Gosho 教機時国抄 On the Teaching, Capacity, Time, and Country

　法華経の勧(かん)持(じ)品(ほん)に後の五百歳・二千余年に当(あた)つて法華経の敵人・三類有る可しと記(しる)し置きたまえり

In the “Encouraging Devotion” chapter of the Lotus Sutra, it is recorded that, in the last five-hundred-year period, or two thousand or so years after the Buddha’spassing, there will be three types of enemies of the Lotus Sutra.

The Encouraging Devotion chapter of the Lotus Sutra states that in the last Five-hundred-year Period, two thousand-odd years after Shakyamuni’s passing, the three powerful enemies will appear.

当世は後(ごの)五百歳に当(あた)れり、

Our present age corresponds to this last five-hundred-year period.

The present age corresponds to this last Five-hundred-year Period.

日蓮・仏語の実否(じっぴ)を勘(かんが)うるに三類の敵人之有り

And as I, Nichiren, ponder the truth of the Buddha’s words, I realize that these three types of enemies are indeed real.

As Nichiren contemplated whether or not these words of the Buddha were true, the three powerful enemies, indeed, came forth.

之を隠(かく)さば法華経の行者に非ず

If I allow them to remain hidden, then I will not be the votary of the Lotus Sutra.

Without causing the three powerful enemies to appear, one cannot be the votary of the Lotus Sutra.

之を顕(あらわ)さば身命(しんみょう)定(さだ)めて喪(うしな)わんか、

Yet if I cause them to appear, then I am almost certain to lose my life.

　But, if he causes the three powerful enemies to emerge, he may lose his life.


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