Gosho 観心本尊抄 The True Object of Worship

我が弟子之(これ)を惟(おも)へ、地涌(じゆ)千界(せんがい)は教主釈尊の初発心(しょほっしん)の弟子なり。

You who are my disciples, take this to heart! The countless Bodhisattvas of the Earth were the disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings, from the time he first set his mind on and attained enlightenment in the remote past.

My disciples! Consider this deeply in your minds! The countless Bodhisattvas of the earth were the disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings, from the time first the Buddha set his mind on and had attained Buddhahood in the remote past.

寂滅(じゃくめつ)道場にも来たらず双林(そうりん)最後に訪(とぶら)はず、不孝の失之(とがこれ)有り。

But they did not come to his place of enlightenment in India, nor did they come to the grove of sal trees when he entered nirvana. They were unfaithful to him.

But they did not come to his place when Shakyamuni first attained Buddhahood, nor did they come to a grove of sal trees when Buddha entered nirvana. There is a fault of the unfilial there.

迹門(しゃくもん)の十四品にも来たらず本門の六品には座を立ち、但(ただ)八品の間に来還(らいげん)せり。

They also failed to appear when the Buddha preached the first fourteen chapters, or the theoretical teaching of the Lotus Sutra, and they left the assembly when he preached the last six chapters of the essential teaching. They only attended the Buddha during the first eight chapters of the essential teaching.

They did not appear also when Buddha preached the first fourteen chapters of the Lotus Sutra, the theoretical teachings, and they left the assembly when Buddha preached the last six chapters of the radical teachings. They only attended the Buddha during the first eight chapters of the radical teachings.

是(か)くの如き高貴(こうき)の大菩薩(ぼさつ)、三仏に約束して之(これ)を受(じゅ)持(じ)す。末法の初(はじ)めに出(い)でたまはざるべきか。

Since these noble bodhisattvas received [the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo] and made a solemn oath to Shakyamuni Buddha, Many Treasures Buddha, and the Buddhas of the ten directions, is it possible that they will not appear now at the beginning of the Latter Day of the law?

These truly noble bodhisattvas made a solemn oath to Shakyamuni Buddha, Tathagata Taho, and all the Buddha of the ten directions. Is it possible that they will not appear now of the beginning of the latter days of the Law?

当(まさ)に知るべし、此の四菩薩、折伏(しゃくぶく)を現ずる時は賢(けん)王(のう)と成って愚(ぐ)王(おう)を誡責(かいしゃく)し、摂受(しょうじゅ)を行ずる時は僧と成って正法を弘(ぐ)持(じ)す。

Know this: in the time for the practice of shakubuku the four bodhisattvas appear as worthy rulers who rebuke and convert ignorant rulers, and in the time for the practice of shōju they appear as priests to embrace and spread the correct teaching.

Know this: in the times for the practice of shakubuku the four bodhisattvas appear as wise kings who condemn ignorant kings, and in the times for the practice of shōju they appear as priests to embrace and spread the correct teachings!

つづく　Continued

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