日蓮大聖人『御書』解説

Letter to the lay priest Yadoya. 宿屋入道許御状

Letter to the lay priest Yadoya.

August 21, 1268. (age:47).

I have not received any letters from you since we were in touch last, I doubt you indeed. Formerly, in the first year of the Shoka era [1257],on the twenty-third day of August, when the hour of the dog gives way to the hour of the boar [around 9:00 p.m.], there was a great earthquake. I, Nichiren, considering various sutras as to why this happened, concluded that, because people put their faiths in the teachings of the Nembutsu sect or the Zen or other sects, the great various benevolent deities who protect this nation of Japan have aroused the indignation and have brought about this disaster. If do not punish these, this nation will be overthrown by a foreign nation. I wrote a treatise expressing these views and sent it to you, hoping that it be forwarded to the lay priest of Saimyo-ji of deceased now, on July 16 of the second year of the Shogen era [1260].

Since then, nine years have passed. I hear reports that this year a missive from the great Mongol Empire has been sent to Japan. If it depends on the texts of the sutras, our country will inevitably be attacked by that nation. I, Nichiren, am convinced that, throughout the country of Japan, Iam the only person who can subdue these barbarians of the west, and I have written a treatise explaining this reason.

For the sake of the ruler, for the sake of the nation, for the sake of the gods, and for the sake of Buddha, I suggest that you forward my views to the regent [Hojo Tokimune] privately. I shall tell you all about this matter when I have the pleasure of seeing you.

　　　Very truly yours.

The twenty-first day of August in the fifth year of Bun'ei [1268]. Nichiren.

To the lay priest Yadoya Saemon.

Original Text. 　Table of Contents.

Gosho 蒙古事 About the Mongolia.

蒙古事

About the Mongolia.

弘安三年八月六日　五十八歳御作

August 6, 1280. Age:58.

さては各各(おのおの)としのころ・いかんがとをぼしつるもう(蒙)こ(古)の事すでにちかづきて候か。

All of you have been wondering whether the Mongols will really attack again, but I believe that invasion is now imminent.

All of you have been wondering whether the Mongols will attack again, but I believe that it is now imminent.

我が国のほろ(亡)びん事はあさましけれども、これだにもそら(虚)事になるならば・日本国の人人いよいよ法華経を謗(ぼう)して万人無間(むけん)地獄に堕つべし、

Though the fall of our country would be deplorable, if the invasion does not take place, the Japanese people will slander the Lotus Sutra more than ever, and all of them will fall into the hell of incessant suffering.

Though the ruin of our country would be deplorable, if the invasion does not take place, the Japanese people will slander the Lotus Sutra more than ever, and all of them will fall into the hell of incessant suffering.

かれだにもつ(強)よるならば国はほろ(亡)ぶとも謗法(ほうぼう)はうすくなりなん。

The nation may be devastated by the superior strength of the Mongols, but the slander of the correct teaching will cease almost entirely.

Although the nation may be ruined by the strength of the Mongols, the slander of the correct teachings will weaken.

譬(たと)へば灸(やい)治(と)をしてやま(病)いをいやし針(はり)治(たて)にて人をなをすがごとし、

Defeat would be like moxa cautery, which cures disease, or like acupuncture, which relieves pain.

For instance, that defeat is same as a moxibustion or an acupuncture.

当時はなげ(嘆)くとも後は悦びなり。

Both are painful at the moment, but bring happiness later.

Though both are sorrowful at that time, these bring happiness later.

つづく　Continued

本文 Original Text　目次 Table of Contents

末法の本仏の立場で法華経二十八品を後継者、日興上人に口伝した書【御義口伝 下】要点解説(133)

【二十八品に一文充の大事 】

安楽行品(注)

一切諸法　空無所有　無有常住　亦無起滅(注)

此の文は任運に常住の妙法なる故に、六道の生滅、本来不生と談ず故に起滅無し。

所謂、南無妙法蓮華経は、本来無起滅なり云云。

注

安楽行品

安楽行品第十四では冒頭で文殊菩薩が釈尊に対し「釈迦滅後、この法華経をどのようにして説いて行ったらよいのか」と問いかけ、釈尊はそれに答えて「身・口・意・誓願」の4種の安楽行を説いた。

「身」

権力者、女人、外道、「仏乗」ではなく「声聞」を求める僧等に親近するな、柔和忍辱の衣を着て世間の非難等に耐え忍ぶ事、安楽行に住し、他者への誹謗等をしないこと、一切法は空であると把握して解く事。例えば権力者、女人に親近するなとは.その人たちに法華経を説くなと言っているのではなく、女人、権力者になびく事無く、法を説くと言う心を決定して説かなければならないとする。

「口」

他人を軽蔑せず、その過失を暴かず、穏やかに心の口で説く。

「意」

他の仏法を学ぶ者に対して嫉妬、そしり、争いの心を抱かないこと。

「誓願」

大慈大悲の心で一切衆生を救済するという誓願を発すること。

尚、「意」の安楽行は日蓮大聖人が「四箇の格言（しかのかくげん）」で念仏・真言等の他宗派を強く責めた事と矛盾するようだが、この点は釈迦滅後の正像二千年と末法万年との修行の違いであり、日蓮大聖人はこの「安楽行」について「御義口伝」で『御義口伝に云く、妙法蓮華経を安楽に行ぜむ事、末法に於て今、日蓮等の類いの修行は妙法蓮華経を修行するに難来るを以て安楽と意得可きなり』と、門下に対し厳しく諭されておられます。

一切諸法　空無所有　無有常住　亦無起滅

安楽行品第十四の次の偈にある文文

[原文]

亦不分別　是男是女　不得諸法　不知不見

是則名為　菩薩行処　一切諸法　空無所有

無有常住　亦無起滅　是名智者　所親近処

[和訳]

亦、是は男、是は女と分別せず、諸法を得ず、知らず見ず。

是を則ち名づけて菩薩の行処と為せり。一切の諸法は空にして有る所無けり。

常住で有ること無く、亦、起滅すること無し。是を智者に親近せられる処と名づけり。

【御義口伝 下】要点解説(134)に続く

Reply to Lord Toki 富木殿御返事

Reply to Lord Toki

December 9, 1253 (Age: 32)

I am pleased you send a person to pick up me.

Because there is a public attention if the daytime, I want to meet you at night. I hope that you pick up me at the time of Bird (about 18:00) of the evening. Or it is good thing even if you come here and talk about the doctrine.

December 9. 　　Nichiren.

Dear Lord Toki.

Original Text. 　Table of Contents.

WRITINGS OF NICHIREN DAISHONIN

Writings of Nichiren Daishonin

Reply to Lord Toki.　富木殿御返事

Letter to the lay priest Yadoya.　宿屋入道許御状

Second Letter to the lay priest Yadoya. 　宿屋入道再御状

Missive to Hojo Tokimune. 　北条時宗への御状

Gosho 四条金吾殿御返事（法華経兵法事） The Strategy of the Lotus Sutra

すぎし存命不思議とおもはせ給へ、

Regard your survival as wondrous.

Think that you survived is wondrous.

なにの兵法よりも法華経の兵法をもちひ給うべし。

Employ the strategy of the Lotus Sutra before any other.

Use the strategy of the Lotus Sutra more than anything.

「諸余(しょよ)怨敵・皆悉(かいしつ)摧滅(さいめつ)」の金言むなしかるべからず、

“All others who bear you enmity or malice will likewise be wiped out”. These golden words will never prove false.

“Everybody who bear you enmity or malice will be fully ruined”. These golden words never be the groundless.

兵法剣形(けんぎょう)の大事も此(こ)の妙法より出(い)でたり、

The heart of strategy and swordsmanship derives from the Mystic Law.

The heart of strategy and swordsmanship, too, derives from this nifty Law.

ふかく信心をとり給へ。

Have profound faith.

Have profound faiths.

あへて臆病(おくびょう)にては叶(かな)うべからず候、恐恐(きょうきょう)謹言(きんげん)。

A coward cannot have any of his prayers answered.

With my deep respect.

You can get nothing if purposely cowardly.

　　　Very truly yours.

本文 Original Text　目次 Table of Contents

末法の本仏の立場で法華経二十八品を後継者、日興上人に口伝した書【御義口伝 下】要点解説(132)

【二十八品に一文充の大事 】

勧持品 (注)

我不愛身命　但惜無上道(注)

此の文は色心幻化四大五陰本より嘘妄なり。

然るに本覚真如は常住なり。所謂南無妙法蓮華経なり。

注

勧持品

勧持品第十三では「三類の強敵」という俗衆増上慢・道門増上慢・僣聖増上慢が説かれ、末法に於ける法華経弘通を阻む人たちが出現する事が予言されています。

この「三類の強敵」に屈しない姿勢が本抄で日蓮大聖人が断じられた「我不愛身命 但惜無上道」となります。

この「三類の強敵」に遭遇し、それに打ち勝つことが即身成仏に繋がる仏因となります。

日蓮大聖人は伊豆流罪、佐渡流罪、松葉ヶ谷の法難、小松原の法難、竜の口の法難と度々所を追われ、刀、杖により迫害、そして竜の口では首を刎ねられると言う死罪にまで及び、それらを克服する姿を当時の信徒に見せる事で、法華経に予言された末法の本仏であることを自ら証明為されました。

我不愛身命　但惜無上道

勧持品終段の下記の偈にある文

[原典]

悪鬼入其身　罵詈毀辱我　我等敬信仏　当著忍辱鎧

為説是経故　忍此諸難事　我不愛身命　但惜無上道

[和訳]

悪鬼が其の身に入り、罵詈し我を毀辱せり。我等は仏を敬い信ずるが故に、当に忍辱の鎧を著し

是の法華経を説く為の故に、此の諸の難事を忍べり。我、身命を愛せず、但、無上道を惜しまん。

【御義口伝 下】要点解説(133)に続く

Gosho 四条金吾殿御返事（法華経兵法事） The Strategy of the Lotus Sutra

これに・つけても・いよいよ強(ごう)盛(じょう)に大信力をいだし給へ、

Therefore, you must summon up the great power of faith more than ever.

Therefore, after this opportunity, you must summon up the great power of faiths more than ever.

我が運命つきて諸天守護なしとうらむる事あるべからず。

Do not blame the heavenly gods if you exhaust your good fortune and lose their protection.

Your fate runs out and says that there is not the protection of many heavens and must not bear a grudge against them.

将門(まさかど)は・つはものの名をとり兵法の大事をきはめたり、されども王命にはまけぬ、

Masakado was renowned as a brave general who had mastered the art of war, yet he was defeated by the armies under the emperor’s command.

Masakado was renowned as a brave general who had mastered the art of war, yet he was defeated by the emperor's order.

はんくわ(樊噲)ひ・ちや(張)うりや(良)うもよしなし・ただ心こそ大切なれ、

Even Fan K’uai and Chang Liang had their failures. It is the heart that is important.

Fan Kuai and even Chang Liang had failures. It is the mind that is important.

いかに日蓮いのり申すとも不信ならばぬ(濡)れたる・ほ(穂)くち(口)に・火をうちかくるが・ごとくなるべし、

No matter how earnestly Nichiren prays for you, if you lack faith, it will be like trying to set fire to wet tinder.

No matter how earnestly Nichiren prays for you, if you disbelieve, it will be like trying to set fire to wet tinder.

はげみをなして強盛に信力をいだし給うべし。

Spur yourself to muster the power of faith.

Encourage yourself and muster the power of faiths.

つづく　Continued

本文 Original Text　目次 Table of Contents

Gosho 四条金吾殿御返事（法華経兵法事） The Strategy of the Lotus Sutra

四条金吾殿御返事（法華経兵法事）

The Strategy of the Lotus Sutra

弘安二年十月二十三日　五十八歳御作

October 23, 1279. Fifty-eight years old.

先度強敵(ごうてき)とと(取)りあ(合)ひについて御文(おんふみ)給いき委(くわし)く見まいらせ候、

I have carefully read your letter, in which you described the recent skirmish with powerful enemies.

I have read your letter in detail, in which you wrote the most recent skirmish with powerful enemies.

さても・さても・敵人にねらはれさせ給いしか。

So they have finally attacked you.

So, they have attacked you, after all, finally!

前前の用心といひ又けなげといひ、又法華経の信心つよき故に難なく存命せさせ給い目(め)出(で)たし目出たし。

It is a matter of rejoicing that your usual prudence and courage, as well as your firm faith in the Lotus Sutra, enabled you to survive unharmed.

It is a rejoicing that your everyday precaution, courage, and your Lotus Sutra's strong faiths enabled you to survive unharmed!

夫(そ)れ運きはまりぬれば兵法もいらず、果報つきぬれば所従もしたがはず、

When one comes to the end of one’s good fortune, no strategy whatsoever avails. When one’s karmic rewards are exhausted, even one’s retainers no longer follow one.

When one is filled with good fortune, even strategy is not necessary. When luck is exhausted, even the vassals no longer follow.

所詮(しょせん)運ものこり果報もひかゆる故なり。

You survived because you still have both good fortune and rewards.

You survived because your good fortune still was remaining and because your luck either was waiting.

つづく　Continued

本文 Original Text　目次 Table of Contents

Gosho 主君耳入此法門免与同罪事 Recommending This Teachings to Lord.

主君耳入此法門免与同罪事

On Recommending This Teaching to Your Lord and Avoiding the Offense of Complicity in Slander.

Recommending This Teachings to Lord and Avoiding the Offense of Complicity of Slandering Law.

　　文永十一年九月二十六日　五十三歳御作

　September26, 1274. Fifty-three years old.

かまへて、かまへて御用心候べし。

Determine to take every possible precaution.

Please be careful carefully strictly.

いよいよ・にくむ人人ねら(狙)ひ候らん。

Those who hate you will be increasingly vigilant in watching for a chance to do you harm.

Those who abominate you will try to attack you increasingly.

御さ(酒)か(宴)もり夜は一向に止め給へ。

Put a stop to all drinking parties at night.

Please stop drinking parties of night for the time being.

只(ただ)女房と酒うち飲んで、なにの御不足あるべき。

What dissatisfaction can there be in drinking sake alone with your wife?

You should be satisfied when you drink liquor only with your wife.

他人のひる(昼)の御さかもり(酒宴)おこ(油断)たるべからず、

Do not let down your guard when you attend banquets with others in the daytime.

Do not let down your guard when you attend drinking parties with others in the daytime.

酒を離れてねら(狙)うひま(隙)有るべからず。

Your enemies will have no opportunity to attack you, apart from your drinking.

Your enemies will have no opportunity to attack you except when you drink.

返す返す、恐恐謹言。

You cannot be too careful.

With my deep respect.

I repeatedly say to you for doing so.

　　　 Very truly yours.

本文 Original Text　目次 Table of Contents