“Propriety”
Poems in
Chijôtengoku, Issue 27
August 25, 1951

         
  今の世は 曲れる道の多ければ 歩むすべなく人迷ふなり
157  

In this world today,
Where are there so
Many on crooked paths,
People are confused,
Not knowing how to proceed.

#1, page 2, S6-146C 
         
    礼節も 順序も紊れ何も彼も テンヤワンヤの世にぞありける
158   Both propriety and
Order in confusion,
Chaos, a world it is
Where all things and
Matters are topsy-turvy.
#2, page 2, S6-147A
         
   

信仰の 真髄こそは礼節を 守るにありと知れよ信徒

159   Followers,
Know that verily,
The true essence of
Faith lies in
Adhering to propriety. 
#3, page 2, S6-147B 
Previous translations, Gosanka—Poems of World Messianity, page 83A; Prayers and Gosanka, page 83A; Prayers and Poems, page 83A; Sounds of the Dawn, Volume II, #43, pages 22 & 131; Book of Gosanka, #273, page 69.
Gosanka—Poems of World Messianity translation
The essence of a spiritual life / Is observing the law of principle / in physical living. / Let us be aware of this and always act / According to the fitness of things.
 
Prayers and Gosanka & Sounds of the Dawn translation
Spiritual life, / In essence, is observing / In physical life / The great law of principle. / Let us act accordingly.
 
Prayers and Poems translation
Faith, in essence, / Is observing / Spiritual principles / In daily life. / Let us act accordingly.
 
Book of Gosanka translation
Know this, one with faith, / Who believes in God Supreme— / That essence of faith / Lies in the strict observance / Of rules and proprieties. 
         
   

現し世の 紊れの因は礼節を ないがしろにせし尤にぞありける

160   The cause of the
Disorder of the
Present world is in
The fault of
Ignoring propriety.
#4, page 2, S6-147C
 
Previous translations, Gosanka—Poems of World Messianity, page 83B; Prayers and Gosanka, page 83B; Prayers and Poems, page 83B; Book of Gosanka, #277, page 70.
 
Gosanka—Poems of World Messianity translation
The true cause of all the disturbance / in the world / Is man’s neglect of the law of principle. / He reaps the results of his neglect.
 
Prayers and Gosanka & Sounds of the Dawn translation
The true cause of all / The disturbance in the world / Is man’s neglecting / The great law of principle. / He reaps the results of this.
 
Prayers and Poems translation
The cause of all / The disturbance in the world / Is the neglect / Of spiritual principle. / We reap the results of this.
 
Book of Gosanka translation
The corrupt morals / Of the present world of man / Can be traced to fault / Of not observing the rules / Of social proprieties.
         
   

何よりも 礼節の道教ゆこそ 教の師たる者の務めそ

161   More than anything
Else, teaching the
Very path of propriety
Is the duty of
Those who do teach.
#5, page 2, S6-147D 
 
Previous translation, Book of Gosanka, #280, page 70.
Book of Gosanka translation
It is the duty / Of all those who teach and guide / By the Word of God, / Above all to abide by / The rules of amenities.
         
   

礼節を 守らぬ自由主義こそは 贋物なりと知れよ諸人

162   Know all
That a liberalism
That does not
Observe propriety
Is a fake. 
#6, page 2, S6-147E
 
Previous translations, Gosanka—Poems of World Messianity, page 84C; Prayers and Gosanka, page 84C; Prayers and Poems, page 84C; Sounds of the Dawn, Volume II, #47, pages 23 & 134; Book of Gosanka, #279, page 70.
 
Gosanka—Poems of World Messianity translation
All people should be aware that / The practice of freedom of thought and / action without observation of / Principle is not true freedom. / It is nothing more than a pretense.
 
Prayers and Gosanka & Sounds of the Dawn translation
All should be aware / Practice of free thought, action, / Without principle / Is false, only a pretense. / It is not man’s true freedom.
 
Prayers and Poems translation
All should be aware that / The practice of free thought and action / Without principle / Is false, only a pretense. / It is not our true freedom.
 
Book of Gosanka translation
Know this, all of you— / System of democracy / That gives man freedom / But observes not etiquette— / Is a sham democracy. 
         
    上も下も 礼節守る国こそは まこと平和の風吹きぬらむ
163 Both above and below,
On all levels,
The country that observes
Propriety is where
Prevails the wind of true peace.
#7, page 3, S6-148A 
 
Previous translations, Sounds of the Dawn, Volume II, #46, pages 23 & 133; Book of Gosanka, #276, page 69.
 
Sounds of the Dawn translation
A land will truly / Be blessed with a breeze of peace / If all its people / Observe well, always follow / The great law of principle.
 
Book of Gosanka translation
All countries of world, / On the top and at bottom, / That always practice / Amenities with concern; / Wind of peace will blow across.
   
    礼節を 疎かにせし報ひなり 世にうとまるる人の誰もは
164   The reward for
Letting all propriety
Go astray is
A world where
Are isolated all.
#8, page 3, S6-148B 
 
Previous translations, Sounds of the Dawn, Volume II, #45, pages 23 & 133; Book of Gosanka, #278, page 70.
 
Sounds of the Dawn translation
Those shunned by others / Are simply getting justice, / Reaping their just fruit, / For they have quite neglected / The great law of principle.
 
Book of Gosanka translation
No matter who ‘tis, / He who thinks not of others, / Forgets courtesy, / Would pay for this unconcern, / For the world would eschew him.
   
礼節と 順序正しき国こそは 神しろしめす平和郷なる
165 A nation where
Propriety and order are
Correctly observed
Is a place of peace
Presided over by God.
#9, page 3, S6-148C 
 
Previous translations, Gosanka—Poems of World Messianity, page 83C; Prayers and Gosanka, page 83C; Prayers and Poems, page 83C; Book of Gosanka, #275, page 69.
 
Gosanka—Poems of World Messianity translation
A country in which principles and order / Are well observed is surely a Utopia, / Where everyone lives in peace and / harmony under God.
 
Prayers and Gosanka translation
A country in which / Principle, order are kept / Is an ideal place— / Utopia—where all men / Live under God in peace, love.
 
Prayers and Poems translation
A country in which / Principle and order are kept / Is an ideal place, / A Utopia, where all / Live under God in peace and love.
 
Book of Gosanka translation
A country, proper / And exact in decorum / And order of things— / Is a place of peace eterne, / Ruled by the scepter of God.
   
人らしき 人の集へる神苑は 此世からなる地上天国
166 God’s garden where
Individuals may gather
And act as human beings
Is a paradise on
Earth in this world. 
#10, page 3, S6-148D
 
人に非ず 獣にあらぬ生物を 心砕きて救ふ吾はも
167 All living creatures,
Not human but
Neither beastly do
I ponder over and
Work hard to save.
#11, page 3, S6-148E 
 
It’s me who
Takes pains to
Living creatures
That are neither human beings
Nor sheer animals.
December 5.2009 by taki
   
塵芥 積りつもりて埋もれる 地を浄めます吾なりにけり
168 Purifying am I the
Earth that has been
So buried under
Piles and piles of
Dirt and dust.
#12, page 3, S6-149A
 
I am the one
Who purifies the
Land and ground
Buried under layers
Of litter and garbage. 
December 20.2010 by taki