Extra-canonical Wasan 英訳帖外和讃

T. Vol. 83, p. 669a-b.

Translated from Japanese

Zuio Hisao Inagaki with the help of John Paraskevopoulos, June 26, 2014

1. Having fulfilled the Forty-eight Vows,

    (Dharmakara) became Amida, the Enlightened One;

    All who have entrusted themselves to him

    Attain the Certainly-Assured State for Birth.

2. In the Fulfilled Land of Eternal Happiness,

    Those who follow difficult practices will find it hard to attain

    birth;

    The Tathagata has chosen the essential practice,

    Whereby he taught us the Exclusive Practice (of Nembutsu).

3. (Dharmakara’s) practice, extending over numerous kalpas,

    Has been condensed into the three letters – A-mi-da;

    The Name consummated after five-kalpas’ deep thoughts

    Is freely transferred to us dwelling in the five defilements.

4. The three kinds of acts of Amida Tathagata and

    Those of Nembutsu-followers

    Penetrate each other in a diamond-like Faith,

    Leading us to become settled in the Certainly-Assured State.

5. Much learning and observation of the precepts are not

    required,

    Nor are breaches of the precepts or evil acts rejected;

    Only those who are mindful of Amida

    Can have their ‘tiles’ and ‘pebbles’ turned into gold.

6. Shinjin, as hard and indestructible as a diamond,

    Arises from the Buddha’s continuous remembrance of us;

    Without his expedient Other-Power,

    How can we attain the Determined Faith?

7. In the Ocean of the Great Vow

    There are no waves of evil passions;

    Once on board the ship of Great Vows,

    We entrust ourselves to the wind of Great Compassion.

8. Ever since we heard of the Compassionate Vow,

    Do we still remain ordinary people of birth-and-death?

    Though our defiled bodies undergo no change,

    Our minds enjoy sauntering in the Pure Land.

9. In the Forty-eight Great Vows,

    The Thirty-fifth Vow in particular

    Promises that Amida takes in and

    Saves women-kind.