第62回　水になろう

There is an English translation at the bottom of this article. It’s a little bit long, however, please read it when you have time

　冒頭の文章は、日蓮聖人から信者さんへあてられたお手紙です。
　この方は信仰心が篤く、日蓮聖人死後、身延山から出た弟子日興聖人に、土地とお寺を準備したと伝えられています。（現在の富士宮市大石寺です）
　それゆえ「熱心な信者さん」として今なお、名を残し語られています。

　私は単純に「火のほうが熱心さは伝わるのでは」と考えたものです。

　ただ、読み返すうちに、日蓮聖人はたいせず＝退せず、常に欠かさない、その点に重きを置いていることが感じられるようになりました。
　欠かさない・・・身近に有りながら、大切で途切れない必要なもの。そこで水という例えになったのでしょう。

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　そんな当たり前な水ですが、世界で水道水を飲める国はいくつあるか、少し前の情報ですが、日本を含めてわずか１２カ国。飲料水に限らず、この大切な「水」を確保するため、日本には現在約１30のダムがあります。当たり前の裏には、維持のための工夫や努力や困難が有るのかと思います。
(ダムを作る上での環境や他の問題は置いておく)

　自分にとって当たり前でも、地域や国、他の時代と比較すれば、共通する「当たり前」の方が少ないでしょうから、望まなければ、困難は減るでしょう。
　けれど、人間である以上、望みも願いもある。

　そこで、仏教に込められた大事な教えの一つが「報恩」です。

その第一歩として

• 　今ある「有り難さ」を認識すること。
• 　次に、自分にとっての損得に関係なく、変化を受け入れようとすること
• 　そして、価値感や考え方を「これが一番正しい」と固定しないこと

ではないでしょうか。
　物価が高い、夏が暑い、あの人変わってしまった。
　文句で足と思考を止めないで、良くなる方法を考え、行動、協力することこそ、今までの当たり前への感謝。恩に対して何らかで報い、どこかへ返そうよ、と。

　水はいつも近くにあり、気温によっては氷となり、蒸気にもなる。
　そんなところまでも思いを巡らせ、お手紙を書いて下さったようにも思うのです。

　よし、水になろう！
　

Nowadays, there are people who believe in the Lotus Sutra. Some believe like fire.
Some believe like water.
When listening to it, they are burning with passion, but when they are not careful, they have a feeling of abandonment.
When we say “like water,” we mean to believe without much effort.
Does this mean that if you always listen without much effort, you will be able to believe like water?

Free translation
Nowadays, people who believe in the Lotus Sutra believe like fire or like water.
People who believe like fire
→ When they hear the sermon, they become enthusiastic and burn with passion, but it is only temporary and they soon abandon it
People who believe like water
→ People who always continue to believe without giving up, who constantly deliver offerings and their hearts

The opening sentence is a letter from Nichiren Shonin to his followers.
This man was a devout believer, and after the death of Nichiren Shonin, he is said to have prepared land and a temple for his disciple Nikko Shonin, who left Mt. Minobu. (This is the current Taisekiji Temple in Fujinomiya City.)

That is why he is still remembered and spoken of as a “devout believer.”

I simply thought that “fire would convey more devotion.”

However, as I reread it, I began to feel that Nichiren Shonin placed more importance on the point that he never gave up, but always continued to be essential.

Never missing… something that is close to us, yet important and necessary, and never to be interrupted. That’s probably why he used the metaphor of water.

Water is something that we take for granted, but how many countries in the world have drinkable tap water? According to old information, including Japan, there are only 12 countries. Not just drinking water, but to secure this important “water,” there are currently about 130 dams in Japan. I think that behind the obviousness of it all, there is ingenuity, effort, and difficulty in maintaining it.
(Leaving aside the environmental and other issues involved in building a dam)

Even if something is normal for you, there are probably fewer common “normals” in comparison to other regions, countries, or eras, so if you don’t desire it, your difficulties will decrease.

However, as human beings, we have hopes and wishes.

So one of the important teachings of Buddhism is “repaying gratitude.”

The first step is to recognize the “gratitude” we have now.

Next, try to accept change regardless of whether it is profitable or not.

And don’t fix your values ​​and ways of thinking as “this is the most correct.”

Prices are high, the summer is hot, that person has changed.
Don’t stop your feet and thoughts with complaints, but think of ways to improve, act, and cooperate. That is gratitude for what has been normal until now. Let’s repay the kindness in some way, give back somewhere.

Water is always nearby, and depending on the temperature it can turn into ice or steam.

I think that he thought about such things and wrote his letter.

Okay, let’s become water!