Gosho 兄弟抄一 Letter to Brothers 1

さればこの法華経は一切の諸仏の眼目(がんもく)、教主釈尊の本師なり、

The Lotus Sutra [Gohonzon] is the eye of all the Buddhas. It is the original teacher of Shakyamuni Buddha himself, the lord of teachings.

一字一点もす(捨)つる人あれば千万の父母を殺せる罪にもす(過)ぎ、十方の仏の身より血を出す罪にもこ(越)へて候けるゆへに三五の塵点をば経(へ)候(そうらい)けるなり。

If one discards one word or even one brush stroke of the sutra, the offense is graver than that of one who kills one’s parents ten million times over, or even of one who sheds the blood of all the Buddhas in the ten directions. This is why those who forsook the Lotus Sutra had to suffer for a period of major world system dust particle kalpas or numberless major world system dust particle kalpas.

法華経には「如来の現在にすら猶怨(なおおん)嫉(しつ)多し況(いわん)や滅度の後をや」、

The Lotus Sutra reads, “Since hatred and jealousy toward this sutra abound even when the Thus Come One is in the world, how much more will this be so after his passing?”

又云く「一切世間怨(あだ)多くして信じ難(がた)し」

It also reads, “It will face much hostility in the world and be difficult to believe.”

涅槃経に云く「横(よこしま)に死殃(しおう)に羅(かか)り訶嘖(かしゃく)・罵辱(めにく)・鞭(べん)杖(じょう)・閉繋(へいけい)・飢餓・困苦・是くの如き等の現世の軽報(けいほう)を受けて地獄に堕(お)ちず」等云云、

The Nirvana Sutra states, “By suffering an untimely death, rebuke, curses or humiliation, beatings with a whip or rod,imprisonment, starvation, adversity, or other minor hardships in this lifetime,one can avoid falling into hell.”

般泥洹(はつないおん)経に云く「衣服不足にして飲食(おんじき)麁(そ)疎(そ)なり、

The Parinirvāna Sutra says: “They may be poorly clad and poorly fed,

財を求めるに利あらず、

seek wealth in vain,

貧賤の家及び邪見の家に生れ、

be born to an impoverished and lowly family or one with erroneous views,

或いは王難及び余の種種の人間の苦報に遭(あ)う、

or be persecuted by their sovereign. They may besubjected to various other sufferings and retributions.

現世に軽く受くるは斯(こ)れ護法(ごほう)の功徳力(くどくりき)に由(よ)る故なり」等云云

It is due to the blessings obtained by protecting the Law that they can diminish in thislifetime their suffering and retribution.”


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