南条殿御返事 The Person and the Law

其(そ)の上此(こ)の処は人倫を離れたる山中なり、

This is a mountainous place, remote from all human habitation.

This place is deep in the mountains, far removed from any village or hamlet.

東西南北を去りて里もなし、

Not a single village is found in any direction.

No dwellings can be seen in any directions.

かかる・いと心細き幽窟(ゆうくつ)なれども教主釈尊の一大事の秘法を霊(りょう)鷲(じゅ)山(せん)にして相伝し・日蓮が肉団の胸中に秘して隠(かく)し持てり、

Although I live in such a forsaken place, deep in this mortal flesh I preserve the ultimate secret Law inherited from Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings, at Eagle Peak.

Eve here, in this desolate location, within the mortal flesh of my bosom, I, Nichiren secrete the Ultimate Mystic Law received from Lord Shakyamuni at Eagle Peak.

されば日蓮が胸の間(あいだ)は諸仏入定(にゅうじょう)の処(ところ)なり、舌の上は転法輪の所・喉(のんど)は誕生の処・口中(こうちゅう)は正覚(しょうがく)の砌(みぎり)なるべし、

My heart is where all Buddhas enter nirvana; my tongue,where they turn the wheel of the Law; my throat, where they are born into this world; and my mouth, where they attain enlightenment.

Therefore, my heart is where all Buddhas enter nirvana; my tongue is the place where they preach the law; my throat is the place where they are born, and my mouth is where they attain enlightenment.

かかる不思議なる法華経の行者の住処なれば・いかでか霊山浄土に劣るべき、

Because this mountain is where this wondrous votary of the Lotus Sutra dwells, how can it be any less sacred than the pure land of Eagle Peak?

Should this mountain, where the most august Votary of the Lotus Sutra resides, be regarded any less highly than the pure land of Eagle Peak？

法妙なるが故に人貴し・人貴きが故に所尊しと申すは是なり、

This is what [The Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sutra means when] it says, “Since the Law is wonderful, the person is worthy of respect; since the person is worthy of respect, the land is sacred.”

Because the Law is ineffably supreme, the Person is venerable and because the Person is venerable, the place is sacred.


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