Gosho 太田殿女房御返事（即身成仏抄）On Attaining Buddhahood in One’s Present Form

竜樹(りゅうじゅ)菩薩の大論と申す論に「譬(たと)えば大薬師の能(よ)く毒を以て薬と為(な)すが如し」と申す釈(しゃく)こそ此の一字を心へさせ給いたりけるかと見へて候へ、

The only exception is Bodhisattva Nāgārjuna, who in his Treatiseon the Great Perfection of Wisdom states, “[The Lotus Sutra is] like a great physician who can change poison into medicine.” This interpretation of his seems to get at the very heart of this character myō.

In the Treatise on the Great Sutra on the Perfection of Wisdom, Bodhisattva Nagarjuna stated,“For instance, it is likened to an excellent physician skillfully turning poison into medicine.” This interpretation itself tells us that he understood the meaning of this single character [Myō]

毒と申すは苦(く)集(じゅう)の二諦(にたい)・生(しょう)死(じ)の因果は毒の中の毒にて候ぞかし。

The “poison” in the above passage means the first two of the four noble truths, the truth that all existence is suffering and the truth that suffering is caused by selfish craving as well as the karmic cause and effect that confine living beings to the sufferings of birth and death. These are truly the poison to outdo all poisons.

Here, poison represents the truth of suffering and the truth of the causes of suffering. Of all the poisons, the most extreme is the cause and effect of the sufferings of life and death.

此の毒を生死即(そく)涅槃(ねはん)・煩悩(ぼんのう)即菩提(ぼだい)となし候を妙の極(ごく)とは申しけるなり

But through the extraordinary power of the character myō, or “wonderful,” this poison is changed into the understanding that the sufferings of birth and death are nirvana, that earthly desires are enlightenment. This is the good medicine that can change poison into medicine, hence it is called good medicine.

These poisons of the “sufferings of life and death” and “earthly desires” become nirvana and enlightenment. This is the ultimate effect of Myō.

つづく　continued

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