“God’s Divine Light,”
Gosanka Poems, July 1, 1948

         
  其頃を 顧みすれば恐ろしも 闇路杖なく彷いし吾
46  

When I look back
At those times,
So frightening,
Lost was I, without
Support on a dark road.

#1, S4-341A 
 
   
S4-183C その頃を 顧みすれば恐ろしも 闇路杖なく彷よへるなり In a set of poems titled “Light of Salvation (8)” in Gosanka Poems for the Kannon Society, #67, 1936, unpublished; S4-61B そのころを 顧みすれば恐ろしも 闇路杖なく彷よへるなり In a set of poems titled ““Lord of Light” in World of Divine Light, Issue 3, #2, May 21, 1935; S6-66C 其頃を 顧みすれば恐ろしも 暗路杖なく彷ひし吾 In a set of poems titled “Divine Blessings” in Gosanka Poems, Revised, #132, page 30, May 28, 1951; previous translations, Gosanka—Poems of World Messianity, page 78A; Prayers and Gosanka, page 78A; Prayers and Poems, page 78A; Book of Gosanka, #21, page 6.
 
  
S4-61B & S4-183C translation
Looking back / At those times, / So frightening, / Lost, without support, / On a dark road.
 

   
Gosanka—Poems of World Messianity translation
I look back into my past / And my memories are filled with fear / As I realize what frightful days / mine were. / I was wandering in the darkness, / without a light.
 

   
Prayers and Gosanka translation
I look at my past / And my mem’ries are fear-filled / As I recall mine / Were frightful times, I was / In darkness, without a light.
 

   
Prayers and Poems translation
I look at my past / And my memories are fear-filled. / As I recall mine were frightful times. / I wandered in darkness, / Without support.
 

   
Book of Gosanka translation
I shudder with fright, / When I recall my past life— / How my life has been— / On the ark road I was lost / With no cane to guide me then.
          
  断崖の 行手にあるが知られけり 神の光に恵まれてより
47   On the edge
Of a cliff I found
Myself standing after
Being blessed
By the light of God. 
#2, S4-341B
 
S4-183D 断崖の 行手にあるが知られけり 救の光を吾浴みてより In a set of poems titled “Light of Salvation (8)” in Gosanka Poems for the Kannon Society, #68, 1936, unpublished; S4-61C 断崖の 行手にあるが知られけり 光の主を拝みてより In a set of poems titled ““Lord of Light” in World of Divine Light, Issue 3, May 21, 1935; S6-66D 断崖の 行手にあるが知られけり 神の光に照らされてより In a set of poems titled “God’s Blessings” in Gosanka Poems, Revised, #133, page 30, May 28, 1951; previous translations, Gosanka—Poems of World Messianity, page 78B; Prayers and Gosanka, page 78B; Prayers and Poems, page 78B; Book of Gosanka, #27, page 7.
         
  
S6-66D translation
On the edge / Of a cliff I found / Myself standing after / Being illuminated / In the light of God.
 

  
S4-61C translation
On the edge / Of a cliff I found / Myself standing after / Kneeling before / The Lord of Light.
 

  
S4-183D translation
On the edge / Of a cliff I found / Myself standing after / Immersing myself / In the light of salvation.
 

   
Gosanka—Poems of World Messianity translation
When I began seeing everything / In the bright Light of God, / I discovered there was a precipice / before me.
 

   
Prayers and Gosanka & Prayers and Poems translation
Once I had begun / Seeing everything clearly / In the Light of God, / I discovered I had been / Approaching a precipice.
 

   
Book of Gosanka translation
Since God has bathed me / With rays of His Light divine, / As I walk life’s road, / I know of the precipice, / That I might face on the way.
         
 

吹き荒ぶ 世嵐とても忘れけり 神の御光に包まれてより

48   The raging storms and
Gales of the world
All are forgotten
Since being enveloped
In God’s divine light.
#3, S4-341C
 
S4-184A 吹き荒ぶ 世嵐とても忘れける 大悲の光に吾包まれてより In a set of poems titled “Light of Salvation (8)” in Gosanka Poems for the Kannon Society, #69, 1936, unpublished; S4-61D ふきすさぶ 世嵐とても忘れけり 貴美が霊衣の御袖に抱かれ In a set of poems titled ““Lord of Light” in World of Divine Light, Issue 3, May 21, 1935; S6-67B 吹き荒ぶ 世嵐とても忘れける 神の光に包まれてより In a set of poems titled “Divine Blessings” in Gosanka Poems, Revised, #135, page 31, May 28, 1951; previous translations, Gosanka—Poems of World Messianity, page 79A; Prayers and Gosanka, page 79A; Prayers and Poems, page 79A; Book of Gosanka, #155, page 39. 
         
  
S6-67B translation
The raging storms and / Gales of the world / All are forgotten / Since being enveloped / In the light of God.
 

  
S4-61D translation
The raging storms and / Gales of the world / All are forgotten. I am / Embraced in the sleeves of the / Divine beautiful robe.
 

  
S4-184A translation
The raging storms and / Gales of the world / All are forgotten since / Being enveloped in the / Light of great compassion.
 

   
Gosanka—Poems of World Messianity translation
Now that I am enveloped in the / Light of God, / I am not disturbed by the raging / storms / In the outside world.
 

  
Prayers and Gosanka translation
Now that I am bathed, / Enveloped in God’s great Light, / I am not disturbed / By all of the mighty storms / That rage in the outside world.
 

   
Prayers and Poems translation
Now that I am bathed and enveloped / In God’s great Light, / I am not disturbed / By all of the violent storms / That rage in the outside world.
 

   
Book of Gosanka translation
Even the night storms, / That rage wildly around me, / Trying to distract; / I can with calm ignore them, / E’er since God’s Light embraced me.
         
 

天照す 月の光も日の光も 主が大神の御眼ならむ

49   The light of the moon
As well as the glow of
The sun that shines
On heaven are eyes
Of the Almighty Creator.
#4, S4-341D
 
S4-61E 天照す 月の光も日の光も 主が霊衣の御袖なるらむ In a set of poems titled ““Lord of Light” in World of Divine Light, Issue 3, #5, May 21, 1935.
         
   
S4-61E translation
The light of the moon / As well as the glow of / The sun that shines / On heaven are sleeves / Of Your spiritual robe.
         
 

盲ほど 儚きものは世にあらじ 近処の宝知るよしもなく

50   Nothing is as fleeting
As the blind who
Do not understand the
Treasure they have
So close at hand.
#5, S4-341D- [352E]
 
S67B-C [584E] 盲ほど 儚きものは世にあらじ 近処の宝知る由もなく In a set of poems titled “Divine Blessings” in Gosanka Poems, Revised, #136, page 31, May 28, 1951; S4-61E- [273M] 盲ほど はかなきものは世にあらじ 近処の宝知らでありけり In a set of poems titled ““Lord of Light” in World of Divine Light, Issue 3, #6, May 21, 1935; S4-184A-B [308L] 盲ほど 儚きものは世にあらじ 近処の宝知らでありけり  In a set of poems titled “Light of Salvation (8)” in Gosanka Poems for the Kannon Society, #70, 1936, unpublished; previous translations, Sounds of the Dawn, Volume II, #62, pages 30 & 149; Book of Gosanka, #64, page 16. 
 
   
S4-61E- & S4-184A-B translation
Nothing is as fleeting / As the blind, not / Understanding the / Treasure they have / So close at hand.
 
   
Sounds of the Dawn translation
How pitiable / The spiritually blind! / They cannot locate, / They have no way of finding, / The treasures so close to them.
 
   
Book of Gosanka translation
There’s not a being / More hopeless and pitiful / In this world of man / Than the blind who e’en knows not / Of the treasure near in place. 
   
 

観音の 光に眼醒めぬれば 黄金と見しは荒金の土

51   Unless eyes are opened
To the light of
The Regarder of Cries,
Unwrought ore
Will be seen as gold.
#6, S4-342A
 
S4-184B 観音の 光に眼醒めぬれば 黄金と見しは荒金の土 In a set of poems titled “Light of Salvation (8)” in Gosanka Poems for the Kannon Society, #70, 1936, unpublished; S4-68B 観音の 光に眼醒めぬれば 黄金と見しはあらがねの土 In a set of poems titled “The Light from the East” in The Light from the East, Issue 6, #4, June 1935; S4-62A 観音の 光に眼醒めぬれば 黄金と見しはあらがねの土 In a set of poems titled ““Lord of Light” in World of Divine Light, Issue 3, #7, May 21, 1935.
 
 

人事と 思ひし事も何時しかに 我身の上にふりかかる世や

52   This is a world
Where
What we think
Are others problems will
Befall us one day.
#7, S4-342B
 
S4-184C 人事と思ひし事も何時かしら 我身の上にふりかかる世なり In a set of poems titled “Light of Salvation (8)” in Gosanka Poems for the Kannon Society, #71, 1936, unpublished; S4-62B 人事と思ひしこともいつしから 我身の上にふりかかる世なり In a set of poems titled ““Lord of Light” in World of Divine Light, Issue 3, #7, May 21, 1935; S6-67C 人事と 思ひし事もいつしかに 我身の上にふりかかる世や In a set of poems titled “Divine Blessings” in Gosanka Poems, Revised, #137, page 31, May 28, 1951; previous translations, Gosanka —Poems of World Messianity, page 79B; Prayers and Gosanka, page 79B; Prayers and Poems, page 79B; Sounds of the Dawn, Volume II, #57, pages 27 & 145; Book of Gosanka, #89, page 23; Daily Guide, page 69A.
 
   
Gosanka—Poems of World Messianity translation
We may be surprised to find the / fate / That others experienced yesterday / Becoming our own fate today. This / is the way of life.
 
   
Prayers and Gosanka, Prayers and Poems, Sounds of the Dawn translation
We may be surprised / To find the fate that others / Met with yesterday / Becoming our fate today, / For this is the way of life.
 
   
Book of Gosanka translation
This trouble’s not mine, / It’s another’s misfortune / Often we do think; / Howe’er, unbeknownst to us / Upon us misfortune rains.
 
   
Daily Guide translation
This is not for me; / This is another’s affair— / I think to myself; / But, oh, unbeknown to me, / It is now a part of me.
   
 

浮草の 処定めぬ我心 愁れと救いませし観音

53   The Regarder of Cries
Who saves my soul,
Pitiful in this
Unsettled
World of today.
#8, S4-342C
 
S4-184D 浮草の 所定めぬ我心 眼覚むれば動くよしなき In a set of poems titled “Light of Salvation (8)” in Gosanka Poems for the Kannon Society, #72, 1936, unpublished; S4-62C 浮草の ところ定めぬ我心 愁れと救ひませる主はも In a set of poems titled ““Lord of Light” in World of Divine Light, Issue 3, #9, May 21, 1935.
     
  
  
S4-184D translation
Nothing is there / That cannot be done / If I open my eyes / In this unsettled / World of today.
 

   
S4-62C translation
Oh Lord who / Saves my soul, / Pitiful in this / Unsettled / World of today.
 
 

正神の 鏡によらで如何にして 百の逆事映らざらめや

54   Without the mirror
Of the true divine beings,
How topsy-turvey
Does appear everything
In this world!
#9, S4-342D
 
S6-67D 正神の 鏡によらで如何にして 万の逆事映らざらめや In a set of poems titled “Divine Blessings” in Gosanka Poems, Revised, #138, page 31, May 28, 1951; S4-62E 観音の 妙智に依らで如何にして 百の逆事解らざらめや In set of poems titled ““Lord of Light” in World of Divine Light, Issue 3, #10, May 21, 1935; S4-68C 観音の 妙智に依らで如何にして 百の逆事解らざらめや In a set of poems titled “The Light from the East” in The Light from the East, Issue 6, #5, June 1935; S4-185A 観音の 妙智に依らで如何にして 百の逆事解らざらめや In section titled “Light of Salvation (8)” from Gosanka Poems for the Kannon Society, #74, 1936, unpublished manuscript; previous translation, Book of Gosanka, #136, page 34; translation based on non-Meishu-sama text正神の 鏡によらで如何にして 万の逆事映らざらめや 
 
   
S4-62E, S4-68C, S4-185A translation
Without the mystic / Wisdom of Kannon, / How can the topsy-turvey / Nature of this / World be understood?
 
   
Book of Gosanka translation
Without reliance / Upon the divine mirror / Of all-righteous God, / How can one see reflection / Of any wrong of Evil?
 
 

観音の 御救いなくば吾は今 底なき沼に悩みつづけむ

55   Without the salvation of
The Regarder of Cries,
I would have already been
Continuing to suffer in a
Bottomless swamp. 
#10, S4-342E
 
S4-185B 観音の 御救ひなくば吾は今 底なき沼にはまりてありなん In a set of poems titled “Light of Salvation (8)” in Gosanka Poems for the Kannon Society, #75, 1936, unpublished; S4-63A 観音の 御救ひなくば吾は今 底なき沼に陥ちてありなん  In a set of poems titled ““Lord of Light” in World of Divine Light, Issue 3, #12, May 21, 1935. 
 
   
S4-185B translation
Without the salvation of / The Regarder of Cries, / I would have already / Become stuck in a / Bottomless swamp.
 
  
S4-63A translation
Without the salvation of / The Regarder of Cries, / I would have already / Fallen into a / Bottomless swamp.
 

今更に 過ぎにし事ども言はざらむ 我愚さの尤にありせば

56 Starting now,
I will not speak of all that
Has happened in the past,
Things that were caused
By my own thoughtlessness.
#11, S4-343A 
 
S4-185C 今更に 過ぎにし事は言はざらめ 我愚さの尤とがにありせば In a section of poems titled “Light of Salvation (8)” from Gosanka Poems for the Kannon Society, #76, unpublished manuscript, 1936; S4-63B 今更に 過ぎにし事も言はざらむ 我愚さの尤とがにありせば In a section of poems titled ““Lord of Light” in World of Divine Light, Issue 3, May 21, 1935; S6-67A 今更に 過ぎにし事を忘れなむ 我愚さの尤にありせば In a section of poems titled “Divine Blessings” in Gosanka Poems, Revised, #134, page 31, May 28, 1951; previous translation in Gosanka—Poems of World Messianity, page 78C; Prayers and Gosanka, page 78C; Prayers and Poems, page 78C; Book of Gosanka, #23, page 6; translations based on text 今更に 過ぎにしことは忘れなむ わが愚さの咎にしあれば 
 
  
S6-67A translation
Starting now, / I will forget what / Has happened in the past, / That which was caused / By my own thoughtlessness. 
 
  
S4-63B translation
Starting now, / I will not speak even of what / Has happened in the past, / That which was caused / By my own thoughtlessness. 
 
  
S4-185C translation
Starting now, / I will not speak of what / Has happened in the past, / That which was caused / By my own thoughtlessness. 
 
  
Gosanka—Poems of World Messianity translation
Now that I am fully awakened / To the great Light of God, / I will try to forget the unhappiness / of the past, / For I realize now it was all due / to my own foolishness.
 
  
Prayers and Gosanka translation
Now the Light of God / Has awakened me fully, / I’ll try to forget / All my past unhappiness, / Caused by my own foolishness.
 
  
Prayers and Poems translation
From now on / I shall forget / All my past unhappiness / For it came / From my own folly.
 
  
Book of Gosanka translation
After a long time— / What has happened in the past / Is now forgotten; / For the fault was on myself— / Upon my own foolishness. 
 
 

力なく 杖なく灯火有たぬ身の 神の御幸に救われし今

57 Now are saved with
The good fortune of
God, those individuals
Without lamps to light the way,
Or support, or strength. 
#12, S4-343B 
 
S4-185D 力なく 杖なく灯火有たぬ身の 黒白もわかぬ闇路に救はる In section titled “Light of Salvation (8)” from Gosanka Poems for the Kannon Society, #77, 1936, unpublished manuscript; S4-63C 力なく 杖なく灯火有たぬ身の 黒白もわかぬ暗路ゆかめや In set of poems titled ““Lord of Light” in World of Divine Light, Issue 3, #14, May 21, 1935; S6-67E 力なく 杖なく灯火有たぬ身の 神に縋らで歩み得べしや In a set of poems titled “Divine Blessings” in Gosanka Poems, Revised, #139, page 32, May 28, 1951; previous translations, Gosanka—Poems of World Messianity, page 80A; Prayers and Gosanka, page 80A; Prayers and Poems, page 80A; Sounds of the Dawn, Volume I, #187, pages 77 & 233; Book of Gosanka, #83, page 21.
 
  
S6-67E translation
How can proceed / Along the path, the individual / Without strength, support, / A lamp to light the way, / Without depending on God?
 
  
S4-63C translation
How can proceed / Along the dark path / Not marked by light or dark, / The individual with no support, / Without a lamp to light the way?
 
  
S4-185D translation
How can be saved the / Individual from the / Dark path not marked by light / Or dark, with no support, without / A lamp to light the way? 
 
  
Gosanka—Poems of World Messianity translation
I have no light, no power, no cane / To lean upon. How can I walk alone, / Unless I rely on God?
 
  
Prayers and Gosanka & Sounds of the Dawn translation
I don’t have a torch, / I have no power, no staff / I can lean upon. / How can I walk the pathway, / Unless I rely on God?
 
  
Prayers and Poems translation
I do not have a torch, / I have no strength, / No staff I can lean upon. / How can I walk the pathway, / Unless I rely on God?
 
  
Book of Gosanka translation
Without any strength, / Nor a cane to guide one on, / With no light in hand, / How can one walk through one’s life, / Without leaning on Great God?
 
 

春ぬ野に 遊ぶが如く心楽し 神の霊衣に包まるる身は

58 As if playing
In the spring fields,
Pleasant I feel
Wrapped as I am
In the God’s spiritual robe.
#13, S4-343C
 
S4-63D 春の野に 遊ぶが如く心楽し 貴美が霊衣の中に包まれ In a set of poems titled ““Lord of Light” in World of Divine Light, Volume 3, May 21, 1935; S6-55B 春ぬ野に 遊ぶが如く心楽し 神の霊衣に包まるる身の In a set of poems titled “God’s Will” in Gosanka Poems, Revised, #81, page 19, May 28, 1951; S4-185E 春の野に 遊ぶが如く心楽し 世尊が霊衣の袖に包まれ In a set of poems titled “Light of Salvation (8)” in Gosanka Poems for the Kannon Society, #78, 1936, unpublished; previous translations, Gosanka—Poems of World Messianity, page 69A; Prayers and Gosanka, page 69A; Prayers and Poems, page 69A; Sounds of the Dawn, Volume II, pages 46 & 184, #101; Book of Gosanka, page 73, #291; Meishu and His Teachings, page 87; all translations but for MHT based on text 春の野に 遊ぶが如く心楽し 神の霊衣に包まるる身は
 
  
S4-185E translation
As if playing in the spring / Fields, pleasant I feel / Wrapped as I am / In the spiritual robe of / The World-Honored One.
 
  
Gosanka—Poems of World Messianity translation
I know I am now enveloped / In the great Aura of God, / So I feel as happy as if I was playing / In a field filled with spring flowers.
 
  
Prayers and Gosanka & Sounds of the Dawn translation
I am now, I know / Enveloped in God’s Aura, / So I’m as happy / As if I was out playing / In a field of spring flowers.
 
  
Prayers and Poems translation
I am now, I know / Enveloped in God’s Aura, / So I am as happy / As if I were out playing / In a field of spring flowers.
 
  
Book of Gosanka translation
My heart is joyous— / As gay as when frolicking / In the fields of spring, / For my body is enwrapped / In God’s divine robe of light.
 

  
Meishu and His Teachings translation
The heart is happy— / As gay as when frolicking / In the fields in spring, / When the body is embraced / By God’s divine robe of light.