Gosho 四恩抄 The Four Debts of Gratitude

四恩抄

The Four Debts of Gratitude

Four Debts of Gratitude

弘長二年一月十六日　四十一歳御作

January 16, 1263 （Age: 41）

此の身に学文つかまつりし事、やうやく二十四五年にまかりなるなり。

It is already twenty-four or twenty-five years since I began studying Buddhism.

It is already twenty-four or twenty-five years since I began studying Buddhism.

法華経を殊(こと)に信じまいらせ候ひし事は、わづかにこの六七年よりこのかたなり。

Yet I have believed wholeheartedly in the Lotus Sutra only for the past six or seven years.

I have begun to believe wholeheartedly in the Lotus Sutra for this six years or seven years particularly.

又信じて候ひしかども懈(け)怠(たい)の身たる上、或(あるい)は学文と云ひ、或は世間の事にさ(障　)えられて、一日わづかに一巻・一品(いっぽん)・題目計(ばか)りなり。

Moreover, although I had faith in the sutra, because I was negligent and because of my studies and the interruptions of mundane affairs, each day I would recite only a single scroll, a chapter, or the title.

Moreover, although I had believed in the sutra, because I was negligent and because of the interruptions of worldly affairs, though I study, each day I studied only a single scroll, a chapter, or the title.

去年(こぞ)の五月(さつき)十二日より今年(ことし)正月(むつき)十六日に至るまで、二百四十余日の程は昼夜十二時に法華経を修行し奉ると存じ候。

Now, however, for a period of more than 240 days—from the twelfth day of the fifth month of last year to the sixteenth day of the first month of this year—I think I have practiced the Lotus Sutra twenty-four hours each day and night.

However, for the period of more than 240 days from the twelfth day of May of last year to the sixteenth day of January of this year, I think I have trained the Lotus Sutra twenty-four hours each day and night.

其(そ)の故は法華経の故にかゝる身となりて候へば、行住坐臥(ぎょうじゅうざが)に法華経を読み行ずるにてこそ候へ。

I say so because, having been exiled on the Lotus Sutra’s account, I now read and practice it continuously, whether I am walking, standing, sitting, or lying down.

This reason is, having been exiled for the Lotus Sutra, I read and trained the Lotus Sutra continuously, whether I am walking, standing, sitting, or lying down.

人間に生を受けて是(これ)程(ほど)の悦びは何事か候べき。

For anyone born human, what greater joy could there be?

For someone born as human, what other joy would there be?

凡夫(ぼんぷ)の習い、我とはげみて菩提(ぼだい)心(しん)を発(お)こして後世を願ふといへども、自ら思ひ出だし、十二時の間に一時二時こそはげみ候へ。

It is the way of ordinary people that, even though they spur themselves on to arouse the aspiration for enlightenment and wish for happiness in the next life, they exert themselves no more than one or two out of all the hours of the day, and this only after reminding themselves to do so.

Although the habit of the guys strives hard from oneself and arouses Buddhahood and prays for coming future, the person recalls it himself and strives hard only for two hours or four hours among 24 hours.

是は思ひ出ださぬにも御経をよみ、読まざるにも法華経を行ずるにて候か。

As for myself, I read the Lotus Sutra without having to remember to, and practice it even when I do not read its words aloud.

As for myself, I can read the Lotus Sutra without remembering it, and can practice it even when I do not read.

無量劫(むりょうこう)の間、六道四生を輪回(りんね)し候ひけるには或(あるい)は謀反(むほん)をおこし、強盗夜打(ごうとうようち)等の罪にてこそ国主より禁(きん)をも蒙(こうむ)り、流罪(るざい)死罪にも行なはれ候らめ。

During the course of countless kalpas, while transmigrating through the six paths and the four forms of birth, I may at times have risen in revolt, committed theft, or broken into others’ homes at night and, on account of these offenses, been convicted by the ruler and condemned to exile or death.

During countless past alive through all states of existence, I might have rebelled against the world, committed theft or broken into others' homes at night and, on account of these offenses, been convicted by the ruler and received banishment or death.

是は法華経を弘むるかと思ふ心の強(ごう)盛(じょう)なりしに依(よ)って、悪業(あくごう)の衆生に讒言(ざんげん)せられてかゝる身になりて候へば、

This time, however, it is because I am so firmly resolved to propagate the Lotus Sutra that people with evil karma have brought false charges against me; hence my exile.

In this case, however, because I was so firmly resolved to propagate the Lotus Sutra that evil people have brought false charges against me, hence I was banished.

定(さだ)めて後生(ごしょう)の勤めにはなりなんと覚え候。

Surely this will work in my favor in future lifetimes.

Surely this will become a profound virtue in future lifetimes.

是程の心ならぬ昼夜十二時の法華経の持(じ)経者(きょうしゃ)は、末代には有りがたくこそ候らめ。

In this latter age, there cannot be anyone else who upholds the Lotus Sutra twenty-four hours of the day and night without making a deliberate effort to do so.

There cannot be anyone else who upholds the Lotus Sutra involuntarily for twenty-four hours of day and night in the latter days of the Law.

つづくContinued

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