Gobunshō – 御文章 – Fascicle 1-3 – Hunting and Fishing – 猟すなどり章 –

1-3　[ Hunting and Fishing ]

The important point of the settled mind in our tradition does not lie particularly in refraining from evil thoughts or keeping delusory thoughts and attachments from arising.

We may just carry on trading, working as servants, hunting or fishing. If we deeply realize that the Primal Vow of Amida Tathagata promises to save such worthless people like us, who are absorbed, morning and evening, inn our daily engagements, deluded under the influence of our evil karma, and if we single-heartedly entrust ourselves to Amida Buddha’s compassionate Vow without any doubt, while having firm assurance of our emancipation － since such a single thought of entrusting is sincere, we will certainly be saved by the Tathagata.

Beyond this, in what state of mind should we say the nembutsu? We should say the nembutsu as long as we live, acknowledging our deep indebtedness to the benevolence of Amida who saves us by settling our birth through the endowment of the power of entrusting which we thus receive.

Such people are called practicers with the entrusting heart who have attained the settled mind of our tradition.

Humbly and respectfully.

18th day of the 12th month, 3rd year of Bunmei [1471]

1-3　猟すなどり章

まづ当とう流りゅうの安心あんじんのおもむきは､ あながちにわがこころのわろきをも､ また妄念もうねん妄もう執しゅうのこころのおこるをも､ とどめよといふにもあらず｡

ただあきなひをもし､ 奉公ほうこうをもせよ､ 猟りょう・すなどりをもせよ､ かかるあさましき罪業ざいごうにのみ､ 朝ちょう夕せきまどひぬるわれらごときのいたづらものを､ たすけんと誓ちかひまします弥陀みだ如来にょらいの本願ほんがんにてましますぞとふかく信しんじて､ 一心いっしんにふたごころなく､ 弥陀みだ一仏いちぶつの悲ひ願がんにすがりて､ たすけましませとおもふこころの一念いちねんの信しんまことなれば､ かならず如来にょらいの御おんたすけにあづかるものなり｡

このうへには､ なにとこころえて念仏ねんぶつ申もうすべきぞなれば､ 往おう生じょうはいまの信力しんりきによりて御おんたすけありつるかたじけなき御ご恩おん報謝ほうしゃのために､ わがいのちあらんかぎりは､ 報謝ほうしゃのためとおもひて念仏ねんぶつ申もうすべきなり｡

これを当とう流りゅうの安心あんじん決けつ定じょうしたる信心しんじんの行ぎょう者じゃとは申もうすべきなり｡

あなかしこ､ あなかしこ｡

文明ぶんめい三年さんねん十じゅう二に月がつ十じゅう八日はちにち

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Data source: http://www.yamadera.info/seiten/seiten_index.htm

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• Author ：Shin Buddhism Translation Series
• Language ：English
• ISBN ：4-938490-20-X
• pages ：164

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