Gosho 同生同名御書 The Gods of Same Birth and Same Name

同生(どうしょう)同名(どうみょう)御書

The Gods Same Birth and Same Name

The Gods of Same Birth and Same Name

文永九年四月　五十一歳御作

April 1272. Fifty-one years old.

おのおのわずかの御身と生まれて、鎌倉にゐながら人目(ひとめ)をもはゞからず、命をもおしまず法華経を御信用ある事、たゞ事ともおぼえず。

Both of you were born as commoners and live in Kamakura, yet you believe in the Lotus Sutra without concern for the prying eyes of others or the danger it may pose to your lives.This is nothing short of extraordinary.

Both of you were born as low status and live in Kamakura, yet you believe in the Lotus Sutra and devoting your life without minding the eyes of others. This is nothing short of extraordinary.

但お(推)しはかるに、濁(にご)れる水に玉を入れぬれば水のす(清)むがごとし。

Though I am only guessing, it is as if a jewel had been placed in muddy water, and the water had become clear.

Though I am only guessing, it is as if a magical jewel had been placed in muddy water, and the water had become transparent.

しらざる事をよき人におしえられて、其(そ)のまゝに信用せば道理にきこゆるがごとし。

It is as if one who was taught something new by a wise person had believed his every word and thus grasped the truth.

It is as if one who was taught something by a wise person had trusted his word and revealed the truth.

釈迦仏・普賢(ふげん)菩薩・薬王菩薩・宿(しゅく)王(おう)華(け)菩薩等の各々の御心中に入り給へるか。

Could Shakyamuni Buddha and the bodhisattvas Universal Worthy, Medicine King, and Constellation King Flower be dwelling in your hearts?

Are Shakyamuni Buddha, Fugen bodhisattva, Medicine King bodhisattva, Shukuoke bodhisattva, and others entering to each mind of you?

法華経の文に閻浮提(えんぶだい)に此(こ)の経を信ぜん人は普賢菩薩の御力なりと申す是なるべし。

Surely this is what is meant in the passage of the Lotus Sutra that says that those in the land of Jambudvīpa who believe in this sutra do so because of the power of Bodhisattva Universal Worthy.

Surely this is what is meant in the sentence of the Lotus Sutra that says that those in the whole world who believe in this sutra can believe by the power of Fugen bodhisattva.

つづく　Continued

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