5-9 [ All the Sacred Scriptures ]
The essential point of the settled mind in our tradition lies simply in the meaning of the six-character Name, “Na-mo-a-mi-da-butsu” (literally, paying homage to Amida Buddha).
This means that when we pay homage － “namo” － to Amida Buddha, we are immediately saved by the Buddha. So the two-character word, “na-mo,” means to take refuge.
“To take refuge” means that we, sentient beings, setting aside various practices, entrust ourselves unwaveringly to Amida Buddha for our emancipation in the afterlife Accordingly, Amida Tathagata, knowing this fully, saves all of us, without exception.
Thereupon, since Amida Buddha saves the sentient beings who entrust themselves － “namo” － to the Buddha, the six-character Name, “Na-mo-a-mi-da-butsu,” manifests how we, sentient beings, are all saved without discrimination.
For this reason, when we speak of attaining the entrusting heart of Other Power, we find that it is exactly what the six-character Name, “Na-mo-a-mi-da-butsu,” means. We should, therefore, realize that all the sacred scriptures indeed are solely meant to make us entrust ourselves to the six-character Name, “Na-mo-a-mi-da-butsu.”
Humbly and respectfully.
5-9 一切聖教章
当流の安心の一義といふは､ ただ南無阿弥陀仏の六字のこころなり｡
たとへば南無と帰命すれば､ やがて阿弥陀仏のたすけたまへるこころなるがゆゑに､ ｢南無｣ の二字は帰命のこころなり｡
｢帰命｣ といふは､ 衆生の､ もろもろの雑行をすてて､ 阿弥陀仏後生たすけたまへと一向にたのみたてまつるこころなるべし｡
このゆゑに衆生をもらさず弥陀如来のよくしろしめして､ たすけましますこころなり｡ これによりて､ 南無とたのむ衆生を阿弥陀仏のたすけまします道理なるがゆゑに､ 南無阿弥陀仏の六字のすがたは､ すなはちわれら一切衆生の平等にたすかりつるすがたなりとしらるるなり｡
されば他力の信心をうるといふも､ これしかしながら南無阿弥陀仏の六字のこころなり｡ このゆゑに一切の聖教といふも､ ただ南無阿弥陀仏の六字を信ぜしめんがためなりといふこころなりとおもふべきものなり｡
あなかしこ､ あなかしこ｡
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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