Read, reflect, pray
Shushōgi: five chapters
修証義(全五章)
A Sōtō teaching on living and practicing day by day, presented in five chapters. This reading preserves the school’s context.
English meaning and source text
English meaning
About this English rendering
This site’s English rendering of the Japanese meaning guide, aligned with this edition. It is separate from the source words for recitation and is not an official liturgy. Sacred sounds are explained where possible, not given speculative literal translations. Historical beliefs, royal authority, illness and protection claims belong to the text; they are not present-day judgments, medical advice or guarantees of results.
Section 1
Clarifying life and death is the most important task for one walking the Buddha’s way. If Buddhahood is present within life and death themselves, one is not driven about by them. Understand life and death themselves as nirvana, the peace beyond delusion: do not flee them in aversion or desire a nirvana elsewhere. Only then does a path beyond attachment to life and death open. This great matter must be investigated to its utmost.
Human birth is difficult to obtain, and meeting the Buddha’s teaching is rare. Assisted by good conditions from the past, we have not only received this hard-to-obtain human body but encountered the hard-to-meet Dharma. Amid repeated birth and death, this is a fortunate and supremely precious life. Do not waste this body or leave this dewdrop-fragile life merely to the winds of change.
Everything changes; nothing can be relied upon as an absolutely secure support. We do not know on which roadside grass the dewdrop of life will fall. This body does not obey our wishes; life moves with time and cannot be stopped even briefly. Where has youth’s face gone? No trace can be found. Looking back, so much of the past cannot be met again. When death suddenly comes, neither rulers and ministers, relatives and attendants, spouses and children, nor treasures can hold it back. Alone we take the road of death, accompanied only by our own good and harmful deeds.
Do not agree with views that deny the connection between actions and consequences, fail to understand their results, disregard past, present, and future, or fail to distinguish good and harm. The text teaches that causation is clear and impartial: harmful conduct leads toward painful conditions, good conduct toward favorable conditions, without deviation. If cause and effect did not exist and deeds were empty, Buddhas would not appear in the world, nor would ancestral teachers bring the teaching from the West.
Good and harmful actions bear results at three times: in this lifetime, in the next, or in later lives. These are called the results of the three times. To study and practice the way of Buddhas and ancestors, first learn and examine this principle of actions and results across the three times. Otherwise, the text warns, errors accumulate and views lose the principle; one falls into painful realms and suffers long.
Know this well: you do not have two or three bodies in this lifetime. Is it not regrettable to fall into mistaken views and needlessly bring about harmful consequences? Committing harm while imagining ‘this is not harmful’ or ‘there are no bad consequences’ does not free one from its results.
Section 2
Out of deep compassion, Buddhas and ancestral teachers open the vast gateway of kindness to lead every being into awakening. What human or heavenly being could remain outside it? Though the harmful results of the three times must appear, the text teaches that acknowledging and amending errors through repentance can transform heavy consequences into lighter ones, extinguishing offences and bringing purity.
Therefore repent wholeheartedly before the Buddha. The merit of this repentance supports and purifies us, nurturing unobstructed pure trust and diligent practice. When pure trust appears, self and others are transformed together. Its benefit extends widely to sentient beings, plants, trees, and the land.
The essence of repentance is this: ‘Even if my accumulated past harmful actions obstruct the Buddha’s way, may the Buddhas and ancestors awakened through that way have compassion, release me from karmic entanglements, and make my study unobstructed. As their blessing and teaching fill every inexhaustible world, may they share that compassion with me. Buddhas and ancestors were once like us, and we too will become Buddhas and ancestors.’
‘All harmful actions I have committed since the past arise from beginningless greed, anger, and delusion, and are born through body, speech, and mind. I now repent of them all.’ The text teaches that such repentance surely receives the unseen assistance of Buddhas and ancestors. Conceal neither mental intentions nor bodily conduct from the Buddha. The power of openly acknowledging errors removes their root.
Section 3
Next, deeply honor the Three Treasures: Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Aspire to continue honoring and making offerings to them, whatever world or body you are born into. What Buddhas and ancestors correctly transmitted from India to China is reverence for the Buddha, the teaching, and companions in practice.
Those lacking fortunate conditions do not even hear the name of the Three Treasures; how much less can they take refuge? This passage cautions against turning merely from fear of immediate danger to mountain deities, spirits, or non-Buddhist sacred places. From its Buddhist standpoint, it teaches that these alone cannot free one from suffering; one should swiftly take refuge in the Three Treasures, leave suffering, and accomplish awakening.
This text advocates refuge in the Three Treasures through contrasts with other faiths. It is not advice to act disrespectfully toward other religions.
Taking refuge means wholehearted pure trust: whether during the Tathagata’s life or after his death, join the palms, bow, and recite ‘Namu kie butsu, namu kie hō, namu kie sō’—homage and refuge in Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. We rely on the Buddha as great teacher, the teaching as good medicine, and companions in practice as excellent friends. Becoming a Buddhist disciple necessarily involves these three refuges. Whatever precepts one receives, the three refuges come first; receiving precepts is established through them.
The merit of refuge is realized when the Buddha’s call and our response communicate. Whether in heavenly or human worlds, or in hell, hungry-ghost, or animal realms, when that connection arises one is guided to refuge. Its merit then grows in every life and place, cultivating good conduct and virtue and accomplishing unsurpassed complete awakening. Know that the merit of the three refuges is supremely precious, profound, and inconceivable. The Buddha has already borne witness to it; the text calls people to receive it in trust.
Next receive the three pure precepts: refrain from harm, practice good, and benefit beings. Then receive the ten grave prohibitions: do not kill, steal, engage in improper sexual conduct, lie, sell intoxicants, publicize others’ faults, praise oneself while disparaging others, hoard teaching or wealth, sustain anger, or slander Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. The three refuges, three pure precepts, and ten grave prohibitions are what the Buddhas have received and maintained.
Receiving the precepts enters the unsurpassed complete awakening realized by Buddhas of past, present, and future, the Buddha state unbreakable as vajra. How could a wise person fail to seek it? The Buddha clearly declares for all beings: ‘When beings receive the Buddha’s precepts, they immediately enter the rank of the Buddhas, become equal to great awakening, and truly become the Buddha’s children.’
When Buddhas always rest within these precepts, their all-pervading activity leaves no trace of discriminating perception. When beings always live and work within them, a divided world does not appear in their individual perceptions. Then land, plants, trees, walls, tiles, and pebbles throughout all worlds perform the Buddha’s work. Those touched by their wind and water are invisibly aided by inconceivable guidance and intimately manifest awakening. This is called merit beyond calculation and contrivance: precisely the arousing of the heart seeking awakening and the benefit of beings.
Section 4
Arousing bodhicitta means wishing and actually striving to rescue all beings before oneself, even while one has not yet left delusion. Whether lay or ordained, in heaven or among humans, in suffering or enjoyment, promptly arouse the heart that saves others first.
Even without an impressive appearance, one who arouses this heart already guides all beings. Even a seven-year-old girl leads the fourfold assembly of ordained and lay women and men and is a compassionate parent to beings. Do not judge by male or female. This is a supreme principle of the Buddha’s way.
After arousing this heart, even repeated lives in the six realms and four modes of birth become, one by one, practices and aspirations toward awakening. Even if the past has been spent in vain, arouse the vow now while life remains. Even when the merit of Buddhahood ripens fully, dedicate it further so that other beings become Buddhas and attain the way. There is also the manner of rescuing beings first throughout immeasurable time, never finally becoming a Buddha oneself, but continuing only to help others.
Four wise practices benefit beings: giving, kind speech, beneficial action, and sharing their situation. These are bodhisattva practices and vows. Giving means not grasping. Where things are not exclusively one’s own, nothing obstructs sharing. Do not worry that a gift is small; what matters is genuine help. Share even one sentence or verse of teaching: it becomes a good seed in present and later lives. Give even one coin or blade of grass: it nurtures good roots in this world and the next. Teaching becomes wealth, and wealth becomes teaching. Share your strength without seeking thanks. Providing a ferry or building a bridge is a path toward perfect giving. Originally, no livelihood or work need be outside giving.
Kind speech means first arousing compassion on meeting someone and speaking with concern for them. It speaks from a heart cherishing beings like infants. Praise their virtues; show compassion where virtues are not yet developed. Kind speech is the root of easing hostility and creating harmony even among worthy people. Warm words heard face to face brighten expression and ease the heart; warm words about oneself heard in one’s absence are engraved deeply within. Learn that kind speech has the power to transform the course of the world.
Beneficial action means devising ways to help beings regardless of status. Seeing a distressed turtle or sick sparrow, one is moved simply to help, without seeking repayment. The foolish say, ‘If I put others’ benefit first, my own will diminish,’ but this is not so. Beneficial action is one activity that does not separate self and others, helping both widely.
Sharing others’ situation means not creating separation or turning away, either from oneself or others. It is like the Tathagata living among humans in a human body. There is a principle of enabling others to harmonize their hearts with oneself, and then harmonizing one’s own heart with theirs. Relationships between self and others open without limit according to circumstances. The ocean’s refusal to reject any water is this sharing; therefore waters can gather and become the sea.
Consider calmly these principles of practice and aspiration arising from bodhicitta; do not treat them lightly. Bow to and honor the merit by which every being may receive guidance through the activity of rescuing and embracing others.
Section 5
This awakening heart is often aroused in Jambudvipa, the human world where we live. Having obtained such conditions, we wished to be born in this Saha world and came here. How could we not rejoice at meeting Shakyamuni Buddha’s teaching?
Reflect quietly: when the true teaching is not transmitted in the world, even wishing to give one’s life for it cannot secure an encounter. Cherish today’s self, who has met the true teaching, as something difficult to obtain. Consider the Buddha’s words: ‘If you meet a teacher of unsurpassed awakening, do not judge lineage or appearance, dislike faults, or appraise conduct. Simply honoring the teaching of wisdom, bow and show respect three times daily without a heart that finds it troublesome.’
The context is not overlooking wisdom because of a teacher’s family or appearance. It must not be used to excuse a teacher’s violence or exploitation.
That we can now meet the Buddha and hear the teaching is the compassionate gift reaching us through each Buddha and ancestor’s continued practice. Without their direct transmission, how could we have reached today? We should gratefully repay even one phrase or teaching—how much more the gift of the unsurpassed great teaching, the treasury of the true Dharma eye. In the tales, even a sick sparrow repaid rescue with rings connected to three high offices; even a distressed turtle repaid kindness through the seal of Yubuken. If animals repay kindness, how could humans remain unaware of it?
Repaying this kindness calls for no special method apart from daily practice. Everyday sustained practice is the proper response of gratitude: do not neglect each day’s life or use it solely for personal convenience.
Time passes faster than an arrow; life is more fragile than dew. What skill could retrieve a day already past? A hundred years spent idly are regrettable years and a lamentable body. Even after a century driven by pleasures of sound and form, practicing the Buddha’s way for one day enlivens that entire lifetime and, the text teaches, rescues another hundred years of rebirth as well. This single day’s life and body deserve honor and care. Love and respect your own body and mind engaged in practice. Through our practice, the Buddhas’ practice appears here and now and their great way becomes accessible. Thus one day’s practice is the seed of Buddhas and the Buddhas’ own practice.
The Buddhas spoken of here are Shakyamuni Buddha. Shakyamuni Buddha means ‘this very heart is Buddha’: there is no Buddha apart from this heart. Buddhas of past, present, and future necessarily become Shakyamuni Buddha when becoming Buddhas. This is ‘this very heart is Buddha.’ Investigate finely whose heart and what manner of being this means. That is precisely repaying the Buddha’s kindness.
Source text and reading aid
Roman letters are provided for every line of this source text.
How to use the Roman letters
Roman letters follow the kana displayed in this site’s Japanese reader; some readings are editorial additions documented on the Japanese page. These are a reading aid, not restored Sanskrit or a recording of a temple’s chanting. Historical spellings (such as wo, wi, we and ha used as a particle) are kept. Double vowels and repeated vowels mark the written kana; rhythm and pronunciation can differ by tradition.
You can simply read the meaning or sit quietly. No recitation is required. For a temple or shrine’s own recitation, follow that tradition’s published guidance.
第一章 総序
生を明め死を明らむるは仏家一大事の因縁なり、生死の中に仏あれば生死なし、但生死すなわち涅槃と心得て、生死として厭べきもなく、涅槃として欣うべきもなし、是時初めて生死を離るる分あり唯一大事因縁と究尽すべし。
shouwo akirame shiwo akiramuruha bukke ichi dai jino in nennari, shou jino nakani hotokeareba shou jinashi, tada shou jisunawachi ne hanto kokoro ete, shou jitoshite itoubekimonaku, ne hantoshite negoubekimonashi, kono toki hajimete shou jiwo hanaruru bun'ari tada ichi dai ji in nento guu jinsubeshi.
人身得ること難し、仏法値うこと希れなり、今我等宿善の助くるに依りて、已に受け難き人身を受けたるのみに非ず、遇い難き仏法に値い奉れり、生死の中の善生、最勝の生なるべし、最勝の善身を徒らにして露命を無常の風に任すること勿れ。
nin shin urukoto gatashi, buppou oukoto marenari, ima ware ra shuku zenno tasukuruni yorite, sudeni uke gataki nin shinwo uketarunomini arazu, ai gataki buppouni ai tatematsureri, shou jino nakano zen shou, sai shouno shounarubeshi, sai shouno zen shinwo itazuranishite ro meiwo mu jouno kazeni makasurukoto nakare.
無常憑み難し、知らず露命いかなる道の草にか落ちん、身已に私に非ず、命は光陰に移されて暫も停め難し、紅顔いずくへか去りにし、尋ねんとするに蹤跡なし。熟観ずる所に往事の再び逢うべからざる多し、無常忽ちにいたるときは国王大臣親昵従僕妻子珍宝たすくる無し、唯独黄泉に趣くのみなり、己に随い行くは只是善悪業等のみなり。
mu jou tanomi gatashi, shirazu ro meiikanaru michino kusanika ochin, mi sudeni watakushini arazu, inochiha kou inni utsusarete shibarakumo todome gatashi, kou gan'izukuheka sarinishi, tazunentosuruni shou sekinashi. tsuratsura kanzuru tokoroni ou jino futatabi oubekarazaru ooshi, mu jou tachimachiniitarutokiha koku ou dai jin shin jitsu juu boku sai shi chin houtasukuru nashi, tada hitori kou senni omomukunominari, onoreni shitagai yukuha tada kore zen aku gou tounominari.
今の世に因果を知らず、業報を明らめず、三世を知らず善悪を弁まえざる邪見の党侶には群すべからず、大凡因果の道理歴然として私なし、造悪の者は堕ち、修善の者は陞る、毫釐もたがわざるなり、若し因果亡じて虚しからんが如きは、諸仏の出世あるべからず、祖師の西来あるべからず。
imano yoni in gawo shirazu, goppouwo akiramezu, san zewo shirazu zen akuwo wakimaezaru ja kenno tomo garaniha gunsubekarazu, oo yoso in gano dou ri reki nentoshite watakushinashi, zou akuno monoha ochi, shu zenno monoha noboru, gou rimotagawazarunari, moshi in ga boujite munashikaranga gotokiha, sho butsuno shussearubekarazu, so shino sei raiarubekarazu.
善悪の報に三時あり、一者順現報受、二者順次生受、三者順後次受、これを三時という、仏祖の道を修習するには、其の最初よりこの三時の業報の理を効い験らむるなり、爾あらざれば多く錯りて邪見に堕つるなり、但邪見に堕つるのみに非ず、悪道に堕ちて長時の苦を受く。
zen akuno houni san jiari, hitotsu niha jun gen hou ju, futatsu niha jun ji shou ju, mitsu niha jun go ji ju, korewo san jitoiu, bussono douwo shuu juusuruniha, sono sai shoyorikono san jino goppouno riwo narai akiramurunari, shikaarazareba ooku ayamarite ja kenni otsurunari, tada ja kenni otsurunomini arazu, aku douni ochite chou jino kuwo uku.
当に知るべし今生の我身二つ無し、三つ無し、徒らに邪見に堕ちて虚しく悪業を感得せん、惜からざらめや、悪を造りながら悪に非ずと思い、悪の報あるべからずと邪思惟するに依りて悪の報を感得せざるには非ず。
masani shirubeshi kon jouno waga mi futatsu nashi, mitsu nashi, itazurani ja kenni ochite munashiku aku gouwo kan tokusen, oshikarazarameya, akuwo tsukurinagara akuni arazuto omoi, akuno houarubekarazuto ja shi yuisuruni yorite akuno houwo kan tokusezaruniha arazu.
第二章 懺悔滅罪
仏祖憐みの余り広大の慈門を開き置けり、是れ一切衆生を証入せしめんが為なり、人天誰か入らざらん、彼の三時の悪業報必ず感ずべしと雖も、懺悔するが如きは重きを転じて軽受せしむ、又滅罪清浄ならしむるなり。
busso awaremino amari kou daino ji monwo hiraki okeri, kore issai shu jouwo shou nyuuseshimenga tamenari, nin den tareka irazaran, kano san jino aku goppou kanarazu kanzubeshito iedomo, san gesuruga gotokiha omokiwo tenjite kyou juseshimu, mata metsu zai shou jounarashimurunari.
然あれば誠心を専らにして前仏に懺悔すべし、恁麼するとき前仏懺悔の功徳力我を拯いて清浄ならしむ、此功徳能く無礙の浄信精進を生長せしむるなり。浄信一現するとき自佗同じく転ぜられるなり、其利益普く情非情に蒙ぶらしむ。
shikaareba jou shinwo mopparanishite zen butsuni san gesubeshi, in mosurutoki zen butsu san geno ku doku riki warewo sukuite shou jounarashimu, kono ku doku yoku mu geno jou shin shou jinwo shou chouseshimurunari. jou shin ichi gensurutoki ji ta onajiku tenzerarerunari, sono ri yaku amaneku jou hi jouni kouburashimu.
其大旨は、願わくは我れ設い過去の悪業多く重なりて障道の因縁ありとも、仏道に因りて得道せりし諸仏諸祖我を愍みて業累を解脱せしめ、学道障り無からしめ、其功徳法門普く無尽法界に充満弥綸せらん、哀みを我に分布すべし、仏祖の往昔は吾等なり、吾等が当来は仏祖ならん。
sono dai shiha, negawakuha ware tatoi ka kono aku gou ooku kasanarite shou douno in nen'aritomo, butsu douni yorite toku douserishi sho butsu sho so warewo awaremite gou ruiwo ge datsuseshime, gaku dou sawari nakarashime, sono ku doku hou mon amaneku mu jin hokkaini juu man mi rinseran, awaremiwo wareni bun pusubeshi, bussono ou shakuha ware ranari, ware raga tou raiha bussonaran.
我昔所造諸悪業、皆由無始貪瞋癡、従身口意之所生、一切我今皆懺悔、是の如く懺悔すれば必ず仏祖の冥助あるなり、心念身儀発露白仏すべし、発露の力罪根をして銷殞せしむるなり。
ga shaku sho zou sho aku gou, kai yuu mu shi ton jin chi, juu shin ku i shi sho shou, issai ga kon kai san ge, kakuno gotoku san gesureba kanarazu bussono myou joarunari, shinnen shingi hotsuro byakubutsusubeshi, hotsu rono chikara zai konwoshite shou inseshimurunari.
第三章 受戒入位
次には深く仏法僧の三宝を敬い奉るべし、生を易え身を易えても三宝を供養し敬い奉らんことを願うべし、西天東土仏祖正伝する所は恭敬仏法僧なり。
tsuginiha fukaku buppou souno san bouwo uyamai tatematsurubeshi, shouwo kae miwo kaetemo san bouwo ku youshi uyamai tatematsurankotowo negoubeshi, sai ten tou do busso shou densuru tokoroha ku gyou buppou sounari.
若し薄福少徳の衆生は三宝の名字猶お聞き奉らざるなり、何に況や帰依し奉ることを得んや、徒らに所逼を怖れて山神鬼神等に帰依し、或は外道の制多に帰依すること勿れ、彼は其帰依に因りて衆苦を解脱すること無し、早く仏法僧の三宝に帰依し奉りて、衆苦を解脱するのみに非ず菩提を成就すべし。
moshi haku fuku shou tokuno shu jouha san bouno myou ji nao kiki tatematsurazarunari, ikani iwan'ya ki eshi tatematsurukotowo en'ya, itazurani sho hitsuwo osorete san jin ki jin touni ki eshi, aruiha ge douno sei tani ki esurukoto nakare, kareha sono ki eni yorite shu kuwo ge datsusurukoto nashi, hayaku buppou souno san bouni ki eshi tatematsurite, shu kuwo ge datsusurunomini arazu bo daiwo jou juusubeshi.
其帰依三宝とは正に浄信を専らにして、或は如来現在世にもあれ、或は如来滅後にもあれ、合掌し低頭して口に唱えて云く、南無帰依仏、南無帰依法、南無帰依僧、仏は是れ大師なるが故に帰依す、法は良薬なるが故に帰依す、僧は勝友なるが故に帰依す、仏弟子となること必ず三帰に依る、何れの戒を受くるも必ず三帰を受けて其後諸戒を受くるなり、然あれば則ち三帰に依りて得戒あるなり。
sono ki e san boutoha masani jou shinwo mopparanishite, aruiha nyo rai gen zai senimoare, aruiha nyo rai metsu gonimoare, gasshoushi tei zushite kuchini tonaete iwaku, na mu ki e butsu, na mu ki e hou, na mu ki e sou, hotokeha kore dai shinaruga yueni ki esu, houha ryou yakunaruga yueni ki esu, souha shou yuunaruga yueni ki esu, butsu de shitonarukoto kanarazu san kini yoru, izureno kaiwo ukurumo kanarazu san kiwo ukete sono nochi sho kaiwo ukurunari, shikaareba sunawachi san kini yorite tokkaiarunari.
此の帰依仏法僧の功徳、必ず感応道交するとき成就するなり、設い天上人間地獄鬼畜なりと雖も、感応道交すれば必ず帰依し奉るなり、已に帰依し奉るが如きは生生世世在在処処に増長し、必ず積功累徳し、阿耨多羅三藐三菩提を成就するなり、知るべし三帰の功徳其れ最尊最上甚深不可思議なりということ、世尊已に証明しまします、衆生当に信受すべし。
kono ki e buppou souno ku doku, kanarazu kan nou dou kousurutoki jou juusurunari, tatoi ten jou nin gen ji goku ki chikunarito iedomo, kan nou dou kousureba kanarazu ki eshi tatematsurunari, sudeni ki eshi tatematsuruga gotokiha shou shou se se zai zai sho shoni zou choushi, kanarazu shakku rui tokushi, a noku ta ra san myaku san bo daiwo jou juusurunari, shirubeshi san kino ku doku sore sai son sai jou jin jin fu ka shi ginaritoiukoto, se son sudeni shou myoushimashimasu, shu jou masani shin jusubeshi.
次には応に三聚浄戒を受け奉るべし、第一摂律儀戒、第二摂善法戒、第三摂衆生戒なり、次には応に十重禁戒を受け奉るべし、第一不殺生戒、第二不偸盗戒、第三不邪婬戒、第四不妄語戒、第五不酤酒戒、第六不説過戒、第七不自讃毀他戒、第八不慳法財戒、第九不瞋恚戒、第十不謗三宝戒なり、上来三帰、三聚浄戒、十重禁戒、是れ諸仏の受持したまう所なり。
tsuginiha masani san ju jou kaiwo uke tatematsurubeshi, dai ichi shou ritsu gi kai, dai ni shou zen bou kai, dai san shou shu jou kainari, tsuginiha masani juu juu kin kaiwo uke tatematsurubeshi, dai ichi fu sesshou kai, dai ni fu chuu tou kai, dai san fu ja in kai, dai shi fu mou go kai, dai go fu ko shu kai, dai roku fu sekka kai, dai shichi fu ji san ki ta kai, dai hachi fu ken hou zai kai, dai ku fu shin ni kai, dai juu fu bou san bou kainari, jou rai san ki, san ju jou kai, juu juu kin kai, kore sho butsuno ju jishitamau tokoronari.
受戒するが如きは、三世の諸仏の所証なる阿耨多羅三藐三菩提金剛不壊の仏果を証するなり、誰の智人か欣求せざらん、世尊明らかに一切衆生の為に示しまします、衆生仏戒を受くれば即ち諸仏の位に入る、位大覚に同うし已る、真に是れ諸仏の子なりと。
ju kaisuruga gotokiha, san zeno sho butsuno sho shounaru a noku ta ra san myaku san bo dai kon gou fu eno bukkawo shousurunari, tareno chi ninka gon gusezaran, se son akirakani issai shu jouno tameni shimeshimashimasu, shu jou bukkaiwo ukureba sunawachi sho butsuno kuraini iru, kurai dai gakuni onaushi oru, makotoni kore sho butsuno mikonarito.
諸仏の常に此中に住持たる、各各の方面に知覚を遺さず、群生の長えに此中に使用する、各各の知覚に方面露れず、是時十方法界の土地草木牆壁瓦礫皆仏事を作すを以て、其起す所の風水の利益に預る輩、皆甚妙不可思議の仏化に冥資せられて親き悟りを顕わす、是を無為の功徳とす、是を無作の功徳とす、是れ発菩提心なり。
sho butsuno tsuneni kono nakani juu jitaru, kaku kakuno hou menni chi kakuwo nokosazu, gun jouno tokoshieni kono nakani shi yousuru, kaku kakuno chi kakuni hou men arawarezu, kono toki jippou hokkaino to chi sou moku shou heki ga ryaku mina butsu jiwo nasuwo motte, sono okosu tokorono fuu suino ri yakuni azukaru tomogara, mina jin myou fu ka shi gino bukkeni myou shiserarete chikaki satoriwo arawasu, korewo mu ino ku dokutosu, korewo mu sano ku dokutosu, kore hotsu bo dai shinnari.
第四章 発願利生
菩提心を発すというは、己れ未だ度らざる前に一切衆生を度さんと発願し営むなり、設い在家にもあれ、設い出家にもあれ、或は天上にもあれ、或は人間にもあれ、苦にありというとも楽にありというとも、早く自未得度先度他の心を発すべし。
bo dai shinwo okosutoiuha, onore imada watarazaru sakini issai shu jouwo watasanto hotsu ganshi itonamunari, tatoi zai kenimoare, tatoi shukkenimoare, aruiha ten jounimoare, aruiha nin gennimoare, kuniaritoiutomo rakuniaritoiutomo, hayaku ji mi toku do sen do tano kokorowo okosubeshi.
其形陋しというとも、此心を発せば、已に一切衆生の導師なり、設い七歳の女流なりとも即ち四衆の導師なり、衆生の慈父なり、男女を論ずること勿れ、此れ仏道極妙の法則なり。
sono katachi iyashitoiutomo, kono kokorowo okoseba, sudeni issai shu jouno dou shinari, tatoi shichi saino nyo ryuunaritomo sunawachi shi shuno dou shinari, shu jouno ji funari, nan nyowo ronzurukoto nakare, kore butsu dou goku myouno hou sokunari.
若し菩提心を発して後、六趣四生に輪転すと雖も、其輪転の因縁皆菩提の行願となるなり、然あれば従来の光陰は設い空しく過ごすというとも、今生の未だ過ぎざる際だに急ぎて発願すべし、設い仏に成るべき功徳熟して円満すべしというとも、尚お廻らして衆生の成仏得道に回向するなり、或は無量劫行いて衆生を先に度して自からは終に仏に成らず、但し衆生を度し衆生を利益するもあり。
moshi bo dai shinwo okoshite nochi, roku shu shi shouni rin densuto iedomo, sono rin denno in nen mina bo daino gyou gantonarunari, shikaareba juu raino kou inha tatoi munashiku sugosutoiutomo, kon jouno imada sugizaru aidani isogite hotsu gansubeshi, tatoi hotokeni narubeki ku doku jukushite en mansubeshitoiutomo, nao megurashite shu jouno jou butsu toku douni e kousurunari, aruiha mu ryou gou okonaite shu jouwo sakini watashite mizukaraha tsuini hotokeni narazu, tadashi shu jouwo watashi shu jouwo ri yakusurumoari.
衆生を利益すというは四枚の般若あり、一者布施、二者愛語、三者利行、四者同事、是れ即ち薩埵の行願なり、其布施というは貪らざるなり、我物に非ざれども布施を障えざる道理あり、其物の軽きを嫌わず、其功の実なるべきなり、然あれば即ち一句一偈の法をも布施すべし、此生佗生の善種となる、一銭一草の財をも布施すべし、此世佗世の善根を兆す、法も財なるべし、財も法なるべし、但彼が報謝を貪らず、自からが力を頒つなり、舟を置き橋を渡すも布施の檀度なり、治生産業固より布施に非ざること無し。
shu jouwo ri yakusutoiuha shi maino han nyaari, hitotsu niha fu se, futatsu niha ai go, mitsu niha ri gyou, yotsu niha dou ji, kore sunawachi sattano gyou gannari, sono fu setoiuha musaborazarunari, waga mononi arazaredomo fu sewo saezaru dou riari, sono monono karokiwo kirawazu, sono kouno jitsunarubekinari, shikaareba sunawachi ikku ichi geno houwomo fu sesubeshi, shi shou ta shouno zen shutonaru, issen issouno takarawomo fu sesubeshi, shi se ta seno zen konwo kizasu, houmo takaranarubeshi, takaramo hounarubeshi, tada karega hou shawo musaborazu, mizukaraga chikarawo wakatsunari, funewo oki hashiwo watasumo fu seno dan donari, chi shou san gyou motoyori fu seni arazarukoto nashi.
愛語というは、衆生を見るに、先ず慈愛の心を発し、顧愛の言語を施すなり、慈念衆生猶如赤子の懐いを貯えて言語するは愛語なり、徳あるは讃むべし、徳なきは憐れむべし、怨敵を降伏し、君子を和睦ならしむること愛語を根本とするなり、面いて愛語を聞くは面を喜ばしめ、心を楽しくす、面わずして愛語を聞くは肝に銘じ魂に銘ず、愛語能く廻天の力あることを学すべきなり。
ai gotoiuha, shu jouwo miruni, mazu ji aino kokorowo okoshi, ko aino gon gowo hodokosunari, ji nen shu jou yuu nyo shaku shino omoiwo takuwaete gon gosuruha ai gonari, tokuaruha homubeshi, tokunakiha awaremubeshi, on tekiwo gou bukushi, kun shiwo wa bokunarashimurukoto ai gowo kon pontosurunari, mukaite ai gowo kikuha omotewo yorokobashime, kokorowo tanoshikusu, mukawazushite ai gowo kikuha kimoni meiji tamashiini meizu, ai go yoku kai tenno chikaraarukotowo gakusubekinari.
利行というは貴賤の衆生に於きて利益の善巧を廻らすなり、窮亀を見、病雀を見し時、彼が報謝を求めず、唯単えに利行に催おさるるなり、愚人謂わくは利他を先とせば自からが利省かれぬべしと、爾には非ざるなり、利行は一法なり、普く自佗を利するなり。
ri gyoutoiuha ki senno shu jouni okite ri yakuno zen gyouwo megurasunari, kyuu kiwo mi, byou jakuwo mishi toki, karega hou shawo motomezu, tada hitoeni ri gyouni moyoosarurunari, gu nin omowakuha ri tawo sakitoseba mizukaraga ri habukarenubeshito, shikaniha arazarunari, ri gyouha ippounari, amaneku ji tawo risurunari.
同事というは不違なり、自にも不違なり、佗も不違なり、譬えば人間の如来は人間に同ぜるが如し、佗をして自に同ぜしめて後に自をして佗に同ぜしむる道理あるべし、自佗は時に随うて無窮なり、海の水を辞せざるは同事なり。是故に能く水聚りて海となるなり。
dou jitoiuha fu inari, jinimo fu inari, tamo fu inari, tatoeba nin genno nyo raiha nin genni douzeruga gotoshi, tawoshite jini douzeshimete nochini jiwoshite tani douzeshimuru dou riarubeshi, ji taha tokini shitagoute mu kyuunari, umino mizuwo jisezaruha dou jinari. kono yueni yoku mizu atsumarite umitonarunari.
大凡菩提心の行願には是の如くの道理静かに思惟すべし、卒爾にすること勿れ、済度摂受に一切衆生皆化を被ぶらん功徳を礼拝恭敬すべし。
oo yoso bo dai shinno gyou ganniha kakuno gotokuno dou ri shizukani shi yuisubeshi, sotsu jinisurukoto nakare, sai do shou juni issai shu jou mina kewo kouburan ku dokuwo rai hai ku gyousubeshi.
第五章 行持報恩
此発菩提心、多くは南閻浮の人身に発心すべきなり、今是の如くの因縁あり、願生此娑婆国土し来れり、見釈迦牟尼仏を喜ばざらんや。
kono hotsu bo dai shin, ookuha nan en buno nin shinni hosshinsubekinari, ima kakuno gotokuno in nen'ari, gan shou shi sha ba koku doshi kitareri, ken sha ka mu ni butsuwo yorokobazaran'ya.
静かに憶うべし、正法世に流布せざらん時は、身命を正法の為に抛捨せんことを願うとも値うべからず、正法に逢う今日の吾等を願うべし、見ずや、仏の言わく、無上菩提を演説する師に値わんには、種姓を観ずること莫れ、容顔を見ること莫れ、非を嫌うこと莫れ、行を考うること莫れ、但般若を尊重するが故に、日日三時に礼拝し、恭敬して、更に患悩の心を生ぜしむること莫れと。
shizukani omoubeshi, shou bou yoni ru fusezaran tokiha, shin meiwo shou bouno tameni hou shasenkotowo negoutomo oubekarazu, shou bouni ou kon nichino ware rawo negoubeshi, mizuya, hotokeno notamawaku, mu jou bo daiwo en zetsusuru shini awanniha, shu shouwo kanzurukoto nakare, you ganwo mirukoto nakare, hiwo kiroukoto nakare, okonaiwo kangaurukoto nakare, tada han nyawo son juusuruga yueni, nichi nichi san jini rai haishi, ku gyoushite, sarani gen nouno kokorowo shouzeshimurukoto nakareto.
今の見仏聞法は仏祖面面の行持より来れる慈恩なり、仏祖若し単伝せずば、奈何にしてか今日に至らん、一句の恩尚お報謝すべし、一法の恩尚お報謝すべし、況や正法眼蔵無上大法の大恩これを報謝せざらんや、病雀尚お恩を忘れず三府の環能く報謝あり、窮亀尚お恩を忘れず、余不の印能く報謝あり、畜類尚お恩を報ず、人類争か恩を知らざらん。
imano ken butsu mon bouha busso men menno gyou jiyori kitareru ji onnari, busso moshi tan densezuba, ika ninishiteka kon nichini itaran, ikkuno on nao hou shasubeshi, ippouno on nao hou shasubeshi, iwan'ya shou bou gen zou mu jou dai houno dai onkorewo hou shasezaran'ya, byou jaku nao onwo wasurezu san puno kan yoku hou shaari, kyuu ki nao onwo wasurezu, yo funo in yoku hou shaari, chiku rui nao onwo houzu, jin rui ikadeka onwo shirazaran.
其報謝は余外の法は中るべからず、唯当に日日の行持、其報謝の正道なるべし、謂ゆるの道理は日日の生命を等閑にせず、私に費さざらんと行持するなり。
sono hou shaha yo geno houha atarubekarazu, tada masani nichi nichino gyou ji, sono hou shano shou dounarubeshi, iwayuruno dou riha nichi nichino sei meiwo nao zarinisezu, watakushini tsuisazaranto gyou jisurunari.
光陰は矢よりも迅やかなり、身命は露よりも脆し、何れの善巧方便ありてか過ぎにし一日を復還し得たる、徒らに百歳生けらんは恨むべき日月なり、悲むべき形骸なり、設い百歳の日月は声色の奴婢と馳走すとも、其中一日の行持を行取せば一生の百歳を行取するのみに非ず、百歳の他生をも度取すべきなり、此一日の身命は尊ぶべき身命なり、貴ぶべき形骸なり、此行持あらん身心自からも愛すべし、自からも敬うべし、我等が行持に依りて諸仏の行持見成し、諸仏の大道通達するなり。然あれば即ち一日の行持是れ諸仏の種子なり、諸仏の行持なり。
kou inha yayorimo sumiyakanari, shin meiha tsuyuyorimo moroshi, izureno zen gyou hou ben'ariteka suginishi ichi nichiwo mata kaeshi etaru, itazurani hyaku sai ikeranha uramubeki jitsu getsunari, kanashimubeki kei gainari, tatoi hyaku saino jitsu getsuha shou shikino nu hito chi sousutomo, sono naka ichi nichino gyou jiwo gyou shuseba isshouno hyaku saiwo gyou shusurunomini arazu, hyaku saino ta shouwomo do shusubekinari, kono ichi nichino shin meiha toutobubeki shin meinari, toutobubeki kei gainari, kono gyou jiaran shin jin mizukaramo aisubeshi, mizukaramo uyamoubeshi, ware raga gyou jini yorite sho butsuno gyou ji gen joushi, sho butsuno dai dou tsuu datsusurunari. shikaareba sunawachi ichi nichino gyou ji kore sho butsuno shu shinari, sho butsuno gyou jinari.
謂ゆる諸仏とは釈迦牟尼仏なり、釈迦牟尼仏是れ即心是仏なり、過去現在未来の諸仏、共に仏と成る時は必ず釈迦牟尼仏と成るなり、是れ即心是仏なり、即心是仏というは誰というぞと審細に参究すべし、正に仏恩を報ずるにてあらん。
iwayuru sho butsutoha sha ka mu ni butsunari, sha ka mu ni butsu kore soku shin ze butsunari, ka ko gen zai mi raino sho butsu, tomoni hotoketo naru tokiha kanarazu sha ka mu ni butsuto narunari, kore soku shin ze butsunari, soku shin ze butsutoiuha taretoiuzoto shin saini san kyuusubeshi, masani butsu onwo houzurunitearan.
Connected kami and buddhas
These connections include figures addressed, mentioned, or associated by tradition. They do not assign a universal recitation practice.
Sources and edition (3)
- 曹洞宗 芳全寺 — 曹洞宗経典・芳全寺版
- 曹洞宗 — 修証義・五章三十一節
- 曹洞宗・SOTOZEN.COM — Soto School Scriptures For Daily Services And Practice
English explanations on this page were prepared by Inori no Mori from the cited text and its Japanese explanations. They are not an official translation or a prescribed liturgy.