Gosho 三沢抄 Letter to Misawa

　映写本 (京都妙顕寺蔵). 原本に薄紙を重ね透き写した写本。

The shadow writings. (Possession of the Myokenji Temple of Kyoto). The writings that stacked thin paper and copied the original seen through.

又法門の事はさ(佐)ど(渡)の国へ流され候ひし以前の法門は、たゞ仏の爾(に)前(ぜん)の経とをぼしめせ。

As for my teachings, regard those before my exile to the province of Sado as equivalent to the Buddha’s pre-Lotus Sutra teachings.

Besides, you should regard it that my doctrines before the banishment to the country of Sado are only equal to the teachings of Buddha having preached before the Lotus Sutra.

此(こ)の国の国主、我をもたもつべくば真言師等にも召し合はせ給はんずらん。爾(そ)の時まことの大事をば申すべし。

I had thought that, if the ruler of this country desired to govern well, he would summon the priests of the True Word school for an open debate with me, and that on that occasion I would reveal a matter of truly supreme importance.

I had been thinking that, if the ruler of this country desired to govern well, he would summon the priests of the Shingon or others for an open debate with me, and that on that occasion I would reveal a doctrine of truly supreme importance.

弟子等にもな(内)ひな(内)ひ申すならばひろう(披露)してかれら(彼等)し(知)りなんず。さらばよもあ(合)わじとをもひて各々(おのおの)にも申さゞりしなり。

Before my exile, I withheld this even from my disciples for fear that if I should tell them, even in confidence, they might inadvertently disclose it to the True Word priests, who would then avoid the debate. This is why I refrained from revealing it to each one of you as well.

If I tell it to my disciples beforehand, they might inadvertently disclose it to the priests of the Shingon or others. The Shingon or other blame me about this difference of doctrine and might avoid the debate. This is why I did not teach all of you it as well.

つづく　Continued

本文 Original text 　目次 Table of Contents