ANJIN
Zuiken's Sayings

Translated by Zuio Hisao Inagaki

1
Time to fall is
time to float
for a lotus-blossom.

2
The way
out of samsara -
Namuamidabutsu.

3
No Tathagata apart from me,
No me apart from the Tathagata.

4
Just as you are -
Really
Just as you are!

5
Without severing evil passions
One attains Nirvana;
Leave them as they are;
Just as you are,
You will be born
in the Pure Land.

6
Without being asked,
he moves first,
By calling
"Come, just as you are!"

7
You say, 'I have heard,' 'I believe,'
and 'I think';
'I' spoils everything.
Attainment of birth
is beyond your comprehension.

8
What is shinjin
I don't know.
Oyasama does everything;
Oyasama does everything.

9
The Buddha's Wisdom is inconceivable!
Inconceivable is the Vow-Power!
The Tathagata is inconceivable!
Inconceivable is the Great Compassion!
Wondering, "How inconceivable!"
I follow the path to the Land of Bliss.

10
For ninety years
I have heard
Nothing.

11
Reliance on your knowledge
and clever thoughts
gets you nowhere;
Birth is a certainty
through the Tathagata's
Compassion.

12
I am watching over you!
I am protecting you!
I am awaiting you!

13
Bombu knows nothing,
Cannot do anything
except end in hell;
Such a person
Amida saves.

14
Don't forget your sins,
death and hell.
Then you will be able to
go to the Pure Land.

15
How reliable
the Tathagata!
How trustworthy
the words of the seven masters!
Having such confidence
this is shinjin.

16
Birth in the Pure Land is easy
because of
the Vow-Power.

17
With mere thought or expectation
I cannot go to the Pure Land.
How wonderful!
This unworthy one can be born.

18
In life or death
with the Buddha
the journey continues.

19
By being accepted
I can go.
For me
I just say,
"Thank you!"
"How wonderful!"

20
Ah, birth is unattainable!
Ah, birth is attainable
through the Primal Vow!

21
Having joyful faith awakened
by the Vow-Power,
Supreme enlightenment is certain
in the Land of Peace.

22
Though going to fall,
When spring returns
I shall appear again
To share the joy of the Dharma
with you.

[Bibliography] 　Zuio H. Inagaki, translated and edited, Anjin, Horai Association, Nagata Bunshodo. 1988.

　　From among hundreds of sayings which Zuiken Inagaki (1885-1981) wrote in his calligraphy, twenty-two have been chosen and published with their Romanized Japanese, English translation and a glossary. Since its first publication in 1988, several thousand copies have found their way to the hearts of Shin devotees throughout the world.

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