出版社:文芸社 著者:大野靖志 定価:1,680円
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Observances to Console the Five Spirits and the Five Souls – The sixth stage
In the sixth stage of Tokusa no Kandakara (The Ten Stages of God’s Treasures) the practice is intended to console the spirits. While this terminology may be typically understood as intent upon comforting the souls of the dead, in Hakke Shinto philosophy it is understood to be intended to comfort the souls of living beings.
According to Shinto, the four basic kinds of souls are ara-mitama (soul of creation), nigi-mitama (soul of peace), saki-mitama (soul of harvest), and kushi-mitama (soul of miraculous power). In Hakke Shinto kuwashi-mitama (soul of essence) is also included to make the five souls. The term chinkon (consolation of the souls) as it pertains to the practices of the sixth level, means to manage these five spirits. The meaning of the clapping of hands at this stage of Tokusa no Kandakara is to pray for the opening of heaven and earth in order to achieve chinkon. Nanasawa explains the unique aspect of kuwashi-mitama (soul of essence) according to Hakke Shinto:
It is considered that to be united with the soul of mud is similar to being united with Kunitsu (God of Earth) which is a stage when the Emperor realizes that He is the embodiment of national polity. This moment of realization is the kuwashi-mitama (soul of essence) for the Emperor in this case, but is actually meant to be the moment of realization for everyone. In most sects of Shinto, there is a spirit that is believed to be above the other souls called, “Naohi,” and is understood through the concept of, “one spirit and four souls.” In Hakke Shinto, the concept of Naohi is actually understood through applying the five strata concept and is known as the five spirits: Ikumusubi, Takamusubi, Kamimusubi, Tarumusubi, and Tamatsumemusubi. This application of the fundamental concept of the five strata is the basis for understanding the nature of spirit and soul according to Hakke Shinto. It is through this precise application of the five strata that a fundamental difference of understanding the spirit and soul emerges. The purpose of spirit and soul (consciousness) is to attain moment(s) of realization (kuwashi-mitama) and that they are attained through the energy of unity (Musubi). In Hakke Shinto, it is understood that the essence of soul consists of balancing and regulating the five souls and five spirits. While the concept of one soul managing the four spirits, or managing five souls and five spirits may not seem to be a huge difference between Hakke Shinto and other sects, the difference is actually significant. The reason is that since there is no singular concept of ending, such as Naohi, in Hakke Shinto the student is encouraged to continue thinking and applying the five strata infinitely. Nanasawa teaches that when the five spirits are placed into the stratum of unity within the matrix of the five strata, the spirits correspond to, “the power of will in creation.”