Gosho 十八円満抄 On the Eighteen Perfect Doctrines

　十八円満抄(じゅうはちえんまんしょう)

　On the Eighteen Perfections

　On the Eighteen Perfect Doctrines

　　　　　　　　弘安三年十一月三日　五十九歳御作

　　　　　　　　November3, 1280 （Age: 59）

　問うて云(いわ)く、天真(てんしん)独(どく)朗(ろう)の法・滅後に於(おい)て何(いず)れの時か流布(るふ)せしむべきや、

Question: With regard to this Law of the natural enlightenment that is bright in and of itself, in the period following the passing of the Buddha, when is the proper time to propagate it?

Question: When is the proper period after Shakyamuni’s passing for the doctrine of self-realization of the universal Law to be propagated？

答えて云く、像法(ぞうほう)に於て弘(ぐ)通(つう)すべきなり、

Answer: It should be widely disseminated in the Middle Day of the Law.

Answer: It should be propagated in the age of the Middle Day of the Law.

問うて云く、末法に於て流布の法の名目(みょうもく)如何(いかん)、

Question: And what title and description would you give to the Law that is to be propagated in the Latter Day of the Law?

Question: What is the name of the Law that will be propagated in the Latter Day of the Law？

答えて云く、日蓮の己心相承(そうじょう)の秘法此(こ)の答(こたえ)に顕(あらわ)すべきなり

Answer: The answer to this is made clear in the secret Law handed down to Nichiren himself and kept in his mind.

Answer: The answer will be manifested in the secret Law inherited in the mind of Nichiren.

所謂(いわゆる)南無妙法蓮華経是(これ)なり、

It is none other than Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

It is what has been referred to as “Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo.”


　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　つづく To be continued　
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