Gosho 法華経題目抄 The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra 2

南無妙法蓮華経と一日に六万・十万・千万等も唱えて後に暇(ひま)あらば時時(よりより)阿弥陀等の諸仏の名号(みょうごう)をも口ずさみ・なるやうに申し給はんこそ法華経を信ずる女人(にょにん)にては・あるべきに、当世の女人は一期(いちご)の間・弥陀(みだ)の名号をば・しきりに・となへ念仏の仏事をば・ひまなくをこなひ法華経をばつやつや唱へず供養(くよう)せず或(あるい)はわづかに法華経を持経者に・よますれども念仏者をば父母・兄弟なんどのやうに・をもひなし持経者をば所(しょ)従(じゅう)眷属(けんぞく)よりもかろくをもへり、

Only after chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo sixty thousand, a hundred thousand, or even ten million times a day, may women who put their faith in the Lotus Sutra, if they still have some time to spare, now and then murmur to themselves the name of Amida or one of the other Buddhas. But women these days spend their whole lives constantly reciting the name of Amida and busying themselves with matters concerning the Nembutsu. They never recite the Lotus Sutra or give alms for its sake. True, there are a few who have the Lotus Sutra read by those who uphold its teachings. But they look up to the Nembutsu priests as though they were their parents or brothers, and treat the upholders of the Lotus Sutra with less respect than they would the irretainers or followers.

Though the standpoint of the woman should chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and be a woman believing a Lotus Sutra, the women of nowadays chant Amida's name frequently during their life, and perform Buddhist service of Nembutsu consistently without chanting the Lotus Sutra and without holding a service, and they let the priest slightly read the Lotus Sutra, but they treat bonze of Nembutsu like parents brothers, and look down upon the upholder of the sutra than vassal and kindred.

かくして・しかも法華経を信ずる由(よし)を・なのるなり、

And yet they claim that they are believers in the Lotus Sutra.

All the same, they say that they believe the Lotus Sutra.

つづく　Continued

本文 Original Text 　目次 Table of Contents