Gosho 松野殿御返事 The Fourteen Slanders

無智の者は此の経を説く者に使はれて功徳をう(得)べし。

Even an ignorant person can obtain blessings by serving someone who expounds the Lotus Sutra.

Even an ignorant person gains merit by serving for person who preaches the Lotus Sutra.

何(いか)なる鬼畜(きちく)なりとも法華経の一偈(げ)一句をも説かん者をば『当起(とうき)遠迎(おんごう)当如(とうにょ)敬仏(きょうぶつ)』の道理なれば、仏の如(ごと)く互ひに敬ふべし。

No matter if he is a demon or an animal, if someone proclaims even a single verse or phrase of the Lotus Sutra, you must respect him as you would the Buddha. This is what the sutra means when it says, “You should rise and greet him from afar, showing him the same respect you would a Buddha”.

Regardless of a demon or an animal, if someone preaches even a single verse or phrase of the Lotus Sutra, you must respect each other as if respect the Buddha. The sutra says this reason; “You stand up and greet him from afar and should show him the same respect that you do the Buddha”.

例へば宝塔品(ほうとうぼん)の釈迦多宝の如くなるべし。

You should respect one another as Shakyamuni and Many Treasures did at the ceremony in the “Treasure Tower” chapter.

Should do it as if Shakyamuni and Taho Tathagata had done at the ceremony of the “Treasure Tower” chapter.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　つづくContinued

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