What is Shinto? 3

神道は狭義で言えば　火の神様・海の神様・・・とまさに八百万の神々がいらして、例えば

航海の安全には宗像三女神さまにお参りする、という様なこともありますが、本質的にはその社のご祭神を通して八百万の神々に「畏敬」と「感謝」の念を捧げてお礼をするということが神道のまさに「道」です。　神社は大きく分けて二つに区分けされます。それは自分が生まれた地域の神社＝産土神（うぶすながみ）と、そしてそこを離れて今暮らしている地域の神社＝氏神（うじがみ）との二つです。多くのお家では神棚には天照大御神の御札の他に氏神やお参り行って頂いてきたその神様の御札を祀ることが多いですね。八百万の神々に感謝を表して朝夕に拝してお礼を伝えて暮らすことは美しい所作です。

「お礼」の想いこそが基です。「お礼」は「お願い」ではないのでここはしっかりと分けるべき点です。「お願い・希望」ばかりを願うのではなくて、もし願うならば

「私はこのことを成すことでこの様にして世のため人のために成ります！心して尽くしますからお導きをお願い申し上げます！」と「決意」を述べることが良いのだろうと思います。

「神様のお手伝いをさせて下さい」という決意ですね。純真な決意！の一心です。

「祈る」という語源は実は「意志」を「宣（の）べる」つまりは「私の志を宣言する」という高尚な所作なのです。

In the narrow sense of the word, Shinto is home to the god of fire, the god of the sea, and many other gods. For example, we may pray to the Three Munakata Goddesses for a safe voyage, but essentially, the "way" of Shinto is to offer "reverence" and "gratitude" to the eight million gods through the deity enshrined at the shrine, and to give thanks. Shrines are broadly divided into two categories. The shrine of the area where you were born = Ubusunagami, and the shrine of the area where you are now living, = Ujigami. In many homes, in addition to the talisman of Amaterasu Omikami, many homes also have talismans of the tutelary deity and the gods you have visited. It is a beautiful act to express gratitude to the eight million gods and live by praying in the morning and evening. The basis is the feeling of "gratitude." "Thank you" is not a "request," so this is a point that needs to be clearly distinguished. Rather than just making requests and hopes, if you are praying, I think it's better to state a "determination" like, "By accomplishing this, I will be of benefit to the world and people in this way! I will do my best, so please guide me!" A determination that says, "Please let me help God." A pure determination! That is all I have. The origin of the word "pray" actually comes from the noble act of "declaring one's will," in other words, "declaring one's aspirations."

私は若いころに父親と奥深い山に入って林業そのものを手伝っていたことがあります。その山仕事を終えて下山するとどの村にも小さな社（祠の様な社もあります）があって父親は必ずそこで深く頭を下げてお礼の言葉を告げて夕陽に染まる小路を歩んで帰路に着きましたが、その姿が今も美しくうかんできます。勿論、朝に山に入る時もまさに「畏敬」と「感謝」の想いを込めて柏手を打っていました。父親は起床して顔を洗う時には洗面器のその水に柏手を打って「今日もありがとうございます。目の神様ありがとうございます。」と伝えて最初に目に水を優しくかけて次に鼻に注いでいました。そして朝日に向かって柏手を打って深く礼拝をしていました。

こういう姿は、昔はどこの家でも見かけられるものでした。皆が大自然を敬愛していたのです。そこに神を見ていたのですね。こういう敬虔な様子はもう今では見られなくなりましたが寂しいことだと思います。　これが「神道」なのです。そしてこの「神道」は日本にしかないということを心にしっかりと留めておいてください。

「神道」と同じ意味合いの言葉で「惟神（かんながら）の道」という言葉も時折見聞きします。これは「惟神」＝神さながら→神様と同じように　という意味なのですね。

つまり「惟神の道」＝「神道」とは神と同じように穢れの無い、清く正しく潔い生き方を示す指針！と言って良いのではないかと私は思います。

When I was young, I went deep into the mountains with my father to help with forestry work. When we finished our mountain work and came down from the mountain, there was a small shrine (some were like a small shrine) in every village, and my father would always bow deeply there and give words of thanks before walking home along the path dyed in the setting sun. I can still picture that beautiful image. Of course, when he went into the mountains in the morning, he would also clap his hands with feelings of reverence and gratitude. When my father woke up and washed his face, he would clap his hands over the water in the washbasin and say, "Thank you again today. Thank you to the god of the eyes." He would first gently pour water into his eyes and then into his nose. He would then clap his hands toward the morning sun in deep worship.

This kind of behavior could be seen in every home in the past. Everyone revered Mother Nature. They saw God there. It is sad that such reverent behavior is no longer seen today. This is Shinto. Please keep in mind that this Shinto exists only in Japan.

You may sometimes hear the term "Kannagara no Michi" which has the same meaning as "Shinto". "Kannagara" means "just like a god".

In other words, "Kannagara no Michi" = "Shinto" is a guide to a pure, righteous and upright way of life, just as untainted as a god! I think it's fair to say that.