyed the intention of God the Parent,

つとめを教えられるとともに、
taught the Service,

御自ら、ひながたの道をお示し下された。
and demonstrated the path of the Divine Model through Her own example.

そして、明治20年陰暦正月26日、
On the lunar-calendar date of January 26, 1887,

子供の成人を急き込まれ、定命を縮めて現身をかくされたが、
Oyasama withdrew from physical life by shortening Her term of life in order to hasten the spiritual growth of all humankind, Her children.





今も存命のまま元のやしきに留まり、
Yet, she remains everliving at the Residence of Origin,

世界たすけの先頭に立ってお働き下され、私たちをお導き下されている。
providing Her workings and guidance at the forefront of world salvation.





この教祖の親心にお応えすべく、よふぼく一人ひとりが教祖の道具衆としての自覚を高め、仕切って成人の歩みを進めることが、教祖年祭を勤める意義である。
The significance of observing an anniversary of Oyasama, therefore, is to respond to Her parental love by making decisive progress in spiritual growth, with each and every Yoboku raising his or her awareness of being Oyasama's instrument.





おさしづに、
In the Divine Directions, we are taught:




ひながたの道を通らねばひながた要らん。
If you do not follow the path of the Divine Model, there is no need for a Divine Model



（中略）ひながたの道より道が無いで。
There is no path but the path of the Divine Model.

（おさしづ　明治22年11月7日）


と仰せられている。






教祖年祭への三年千日は、
The period of "three years, one thousand days" that leads up to an anniversary of Oyasama is

ひながたを目標に教えを実践し、たすけ一条の歩みを活発に推し進めるときである。
a time for us to actively move forward on the path of single-hearted salvation by implementing the teachings with our sights set on the Divine Model.

教祖はひながたの道を、
Oyasama began the path of the Divine Model

まず貧に落ちきるところから始められ、
by plunging into the depths of poverty.

どのような困難な道中も、
No matter how difficult the situation was,

親神様のお心のままに、心明るくお通り下された。
she always remained cheerful and joyful in full accord with the mind of God the Parent.

あるときは、
On one occasion, for example, Oyasama said:




「水を飲めば水の味がする」
When we drink water, it tastes of water.





と、どんな中でも親神様の大いなる御守護に感謝して通ることを教えられ、
She taught us to always feel a sense of gratitude for the boundless blessings of God the Parent in any situation as we walk the path.

また、あるときは、
On another occasion, she noted:



「ふしから芽が出る」
Buds sprout from knots.





と成ってくる姿はすべて人々を成人へとお導き下さる親神様のお計らいであると諭され、周囲の人々を励まされた。
She encouraged those around her by saying that whatever happens is God's arrangement for guiding people to spiritual maturity.

さらには、
Further, we are taught:



「人救けたら我が身救かる」
Through saving others, you will be saved.





と、ひたすらたすけ一条に歩む中に、
Oyasama taught that, if we remain singly focused on working for the salvation of others,

いつしか心は澄み、
our minds will gradually become purified without us even realizing it

明るく陽気に救われていくとお教え下された。
and will allow us to be savedand be filled with joy and brightness.

ぢばを慕い
Yearning for Jiba and

親神様の思召に添いきる中に、
bringing ourselves into complete accord with God the Parent's intention

必ず成程という日をお見せ頂ける。
will surely lead us to the day when we gain a convincing insight.





この五十年にわたるひながたこそ、
Indeed, the fifty-year Divine Model is

陽気ぐらしへと進むただ一条の道である。
the single path that leads to the Joyous Life.

今日、世の中には、
Today, our society is

他者への思いやりを欠いた自己主張や刹那的行動があふれ、
awash with self-assertion that lacks consideration for others and with indulgence in ephemeral pleasures.

人々は己が力を過信し、
People are overconfident in their capabilities and

我が身思案に流れ、
tend to be swayed by self-centered human thoughts

心の闇路をさまよっている。
as they wander about on the mind's dark paths.

親神様は、
God the Parent

こうした人間の心得違いを知らせようと、
alerts us human beings to such misuses of the mind

身上や事情にしるしを見せられる。
by giving us signs in the form of illnesses and other challenging situations.







頻発する自然災害や疫病の世界的流行も、
Global pandemics and frequent natural disasters are





すべては私たちに心の入れ替えを促される子供可愛い親心の現れであり、てびきである。
all expressions of the parental love and guidance of God, who urges us humans, who are God’s beloved children, to replace the mind.

一れつ兄弟姉妹の自覚に基づき、人々が互いに立て合いたすけ合う、陽気ぐらしの生き方が今こそ求められている。
Now more than ever,
we are encouraged to implement a way of life
that will establish the Joyous Life where people live
by helping one another based on the awareness
that all human beings are brothers and sisters.

よふぼくは、進んで教会に足を運び、
Let us Yoboku proactively visit our churches,

日頃からひのきしんに励み、
engage in Hinokishin on a daily basis,

家庭や職場など身近なところから、にをいがけを心掛けよう。
and spread the fragrance of the teachings to others, starting with those around us including our family members and coworkers.

身上事情で悩む人々には、
If we find people who are suffering from illnesses or other problems,

親身に寄り添い、
let us reach out to them with love and care

おつとめで治まりを願い、
and pray for a solution through performing the service.

病む者にはおさづけを取り次ぎ、
We can administer the Sazuke to those who are ill

真にたすかる道があることを伝えよう。
and let them know that there is a path by which they can truly be saved.




親神様は真実の心を受け取って、
God the Parent will accept our true sincerity

自由の御守護をお見せ下される。
and provide free and unlimited workings accordingly.





教祖お一人から始まったこの道を、先人はひながたを心の頼りとして懸命に通り、私たちへとつないで下さった。
Our predecessors have followed the path that Oyasama has begun by using Her Divine Model as their dependable guide and maintained the path for us to walk on.





その信仰を受け継ぎ、親から子、子から孫へと引き継いでいく一歩一歩の積み重ねが、
The efforts to learn and pass down the faith from parents to children, from children to grandchildren, and so on,

末代へと続く道となるのである。
will allow this path to continue for endless generations.





この道にお引き寄せ頂く道の子一同が、
I hope that all of our followers, who have been drawn to the path,

教祖の年祭を成人の節目として、
will regard the upcoming anniversary of Oyasama as a crucial opportunity to grow spiritually

世界たすけの歩みを一手一つに力強く推し進め、
and take firm steps forward on the path of world salvation in unity of mind,

御存命でお働き下さる教祖にご安心頂き、お喜び頂きたい。
thereby bringing joy and peace of mind to Oyasama, who is working by virtue of Her eternal life.




立教185年10月26日　　真柱　中山善司

October 26, 2022 (Tenrikyo 185)

Zenji Nakayama

The Shinbashira