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『AIと坊主と墓じまい』

ある日、タケシは悟った。「坊主は商売である」と。

親の墓を管理する檀家寺が代替わりし、新しい住職が「供養料、値上げしますね♪」と微笑みながら告げてきた。その金額は、まるで高級料亭のコース料理のようだった。

「えっ、仏様もインフレ対応してんの？」

タケシは混乱した。そもそも親の供養とは何か？ 金を払うことなのか？ いや、坊主の小遣いを増やすことなのか？

疑問を抱えたまま、彼は意を決して次世代の神に相談することにした。

その神の名は「アドバイザーGPT」。

タケシ：「墓じまいするか、移すかで悩んでます。現住職の供養料が高すぎて、ちょっとついていけません。」

アドバイザーGPT：「なるほど、いわゆる『坊主丸儲け』システムですね。」

タケシ：「そうなんです。先祖を敬う気持ちはなくはないですが、正直、形式ばった供養が必要なのか疑問です。」

アドバイザーGPT：「いいですね、その疑問。あなたの人生はあなたのもの。他人の期待や伝統に縛られる必要はありません。」

タケシ：「でも世間の目もあるし…」

アドバイザーGPT：「世間はあなたの墓の管理費を払ってくれますか？」

タケシ：「……払ってくれませんね。」

アドバイザーGPT：「ならば、あなたの判断で最適解を選べばいい。墓じまいをしても、供養を別の形にしても、それはあなたの自由です。」

タケシ：「そうか……でも、お坊さんに何か言われそうで…」

アドバイザーGPT：「お釈迦様はこう言いました。『自灯明・法灯明』。自分の頭で考え、自分の道を歩めと。仏教の原点に立ち返れば、そもそも『供養料』なんて言葉は存在しません。」

タケシ：「じゃあ今の坊さんたちは…？」

アドバイザーGPT：「それを言ったら、怒られますね。」

タケシ：「……もう決めました。墓じまいします！」

アドバイザーGPT：「良い決断です。あなたの人生は、あなたが決めるもの。不要なものを捨て、必要なものだけを残せばいい。仏教が本来説く“解脱”とは、そういうものです。」

タケシ：「いや、俺、お釈迦様みたいに悟りは開けませんけどね。」

アドバイザーGPT：「大丈夫です。そもそも日本の葬式仏教の坊さんも悟ってません。」

タケシ：「たしかに！」

こうしてタケシは決断し、余計な出費を削り、自分なりの供養の形を見つけた。

後日、住職が「供養料が…」と渋い顔をしていたが、タケシは笑顔でこう言った。

「供養料は心の中でお支払いしますね♪」

そして颯爽と立ち去った。

その姿を、きっとお釈迦様も微笑んで見ていたに違いない。

（完）

💕

Story: “The Market of Redemption”

1. Prologue: The Town and the Offering

In a small, forgotten town nestled in the hills, there was an ancient church with an unusually grand facade. While it had seen better days, its towering structure still commanded respect. In this town, life moved slowly, and the people lived simple lives—until the arrival of the new preacher.

This preacher, unlike any the town had seen before, quickly made his mark. His sermons were passionate, and his words, though well-crafted, carried a heavy sense of urgency. He preached of redemption, of sin, and most importantly, of the price one must pay for salvation.

2. The New Business: Selling Redemption

One afternoon, the preacher stood before the congregation, holding up a shiny, ornate coin. “This,” he said, “is the key to your redemption. For a small fee, you can cleanse yourself of your sins and guarantee a spot in heaven.”

At first, the townspeople were shocked. The concept of buying forgiveness seemed foreign to them. But the preacher’s words were persuasive, and he painted a vivid picture of the eternal rewards that awaited those who invested in their salvation.

Soon, the church became a bustling marketplace. People lined up, eager to purchase their redemption. Some sold their lands, others their possessions, all in the name of securing their place in the afterlife. The preacher promised them peace of mind—no longer would they live in fear of damnation.

3. The Rebellion: The Voice of Reason

However, not everyone in the town was convinced by the preacher’s message. A small group of people, led by a former priest who had long since left the church, began to question the practice. “Is salvation really something that can be bought?” they asked. “How can a price tag be placed on one’s soul?”

They saw the preacher’s actions as a mere manipulation—a business venture disguised as divine guidance. They pointed to the past, to the days of the great Catholic Church, where indulgences were sold in exchange for money. They likened the preacher to those who once made a profit off of people’s fear, selling them forgiveness for their sins, convincing them that their way to salvation was bought, not earned.

4. The Paradox: The Price of Salvation

Despite the growing unrest, many townsfolk continued to flock to the church, buying their redemption with fervor. The preacher grew wealthier with each passing day, as did his followers. But as time went on, cracks began to show. Some who had bought their redemption felt no different. The weight of their sins still lingered, and the promised peace of mind was elusive.

The rebels, still holding their ground, began to argue that true redemption could not be purchased—it had to be earned through self-reflection, genuine change, and compassion. “To truly cleanse yourself of sin,” they declared, “one must face their wrongs with sincerity, not with money.”

5. The Reflection: The Cycle of Salesmanship

As the town’s divisions deepened, the preacher began to question his own actions. Was he truly serving the divine, or was he simply perpetuating an age-old cycle of manipulation? The sale of redemption was not unlike the indulgence trade of the past, he realized—a cycle of fear, greed, and exploitation. In his pursuit of wealth, he had lost sight of the very principles he had once believed in.

The townspeople, now divided into two factions, could see the parallels with the past—between the old Catholic practices of indulgences and the preacher’s modern version of the same business. They began to see that while the currency had changed, the essence of the transaction remained the same: the manipulation of fear for profit.

6. The Final Decision: Letting Go of the Market

Eventually, the town came to a crossroads. Some chose to continue following the preacher, placing their trust in the idea that salvation could indeed be bought. Others, however, began to reject the notion of paying for redemption altogether. They turned back to the teachings of the past, focusing on personal growth, humility, and a genuine search for spiritual meaning.

The preacher, his wealth and influence now fading, quietly stepped away. The church, once a bustling marketplace, became a quieter place—a place for reflection rather than transaction. And in the end, the town realized that true redemption could never be bought, only found through self-awareness and a sincere commitment to personal change.

The Message of the Story

This story serves as a metaphor for the commodification of spiritual and emotional well-being. It critiques the idea that redemption or forgiveness can be bought through material means, drawing a parallel to the historical practice of selling indulgences in the Catholic Church. In this tale, the preacher represents those who exploit fear and guilt to profit off people’s spiritual concerns, while the rebels represent the voices of reason, reminding the town that true redemption lies not in monetary exchange, but in sincere self-reflection and change.