2016（平成28）年の法語

ひかりといのちきわみなき　阿弥陀（あみだ）ほとけを仰（あお）がなん

Let us revere the Buddha of Infinite Light and Life.

十二のひかり放（はな）ちては　あまたの国（くに）を照（てら）します

Emitting the twelvefold light, the Buddha illuminates countless worlds.

生（い）きとしいくるものすべて　このみひかりのうちにあり

All living beings, without exception, are embraced in this radiance.

信心（しんじん）ひとたびおこりなば　煩悩（なやみ）を断（た）たで涅槃（すくい）あり

Once shinjin arises, nirvana is to be realized without having to get rid of our blind passions.

陸路（くがじ）のあゆみ難（かた）けれど　船路（ふなじ）の旅（たび）の易（やす）きかな

Although traveling overland on foot is difficult, a voyage on a ship is easy and pleasant.

弥陀（みだ）の誓（ちか）いに帰（き）しぬれば　不退（ふたい）のくらい自然（じねん）なり

When we take refuge in Amida's Vows, we naturally reside in the stage of non-retrogression.

ただよくつねにみ名（な）となえ　ふかきめぐみにこたえかし

Just uttering the Name constantly, allows us to respond to deep compassion.

往（ゆ）くも還（かえ）るも他力（たりき）ぞと　ただ信心（しんじん）をすすめけり

Our going and returning come about through Other Power; thus shinjin alone is urged.

まどえる身（み）にも信（しん）あらば　生死（まよい）のままに涅槃（すくい）あり

When shinjin is awakened in our deluded self, we realize that birth-and-death is itself nirvana.

一生悪（いっしょうあく）を造（つく）るとも　弘誓（ぐぜい）に値（あ）いて救（すく）わるる

Although we might do wicked deeds throughout our lives, upon encountering the Primal Vow, we are able to be saved.

まどいの眼（め）には見（み）えねども　ほとけはつねに照（てら）します

Although we cannot see through our deluded eyes, the Buddha illuminates us constantly.

さとりの国（くに）にうまるるは　ただ信心（しんじん）にきわまりぬ

It is through shinjin alone that we are born in the Land of Awakening.

世（よ）のもろびとよみなともに　このみさとしを信（しん）ずべし

Let all the people in the world take refuge in this teaching.