Lord of Light


1	夢にだも　知らでありけり東方の　光の主ははやかがやける
	Not knowing Whether it might Be a dream, the Lord of The Light from the East Already has begun to shine.	#1, S4-61A

	S4-183B 夢にだも　知らでありけり東方の　救の光ははや暉やける In a set of poems titled “Light of Salvation (8)” in Gosanka Poems for the Kannon Society, #66, 1936, unpublished.

		S4-183B translation Not knowing whether / It might be a dream, / The Lord of the Light / Of salvation from the East / Already has begun to shine.

2	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
	Looking back At those times, So frightening, Lost, without support, On a dark road.	#2, S4-61B

	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闇路杖なく彷よへるなり In a set of poems titled “Light of Salvation (8)” in Gosanka Poems for the Kannon Society, #67, 1936, unpublished; S4-341A 其頃を　顧みすれば恐ろしも　闇路杖なく彷ひし吾 . In a set of poems titled “God’s Divine Light” in Gosanka Poems, #46, July 1, 1948; 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.

		S4-341A & S6-66C translation When I look back / At those times, / So frightening, / Lost was I, 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.

3	断崖の　行手にあるが知られけり　光の主を拝みてより
	On the edge Of a cliff I found Myself standing after Kneeling before The Lord of Light.	#3, S4-61C

	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; 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救の光を吾浴みてより In a set of poems titled “Light of Salvation (8)” in Gosanka Poems for the Kannon Society, #68, 1936, unpublished; S4-341B 断崖の　行手にあるが知られけり　神の光に恵まれてより In a set of poems titled “God’s Divine Light” in Gosanka Poems, #47, July 1, 1948; previous translations, Gosanka—Poems of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.
		S4-183D translation On the edge / Of a cliff I found / Myself standing after / Immersing myself / In the light of salvation.
		S4-341B translation On the edge / Of a cliff I found / Myself standing after / Being blessed / By the light of God.
		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.

4	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
	The raging storms and Gales of the world All are forgotten. I am Embraced in the sleeves of the Divine beautiful robe.	#4, S4-61D

	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; 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; S4-341C 吹き荒ぶ　世嵐とても忘れけり　神の御光に包まれてより In a set of poems titled “God’s Divine Light” in Gosanka Poems, #48, July 1, 1948; previous translations, Gosanka—Poems of World Messianity, page 79A; Prayers and Gosanka, page 79A; Prayers and Poems, 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.
		S4-184A translation The raging storms and / Gales of the world / All are forgotten since / Being enveloped in the / Light of great compassion.
		S4-341C translation The raging storms and / Gales of the world / All are forgotten / Since being enveloped / In God’s divine light.
		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.

5	天照す　月の光も日の光も　主が霊衣の御袖なるらむ
	The light of the moon As well as the glow of The sun that shines On heaven are sleeves Of Your spiritual robe.	#5, S4-61E

	S4-341D 天照す　月の光も日の光も　主が大神の御眼ならむ In a set of poems titled “God’s Divine Light” in Gosanka Poems, #49, July 1, 1948.

		S4-341E translation The light of the moon / As well as the glow of / The sun that shines / On heaven are eyes / Of the Almighty Creator.

6	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
	Nothing is as fleeting As the blind, not Understanding the Treasure they have So close at hand.	#6, S4-61E- [273M]

	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; S4-184A-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; S4-341D- [352E] 盲ほど　儚きものは世にあらじ　近処の宝知る由よしもなく In a set of poems titled “God’s Divine Light” in Gosanka Poems, #50, July 1, 1948; previous translations, Sounds of the Dawn, Volume II, #62, pages 30 & 149; Book of Gosanka, #64, page 16.

		S4-61E- & S6-67B-C translation Nothing is as fleeting / As the blind who / Do not understand 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.

7	観音の　光に眼醒めぬれば　黄金と見しはあらがねの土
	Unless eyes are opened To the light of The Regarder of Cries, Unwrought ore Will be seen as gold.	#7, S4-62A

	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; S4-184B 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; S4-342A 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 “God’s Divine Light” in Gosanka Poems, #51, July 1, 1948.

8	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
	This is a world Where What we think Are others problems will Befall us one day.	#8, S4-62B

	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; 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; S4-342B 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 In a set of poems titled “God’s Divine Light” in Gosanka Poems, #52, July 1, 1948; 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.

9	浮草の　ところ定めぬ我心　愁れと救ひませる主はも
	Oh Lord who Saves my soul, Pitiful in this Unsettled World of today.	#9, S4-62C

	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; S4-342C 浮草の　処定めぬ我心　愁れと救いませし観音 In a set of poems titled “God’s Divine Light” in Gosanka Poems, #53, July 1, 1948.

		S4-184D translation Nothing is there / That cannot be done / If I open my eyes / In this unsettled / World of today.
		S4-342C translation The Regarder of Cries / Who saves my soul, / Pitiful in this / Unsettled / World of today.

10	御恵みの　深きを知らで迷ひける　わが心根の愧かしくなれり
	How ashamed we are of Our innermost feelings, being Confused, not understanding The profundities of the Divine blessings we receive.	#10, S4-62D

	S4-184E 御恵みの　深きを知らで迷ひける　わが心根の愧しくなれり In a set of poems titled “Light of Salvation (8)” in Gosanka Poems for the Kannon Society, #73, 1936, unpublished; previous translation, Sounds of the Dawn, Volume II, #53, pages 26 & 141.

		Sounds of the Dawn translation Not realizing / The depth of God’s Love for me, / I’ve been wavering. / Now I know, I am ashamed / Of the attitude I’ve had.

11	観音の　妙智に依らで如何にして　百の逆事解らざらめや
	Without the mystic Wisdom of Kannon, How can the topsy-turvey Nature of this World be understood?	#11, S4-62E

	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; S4-68C 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; S4-342D 正神の　鏡によらで如何にして　万の逆事映らざらめや In section titled “God’s Divine Light” in Gosanka Poems, #54, July 1, 1948; 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

		S4-342D & S6-67D translation Without the mirror / Of the true divine beings, / How topsy-turvey / Does appear everything / In this world!
		Book of Gosanka translation Without reliance / Upon the divine mirror / Of all-righteous God, / How can one see reflection / Of any wrong of Evil?

12	観音の　御救ひなくば吾は今　底なき沼に陥ちてありなん
	Without the salvation of The Regarder of Cries, I would have already Fallen into a Bottomless swamp.	#12, S4-63A

	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; S4-342E 観音の　御救ひなくば吾は今　底なき沼に悩みつづけむ In a set of poems titled “God’s Divine Light” in Gosanka Poems, #55, July 1, 1948.

		S4-185B translation Without the salvation of / The Regarder of Cries, / I would have already / Become stuck in a / Bottomless swamp.
		S4-342E translation Without the salvation of / The Regarder of Cries, / I would have already been / Continuing to suffer in a / Bottomless swamp.

13	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
	Starting now, I will not speak even of what Has happened in the past, That which was caused By my own thoughtlessness.	#13, S4-63B

	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; 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; S4-343A 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 In a section of poems titled “God’s Divine Light” in Gosanka Poems, #56, July 1, 1948; 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.
		S4-185C translation Starting now, / I will not speak of what / Has happened in the past, / That which was caused / By my own thoughtlessness.
		S4-343B translation Starting now, / I will not speak of all that / Has happened in the past, / Things that were 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.

14	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
	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?	#14, S4-63C

	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; 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; S4-343B 力なく　杖なく灯火有たぬ身の　神の御幸に救はれし今 In section titled “God’s Divine Light” in Gosanka Poems, #57, July 1, 1948; 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?
		S4-185D 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?
		S4-343B translation Now are saved with / The good fortune of / God, those individuals / Without lamps to light the way, / Or support, or strength.
		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?

15	春の野に　遊ぶが如く心楽し　貴美が霊衣の中に包まれ
	As if playing In the spring fields, Pleasant I feel Wrapped as I am In the God’s spiritual robe.	#15, S4-63D

	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; S4-343C 春ぬ野に　遊ぶが如く心楽し　神の霊衣に包まるる身は In a set of poems titled “God’s Divine Light” in Gosanka Poems, #58, July 1, 1948; 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.

16	数ならぬ　身にしあれども御心の　ままに召さしめ給へと祈るも
	Beyond count are human Bodies but I do pray That I am bestowed With orders in Accord with divine will.	#16, S4-63E

	S4-186A 数ならぬ　身にしあれども御業の　端になりとも加へさせたまへ In a set of poems titled “Light of Salvation (8)” in Gosanka Poems for the Kannon Society, #79, 1936, unpublished; previous translations, Sounds of the Dawn, Volume I, #147, pages 63 & 201; Book of Gosanka, #145, page 37.

		S4-186A translation Beyond count are human / Bodies but please / Include me that I / As well become part / Of the divine work.
		S4-63E Sounds of the Dawn translation I’m a simple man, / But I pray to Thee, oh God, / That Thou wilt use me / As Thou wisheth for Thy Plan, / Deemeth best for Thy great Cause.
		S4-63E Book of Gosanka translation One among many, / I do not even count much, / But let me serve Thee / E’er according to Thy Will— / Should be one’s prayer to God.