4-12 The Meetings Twice Every Month
What is the purpose of having the meetings that are held twice every month? It should be nothing other than to attain the entrusting heart for our birth in the land of bliss.
From the past up to the present, monthly meetings have been held everywhere, but the issue of the entrusting heart has not even once been discussed at such meetings. Especially in recent years, whenever meetings are held, people just enjoy a meal with sake and tea, and then disperse. This is contrary to the primal intent of the Buddha Dharma.
Those without the entrusting heart are by all means expected to raise questions and discuss whether the entrusting heart is lacking or not; it seems unreasonable to disperse without coming to any conclusion. You should carefully reflect on this matter.
After all, it is essential that, from now on, those who are yet to attain the entrusting heart should discuss this issue with each other.
Settle mind of our tradition lies in discarding the inclination toward various practices and entrusting yourselves single-heartedly to Amida Tathagata, without having to worry about your deep karmic evils and hindrances. You should not have the slightest doubt that the sentient beings who seriously rely on Amida for resolving the matter of the greatest importance of the afterlife will all be saved. Those who have gained a thorough understanding in this way will certainly be born, a hundred out of a hundred.
With this in mind, when you attend the monthly meetings, you should take them as an opportunity to express your appreciation for Amida’s benevolence. Those with such understanding can indeed be called practicers who have attained the true entrusting heart.
Humbly and respectfully.
Written on the 25th day of the 2nd month, 7th year of Meio [1498]
To the members of the congregations that meet twice every month
At the age of 84
4-12 毎月両度章
そもそも､ 毎月両度の寄合の由来はなにのためぞといふに､ さらに他のことにあらず｡ 自身の往生極楽の信心獲得のためなるがゆゑなり｡
しかれば､ 往古より今にいたるまでも､ 毎月の寄合といふことは､ いづくにもこれありといへども､ さらに信心の沙汰とては､ かつてもつてこれなし｡ ことに近年は､ いづくにも寄合のときは､ ただ酒・飯・茶なんどばかりにてみなみな退散せり｡ これは仏法の本意にはしかるべからざる次第なり｡
いかにも不信の面々は､ 一段の不審をもたてて､ 信心の有無を沙汰すべきところに､ なにの所詮もなく退散せしむる条､ しかるべからずおぼえはんべり｡ よくよく思案をめぐらすべきことなり｡
所詮自今以後においては､ 不信の面々はあひたがひに信心の讃嘆あるべきこと肝要なり｡
それ､ 当流の安心のおもむきといふは､ あながちにわが身の罪障のふかきによらず､ ただもろもろの雑行のこころをやめて､ 一心に阿弥陀如来に帰命して､ 今度の一大事の後生たすけたまへとふかくたのまん衆生をば､ ことごとくたすけたまふべきこと､ さらに疑あるべからず｡ かくのごとくよくこころえたる人は､ まことに百即百生なるべきなり｡
このうへには､ 毎月の寄合をいたしても､ 報恩謝徳のためとこころえなば､ これこそ真実の信心を具足せしめたる行者ともなづくべきものなり｡
あなかしこ､ あなかしこ｡
明応七年二月二十五日これを書く｡
毎月両度講衆中へ 八十四歳
Index of individual letters:
Other Resources:
Letters of Rennyo: The Essence of Shin Buddhism (essay/talk by Rev. Daien T. Haseo)
Letters of Rennyo – On Youtube (presented by Rev. Sugahara Yuki)
Complete Letters of Rennyo translation by the Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai follow this link to their website to download a copy.
To purchase the book ‘Letters of Rennyo’ , Translated by as part of the Hongwanji Shin Buddhism Translation Series, this is the publication information & link:
- Title ：Letters of Rennyo
- ¥1,100
- Author ：Shin Buddhism Translation Series
- Language ：English
- ISBN ：4-938490-20-X
- pages ：164
Buy from Hongwanji International Center: https://international.hongwanji.or.jp/html/c3b1p1.html
If you would like a digital copy containing more translated letters than listed above (albeit not translated by Hongwanji), you can download a PDF from the Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai (BDK – Amercia) website here: Link: https://bdkamerica.org/product/tannisho-passages-deploring-deviations-of-faith-and-rennyo-shonin-ofumi-the-letters-of-rennyo/
Credits: The text for the Letters of Rennyo as presented on this and subsequent pages was originally shared on the following site : http://www.yamadera.info/seiten/seiten_index.htm
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