Gosho 四条金吾殿御返事 (殿岡書) The Place of the Cluster of Blessings

四条金吾殿御返事(殿岡書)

The Place of the Clusterof Blessings

Reply to Shijō Kingo

　　　弘安三年十月八日　五十九歳御作

　　　October 8,1280 (Age: 59)

我が身法華経の行者ならば霊山(りょうぜん)の教主・釈迦・宝(ほう)浄(じょう)世界の多宝(たほう)如来・十方(じっぽう)分身の諸仏・本化(ほんげ)の大士・迹(しゃっ)化(け)の大菩薩・梵(ぼん)・釈(しゃく)・竜神・十羅刹(らせつ)女(にょ)も定めて此の砌(みぎり)におはしますらん。

If indeed I am a votary of the Lotus Sutra, then Shakyamuni, the lord of teachings of Eagle Peak; the Thus Come One Many Treasures of the World of Treasure Purity; the Buddhas of the ten directions who are Shakyamuni’s emanations; the great bodhisattvas of the essential teaching; the great bodhisattvas of the theoretical teaching; Brahmā, Shakra, the dragon deities, and the ten demon daughters must all be present in this place.

If I am the votary of the Lotus Sutra, then the Great Master Shakyamuni Buddha, who expounded the Lotus Sutra at Eagle Peak, Tahō Buddha of the land of treasure purity, all the Buddhas in the ten directions, who were innumerable emanations of Shakyamuni Buddha, bodhisattvas taught by the Buddha of the essential teaching, bodhisattvas taught by the Buddha of the theoretical teaching, Heavenly Kings Daibon and Taishaku, the dragon deities and Ten Demon Goddess Daughters, definitely must be present here with me.

水あれば魚すむ、林あれば鳥来(きた)る、

Where there is water, fish dwell. Where there are woods, birds gather.

Where there is water, there are fish. Where there is a forest, birds flock.

蓬莱(ほうらい)山には玉多く、摩(ま)黎(り)山には栴檀(せんだん)生ず、

On the mountain island of P’eng-lai there are many jewels, and on Mount Malaya sandalwood trees grow.

Mount Penglai is adorned with many treasures, while sandalwood trees grow on Mount Malaya.

麗(れい)水(すい)の山には金(こがね)あり、

There is gold in the mountains from which the river Li-shui flows.

Gold can be found in the mountains of Lishui.

今此(こ)の所も此(か)くの如し、

Now this place, too, is like that.

Now, this place is no different.

仏菩薩の住み給う功徳聚(じゅ)の砌(みぎり)なり。

It is the place of the cluster of blessings where the Buddhas and bodhisattvas dwell.

This place is where the Buddhas and bodhisattvas dwell and innumerable benefits abound.

つづくContinued

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