Gosho 三沢抄 Letter to Misawa

而(しか)るに去(い)ぬる文永八年九月十二日の夜、たつ(竜)の口にて頸(くび)をは(刎)ねられんとせし時よりのち(後)、ふびんなり。

Then on the night of the twelfth day of the ninth month in the eighth year of Bun’ei (1271), I was very nearly beheaded at Tatsunokuchi. From that time, I felt pity for my followers because I had not yet revealed this true teaching to any of them.

However, on the night of the twelfth day of September in the eighth year of Bun'ei (1271), I was about to be beheaded at Tatsunokuchi. From this time, I felt pity for my followers because I had not yet revealed these true teachings to anybody.

我につきたりし者どもに、まこ(真)との事をい(言)わざりけるとをも(思)うて、さ(佐)ど(渡)の国より弟子どもに内々申す法門あり。

With this in mind, I secretly conveyed my teachingto my disciples from the province of Sado.

I did not say the truth to all of you conforming, then I secretly conveyed this doctrine to my disciples from the country of Sado.

此(これ)は仏より後、迦(か)葉(しょう)・阿難・竜樹(りゅうじゅ)・天(てん)親(じん)・天台・妙楽・伝教・義(ぎ)真(しん)等の大論師・大人師は知りてしかも御(み)心(こころ)の中に秘せさせ給ひて、口より外には出(い)だし給はず。

After the Buddha’s passing, great scholars and teachers such as Mahākāshyapa, Ānanda, Nāgārjuna, Vasubandhu, T’ien-t’ai, Miao-lo, Dengyō, and Gishin knew this teaching, but kept it in their hearts and did not express it in words.

After Buddha had passed away, great scholars and teachers such as Mahakashyapa, Ananda, Nagarjuna, Vasubandhu, Tien-tai, Miaolo, Dengyou, and Gishin knew this doctrine, but kept it in their minds covertly and did not express it in words.

其(そ)の故は仏制(せい)して云(い)はく「我が滅度末法に入らずば此の大法いうべからず」とありしゆへなり。

The reason was that the Buddha had forbidden them to spread it, stating, “After my passing, this great Law should not be revealed until the Latter Day of the Law arrives.”

The reason was that the Buddha had forbidden them to spread it, stating, “After my passing, this supreme Law should not be revealed until the latter day of the Law arrives”.

日蓮は其(そ)の御(お)使(つか)ひにはあらざれども其(そ)の時剋(じこく)にあたる上、存外に此の法門をさとりぬれば、聖人の出(い)でさせ給(たま)ふまでまづ序分にあらあら申すなり。

I may not be an envoy sent by the Buddha, but my appearance in this world coincides with the age of the Latter Day. Moreover, quite unexpectedly, I came to realize this teaching, which I now expound to prepare the way for a sage.

Though I do not be an envoy sent by the Buddha, my birth in this world coincides with the era of the latter day. Moreover, quite unexpectedly, I realized this doctrine and I am preaching by and large this beginning until a saint will appear.

つづく　Continued

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