Aloha from Moiliili Hongwanji Mission! We hope that you will find a sense of peace and comfort in the Gatha “Ondokusan (Gratefulness)”. Ondokusan is one of the over 500 hymns which were written by Shinran Shonin. Ondokusan conveys Shinran Shonin’s profound joy and gratitude toward Amida Buddha’s boundless Wisdom and Compassion which he could encounter through the Pure Land masters and teachers in India, China, and Japan.

Ondokusan 恩徳讃

Such is the benevolence of Amida’s great compassion, That we must strive to return it, even to the breaking of our bodies; Such is the benevolence of the masters and true teachers, That we must endeavor to repay it, even to our bones becoming dust. (Shinran Shonin “Hymns of the Dharma-Ages” The Collected Works of Shinran P. 412)

如来大悲の恩徳は
身を粉にしても報ずべし
師主知識の恩徳も
ほねをくだきても謝すべし
『正像末和讃

わたしたちをお救い下さる阿弥陀仏の大いなる慈悲の恩徳と、教え導いてくださる釈尊や祖師がたの恩徳に、身を粉にしてでも骨を砕いてでも、深く感謝して報いていかなければならない。（現代語訳）

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This Dharma Message was recorded as a video during this time of suspended temple services. If you wish to make a small offertory donation, we started on Online Offertory Box (https://www.moiliilihongwanji.org/offertory/). Any donation is greatly appreciated. Rev. Umitani is Resident Minister at Moiliili Hongwanji Mission, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Posted by Moiliili Hongwanji Buddhist Temple on Sunday, April 5, 2020