上野殿御書

Ueno-dono Gosho

Letter to Lord Ueno

(ST 1870, l1-l5) あぢわい、大海の一渧は五味のあぢわい、江河の一渧は一の藥也。大海の一渧は萬種の一丸のごとし。南無阿彌陀佛は一河の一渧、南無妙法蓮華經は大海の一渧。阿彌陀經は小河の一てい（渧）、法華經の一字は大海の一てい。故五郎殿の十六年が間の罪は江河の一てい、須臾の間の南無妙法蓮華經は大海の一てい等云云。

夫以花はつぼみさいて菓なる。をやは死て子にになわる。これ次第也。譬へば

…the flavor, one drop of the great ocean has the taste of the five flavors. Whereas one drop of a river is a single medicine, a single drop of the great ocean is like a pill made of myriad [ingredients]. Namu Amida Butsu is one drop of a river; Namu Myoho Renge Kyo is one drop of the great ocean. The Amitayus Buddha Sutra is one drop of a small river; a single character of the Lotus Sutra is one drop of a great ocean. The transgressions of the late Lord Goro’s sixteen years are one drop of a river, but even a moment [of chanting] Namu Myoho Renge Kyo is a drop of the great ocean.

Now consider that flowers bud, bloom, and bear fruit. Parents die and are carried by their children [to the grave]. This is the natural order of things.  For example…