9月7日、あきる野本願寺(東京都あきる野市)で、落語と仏教のイベントが開かれました。お越し頂きありがとうございます。
まず、三笑亭可龍師匠に落語「野ざらし」を演じて頂きました。この落語では、「先生」と呼ばれる男が釣りをしているときに遺骨を見つけ、供養をしました。翌日、八五郎がこの話を聞いて、釣りに出かけたのです。
次に私が、亡き人の供養についてお話ししました。お釈迦さまの晩年を描いた『大パリニッバーナ経』という経典によると、お釈迦さまはご自身の遺骨が納められている仏塔を拝むと、心が清められ、より良い世界に生まれると教えています。さらに、お釈迦さまの教えにもとづいて生きてきた人のお墓を拝んでも、心が清められ、より良い世界に生まれると教えています。これは、お釈迦さまの教えを聞くのと同じ結果です。つまり、お墓参りをすることで仏教の教えに興味を持ち、お釈迦さまから学ぶのと同じ結果につながるのです。いずれにせよ、お墓参りをすることで、亡き人から大切なことを学ぶことができます。つまり、お墓参りは先祖のためだけでなく、自分のためにもなる行いです。仏教徒は、この世の命が尽きた後は仏教を伝える役になることになります。
On September 7, we held an event on Rakugo and Buddhism at Akiruno Hongwanji temple, Akiruno City, Tokyo. Thank you for coming.
First, Mr. SANSHOTEI Karyu performed a Rakugo "Nozarashi" (Remains left on the field). In this story, an old man saw a remains while fishing. So, he held a memorial service for the remains. The next day, a young man, Hachigoro heard it, he went fishing, too.
Next, I talked about memorial services. In Japan, many people hold memorial services at graves or Buddhist temples. The custom that many Buddist temples have graveyards has been seen since ancient India. According to Maha-parinibbana Sutta, which describes the Buddha's last years, the Buddha teaches that you purge your mind and are to be born in a better world if you worship at a stupa containing his remains. In addition, the Buddha teaches that even if you worship at graves of those who lived relying on the teaching, you purge your mind and are to be born in a better world. It is the same result that you listen to the Buddha's teaching. That means that visiting their graves interests you in Buddhist teaching, and leads you to the same result you learn from the Buddha. Anyway, you can learn something important from the dead through visiting graves. Therefore, visiting graves does not only benefit the ancestors but also yourself. Buddhists are to teach Buddhism after passing away.
