THE　GOSYO

Three Tripitaka Masters Pray for Rain

When a tree has been transplanted , though firerce winds may blow ,
it will not topple if it has a firm stake to hold it up . But even a tree
that has grown up in place may fall over if its roots are weak. Even
a feeble person will not stumble if those supprting him are strong ,
but a person of considerable strength , when alone , may fall down
on an uneven path .

Moreover , had the Buddha not appeared in the world , then , with the
exception of the Venerable Shariputra and the Venerable Mahakashyapa ,
every single person in all the major world system would have sunk
into the three evil paths . But through the strong bonds formed by
relying upon the Buddha , large numbers of people have attained
Buddhahood .

三三蔵祈雨事

夫れ木をうえ候には大風吹き候へどつよきすけをかひぬれば・たうれず、本より生いて
候木なれども根の弱きは・たうれぬ、甲斐無き者なれども・たすくる者強ければたうれず、
すこし健の者も独なれば悪しきみちには・たうれぬ、又三千大千世界のなかには舎利弗・
迦葉尊者をのぞいては仏よにいで給はずは一人もなく三悪道に堕つべかりしが、仏を・
たのみまいらせし強縁によりて一切衆生は・をほく仏になりしなり