Gosho 勧持品十三箇の大事 Thirteen important points in the chapter of Encouraging Devotion.

第八　悪世中比丘(びく)の事

法華経に云く「悪世の中の比丘(びく)は邪智(じゃち)にして心諂曲(てんごく)に、未(いま)だ得(え)ざるを為(こ)れ得たりと謂(おも)い、我慢(がまん)の心充満(じゅうまん)せん」

Point Eight, on the passage “In that evil age there will be monks / with perverse wisdom and hearts that are fawning and crooked / who will suppose they have attained what they have not attained, / being proud and boastful in heart”.

The 8th. "The monks in the bad era". The Lotus Sutra describes:Monks in the evil times will hold wicked wisdom and are fawning. They will think they have attained what they have not attained, so their minds are filled with conceit and arrogance.

御義口伝に云はく、悪世中比丘の悪世とは末法(まっぽう)なり、

The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings says: The “evil age” referred to in this passage on monks of an evil age is the Latter Day of the Law.

The orally conveyed teachings say: The “bad era” referred to in this sentence on monks of a bad era is the latter day of the Law.

比丘とは謗法(ほうぼう)たる弘法(こうぼう)等是なり。

The monks are persons like Kōbō and others who slander the Law.

The monks mean Kobo and others who slander the Law.

法華の正智を捨て権(ごん)教(きょう)の邪智を本とせり。

They cast aside the correct wisdom embodied in the Lotus Sutra and instead base themselves on the “perverse wisdom” of the provisional teachings.

They cast aside the correct wisdom of the Lotus Sutra and instead base themselves on the “wicked wisdom” of the temporary teachings.

今日蓮等の類(たぐ)い南無妙法蓮華経と唱へ奉る者は正智の中の大正智なり。

Now Nichiren and his followers, who chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, represent correct wisdom in its highest form.

Now Nichiren and his followers who chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo are people of supreme wisdom among the persons of wisdom.

つづくContinued

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