Gosho 南条兵衛七郎御書 The Votary of the Lotus Sutra

　第四の巻に云く「而(しか)も此(ko)の経は如来の現在すら猶(なお)怨(おん)嫉(しつ)多し況(いわん)や滅(めつ)度(ど)の後をや」

The fourth volume of the sutra says, “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?”

The fourth volume of the Lotus Sutra teaches, “One who teaches the Lotus Sutra will be detested by others even during Shakyamuni’s lifetime. How much worse will be this after his passing! ”

The fourth volume of the Lotus Sutra teaches, 'Even the present of the Buddha still had much jealousy. To say nothing of after Buddha'.

第五の巻に云く「一切世間怨(あだ)多くして信じ難(がた)し」等云云、

The fifth volume states, “It [the Lotus Sutra] will face much hostility in the world and be difficult to believe.”

The fifth volume of the Lotus Sutra states, “In this world, one will encounter much hostility; and it will be difficult to believe [in the Lotus Sutra].”

The fifth volume of the Lotus Sutra states, 'In this world, one will encounter much spitefulness; and it will be difficult to believe in the Lotus Sutra'.

日本国に法華経よみ学する人これ多し、

In Japan there are many who read and study the Lotus Sutra.

In the land of Japan, there are many people who read and study the Lotus Sutra.

In Japan there are many who read and study the Lotus Sutra.

人の妻(め)をねら(狙)ひ・ぬす(盗)み等にて打(うち)はらるる人は多けれども・法華経の故にあや(過)またるる人は一人もなし、

There are also many who are beaten in punishment for attempting to seduce other men’s wives or for theft or other offenses. Yet not one person has ever suffered injury on account of the Lotus Sutra.

There are many who are killed for chasing other men’s wives or breaking into houses and stealing. There is, however, not a single person who was almost killed for the sake of the Lotus Sutra.

There are many who are killed for chasing someone's wives or stealing into houses.There is, however, not a single person who was killed for the sake of the LotusSutra.

されば日本国の持経者は・いまだ此の経文にはあ(合)わせ給はず、

Therefore, upholders of the sutra in Japan are not yet worthy of these sutra passages.

Thus, among all the people who embrace the Lotus Sutra in Japan, there is not a single person who practices exactly as described in the sutra.

Therefore, holders of the sutra in Japan are not yet worthy of these texts' words.

唯(ただ)日蓮一人こそよ(読)みはべれ、

I alone have read the sutra with my entire being.

Nichiren alone is reading the sutra with his very life.

Nichiren alone is reading the sutra with own very life.

我不愛身命(がふあいしんみょう)但惜(たんじゃく)無上(むじょう)道(どう)是なり

This is the meaning of the passage that says, “We care nothing for our bodies or lives but are anxious only for the unsurpassed way”.

This is the meaning of a passage [in the Lotus Sutra] that states, “We do not hold our own lives dear but seek only the unsurpassed way.”

'I do not have an affection for my body or life but only cherish the crowning teachings'. It is this meaning.

されば日蓮は日本第一の法華経の行者なり。

I am therefore the foremost votary of the Lotus Sutra in Japan.

I am the first and foremost votary of the Lotus Sutra.

I am therefore the foremost votary of the Lotus Sutra in Japan

　　　　　　　　　　つづく　continued

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