Gosho 法華初心成仏抄 Attaining Enlightenment at the Initial Stage of faith through the Lotus Sutra

法華初心成仏抄

How Those Initially Aspiring to the Way Can attain Buddhahood through the Lotus Sutra

Attaining Enlightenment at the Initial Stage of faith through the Lotus Sutra

　　　　　　　　　　　　　1278（Age: 57)

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　弘安元年　五十七歳御作　

法華より外(ほか)の経には全く已(い)今(こん)当(とう)の文なきなり

In none of the sutras other than the Lotus does one find a passage concerning [the relative superiority of] all the sutras that “I have preached, now preach, and will preach.”

The classification of the three categories of sutras, those the Buddha has preached, now preaches, and will preach, is not expounded in any sutra other than the Lotus Sutra.

已(い)説(せつ)とは法華より已前の四十余年の諸経を云う

Here, the sutras that the Buddha has preached refer to the various sutras expounded by the Buddha in the more than forty years before he preached the Lotus Sutra.

“The sutra that the Buddha has preached” denotes the pre-Lotus Sutra teachings that were preached for more than forty years before the Lotus Sutra.

今説(こんせつ)とは無量義経を云う

Those he now preaches refer to the Immeasurable Meanings Sutra.

“The sutra he now preaches” represents the Sutra of Infinite Meanings.

当説とは涅(ね)槃(はん)経を云う

Those he will preach refer to the Nirvana Sutra.

“The sutra he will preach” signifies the Nirvana Sutra.

此の三説の外に法華経計(ばか)り成仏する宗なりと仏定め給へり

The Buddha thus firmly decreed that, transcending these three categories of sutras, the Lotus Sutra alone constitutes the school that assures the attainment of Buddhahood.

[Shakyamuni] Buddha concluded that only the Lotus Sutra, not the three categories of sutras, enables [all living beings] to attain enlightenment.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　つづく　To be continued

本文　Original Text　　 目次　Index