Gosho 清澄寺大衆中 Letter to the Public of Seichoji Temple

日本国の法華経の正義を失うて一人もなく人の悪道に堕(お)つる事は、真言宗が影の身に随(したが)うがごとく、山山・寺寺ごとに法華宗に真言宗をあひそひて、如法(にょほう)の法華経に十八道をそへ、懺法(せんぽう)に阿弥陀(あみだ)経(きょう)を加へ天台宗の学者の潅(かん)頂(じょう)をして真言宗を正とし法華経を傍(ぼう)とせし程(ほど)に、

But as for Japan, all the people have discarded the correct teaching of the Lotus Sutra and are therefore without exception destined to fall into the evil paths.This is because, at each and every temple, the True Word school invariably exists side by side with the Lotus school, just as a shadow follows the body. Thus, to the practice of the Lotus Sutra that accords with the Law is added the eighteen paths, and to the practice of repentance is added one based on the Amida Sutra. And in conferring titles upon priests of the Tendai school, the True Word procedure predominates, while that of the Lotus Sutra is relegated to a secondary position.

But as for Japan, all the people have discarded the correct teaching of the Lotus Sutra and are therefore without exception destined to fall into the evil paths.The reason is because the Shingon invariably exists side by side with the Lotus sect at each temples and mountains as though a shadow follows the body. Thus, they add the eighteen incantations of the Shingon to the act of writing the Lotus Sutra, and they add the Amida sutra to the repentance act of the Lotus Sutra, and in the ceremony that certify the status upon priests of the Tendai sect, the Shingon predominates, while that of the Lotus Sutra is relegated to a secondary position.

つづく　Continued

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