Gosho 末法相応抄 Politic Practices in the Latter Days of Law

末法相応抄

Practices in the Latter Days of Law

享保(きょうほう)十年五月上旬　1725, The beginning of May

日寛上人六十歳御作　Nichikan Shonin, Age;60

日蓮大聖人が釈迦立像を身につけていた理由について日寛上人は「末法相応抄」で次のように記されている。

Priest Nichikan wrote down 'Practices in the Latter Days of the Law’, about the reason why Nichiren Daishonin had a Buddha statue.

一には猶(なお)是れ一宗(いっしゅう)弘通(ぐつう)の初めなり、是の故に用捨(ようしゃ)時宜(じぎ)に随(したが)うか。

Because this time was the beginning of the propagation of one religion, therefore, as first reason, it is thought he used a Buddha statue according to the utility of time.

二には日本国中一同に阿弥陀(あみだ)仏(ぶつ)を以て本尊と為す、然(しか)るに彼(か)の人々(当時の信徒)適(たまたま)、釈尊を造立(ぞうりゅう)す。豈(あ)に称歎(しょうたん)せざらんや。

As the second reason, the whole people of Japan think of an object of worship with Amida. However, the then believer made Shakyamuni Buddha by chance. Why can one not help admiring it?

三には吾が祖(そ)(日蓮聖人)の観(かん)見(けん)の前には一体仏の当体、全く是れ一念三千即(そく)自受用(じじゅゆう)の本仏の故なり。

The third reason is because that statue of Buddha is the three thousand realms in one mind and is the Buddha having intrinsically perfect wisdom really when Saint Nichiren of our sect founder uses it.

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