With reverence, I remain 9th month, 5th year of Bunmei (1473CE)
The wives of the resident priests who dwell here on the temple grounds of Yoshizaki must think truly that they are wives of priests because of deep-rooted past conditions. However, this is hindsight accorded to wives who have placed prime importance in the life to come and have attained Faith. Therefore, all wives should obtain Faith with feelings of deep concern.
To begin with, differing generally from the other school within the family of the Pure Land tradition and in result of a particularly excellent cause, what our sect calls "Faith" is that Great Faith of the Other-Power. Thus, you should believe that those who attain Faith are assured rebirth in the Pure Land in the next life without fail; ten out of ten, one hundred for one hundred.
To the question "How should one understand this that is called 'Faith'? I would like to know this in detail." In answer, I reply:
This question is of the utmost importance. In general, the primary reason for accepting this "Faith" of our sect is because as women you are pitifully ensnared in deep burdensome evils of the Five Cardinal Sins and the Three Reliance’s. As such, you have long since been abandoned as "un-savable" by the Buddhas of the Ten Quarters and the Buddhas of the past, present, and future. Yet, thankfully, Amida Tathágata alone vowed that He would deliver beings such as these and has already initiated forty-eight vows. Within these Vows, beyond His deliverance of all evil men and women in accordance with the 18th Vow, and further, because women are deeply sinful with hearts full of doubts, He has established in His 35th Vow (yet again), the Vow that He would deliver women. You should feel a deep thankfulness with the sense of the debt of gratitude owed this Amida Tathágata for His great endeavors.
In question, I ask: Now, relative to the understanding of gratitude to Amida Tathágata for establishing in such manner Vows reiterating the deliverance of beings such as us, in what manner should we who believe in Amida place our reliance on Him? I would like to have this explained clearly. In answer, I reply: If there is a wish to obtain Faith and to place reliance on Amida, first believe that human life is only for the duration of a dream or a momentary illusion, while rebirth in the Pure Land results in eternal happiness. Believe that the enjoyment of human life is for 50 or 100 years while rebirth, in particular, is of primary importance. Abandon the heart that desires the sundry practices and discard (should it harbor them) the heart that thinks in terms of abstinences and taboos. Then, placing reliance on Amida with a singleness of heart and by not trusting in any of the various Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, or deities, and if one believes that by placing Faith unshakably in Amida Buddha, the coming rebirth in the Pure Land will have been determined, repeat the Nembutsu in the overflow of gratitude for this welcomed determination. This Nembutsu expresses the gratitude owed Amida Tathágata for His deliverance of you. After having attained Faith, this is what the wives (who dwell here) of the resident priests of this temple should be.
With reverence, I remain 11th day, 9th month, 5th year of Bunmei (1473CE)
We find upon deep consideration that the happiness of man (like a flash of lightning and the morning dew) lasts for as long as a dream or a momentary illusion. Although one may flourish in wealth, rank, splendor and glory, and do whatever his heart may desire, this can only last for a period of 50 or 100 years. Should the winds of transiency waft upon him at this very moment and beckon him, he shall die in vain, suffering pains of some illness. Truly, when it comes time to die, not one thing, neither wife, child, nor wealth that he had so counted upon before can come along with him. Thus, passing through the portal of death and trodding along a mountain path all by himself, he will come to the Great River of the Three Rapids. Therefore, all that one should earnestly seek is rebirth. Further, what one ought to rely upon is Amida Tathágata. One should believe that with the receipt of Faith, he is destined to go to the Pure Land of Bliss. Relative to this, some priests in our group of Nembutsu followers in this area are making a grave mistake in their understanding of the Dharma. That is to say, some priests are saying that those who give things to the priests are the devout lay members and that they are the ones who really possess Faith. This is a grave mistake! On the other hand, there are lay members who think that though their own abilities are far from sufficient for their salvation, the more that they give to the priests now, the more they will be assured of deliverance through the intercession of these priests when the time comes. This too is a great mistake! Priests and lay members who think in this manner have no understanding of what is meant by "Faith" in our sect! It is truly a pitiful thing. In this situation there is absolutely no doubt that both the priests and laymen will never be reborn in the Land of Bliss but will fall into Hell in vain. One may bemoan this but there is no end to this lament; one may feel an abject sadness, but he must feel a far deeper sadness than this. Therefore, priests must seek out those who know well the details of the Great Faith of the Other-Power; and after obtaining Faith themselves, must teach the meaning of this Faith to the lay members and together unalterably gain rebirth which is the utmost of importance in the life to come.
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