road; path; way; set of practices; Buddhist teachings; Taoism; modern administrative region of Japan (Hokkaido)
detailed; full; minute; knowing very well; knowledgeable (about); well-acquainted (with)
the six realms (Deva realm, Asura realm, Human realm, Animal realm, Hungry Ghost realm, Naraka realm)
vicissitudes; continual change; transmigration; metempsychosis
all things being in flux through the endless circle of birth, death, and rebirth; the circle of transmigration
sins (which prevent entry into bliss)
to grant; to give; to confer; to teach; to instruct; to impart (knowledge)
gatha (poetic verse of a scripture)
merit; virtuous deed; divine reward (for virtuous deeds); grace (of the buddhas and gods); merit; meritum
bell (often a large hanging bell); chime
previously; already; beforehand; in advance; for some time
the six written characters of Buddha's name (used in prayer)
Man'yōshū (8th century anthology of Japanese poetry); (arch.) thousands of leaves; (arch.) thousands of years; (arch.) all ages
third day of the month; three days
story; tale; narrative; account; fable; legend
to turn; to shift; to alter; to distract
worldly desires; evil passions; appetites of the flesh; klesha (polluting thoughts such as greed, hatred and delusion, which result in suffering)
bodhi; enlightenment; happiness in the next world
defilement; impurity; object (perceived with the mind or the senses); one billionth
pure land (esp. the Western Pure Land paradise of Amitabha); (Buddhist) paradise; Pure Land Buddhism
happiness in the next world
(logical) true; regular; 10^40; ten thousand undecillion; original; positive
must not; should not; do not
great debt of gratitude; great obligation
to be negligent in doing something; to shirk; to be off one's guard
to permit; to allow; to forgive; to pardon; to exempt (someone) from; to remit; to acknowledge
husband and wife; married couple
yours sincerely; respectfully yours
July; seventh month of the lunar calendar
party; group; troop; one act; one action; one deed
to write down; to note; to jot down; to remember
square jō (approx. 10 sq feet); abbot's chamber; chief priest
August; eighth month of the lunar calendar
death; rejection (of a manuscript, etc.); lacking; without
text (of a book, document, etc.); body (of a letter); this passage; this sentence