facebook-diary　research: YOU WERE BORN FOR A REASON（THERE IS A GREAT SHIP ）

THERE IS A GREAT SHIP

Surrounded only by sky and water, each of us is swimming for dear life in the sea, searching for a nearby log, stick, or board to cling to for support. All around are vast numbers of people similarly tormented by wind and waves, betrayed by the logs and sticks they have found, choking on saltwater, drowning or drowned. Offering earnest pointers to all who are floundering is an assortment of "swimming coaches" : endeavors such as politics, economics, science, medicine, the arts, literature, and the law.

When will people be amazed at the absurdity that no one is asking the most important question: "What should we swim toward?" That is, "Why must we live?" The silence on this topic is life's greatest mystery, and surely humanity's greatest tragedy.

The painful sea of birth-and-death knows no bounds.

We have long been submerged.

Only the ship of Amida's Vow

will take us aboard and carry us across without fail.

(Hymns on the Masters, Shinran )

To paraphrase: "We have long been foundering, lost in the vastness of the ocean of suffering: the only thing that can take us aboard unconditionally and carry us to the far shore without fail is the Vow of Amida."

The Vow-ship sails across wave after towering wave; however high the waves, the ship is higher still. Shinnan pointed out the real existence of this great ship that can rescue us, and the direction in which it lies

GLOSSARY

AMIDA

The Japanese pronunciation of the name of the buddha Amitabha [Infinite Light] or Amitayus [ Infinite Life ] . (Throughout this book, we have opted to use the Japanese version of his name rather than the Sanskrit.) Amida is supreme among the innumerable buddhas in the cosmos, all of whom achieved buddhahood through his power.

See also Primal Vow.

PRIMAL VOW; MIDAS VOW (HONGAN)

Amida Buddha made forty-eight vows, of which the eighteenth is known as the Primal Vow. Addressing all humanity, he said: "Believe me, and I will save you into absolute happiness without fail. " This is the most essential and important of the forty-eight vows, revealing Amida's true intention.

SHINRAN (1173-1263)

Also known as Shinran Shonin or "Saint Shinran."

Founder of Shin Buddhism or the True Pure Land School (Jodo Shinshu).

Translated and adapted by Juliet Winters Carpenter

“you were born for a reason is a solemn and profound book”

Edward Seidensticker

English edtion

" YOU WERE BORN FOR A REASON The Real Purpose of Life"

（Ichimannendo Publish, Inc.）

http://www.i-ipi.com/

苦海（く・かい）の人生に大船（たいせん）あり

知らずは人類の最大不幸

空と水しか見えない海で、近くの丸太ん棒や板切れ求めて、必死に私たちは泳いでいる。周囲には、風や波に悩されたり、すがった丸太ん棒に裏切られ、潮水のんで苦しんでいる人、おぼれかかっている人、溺死（できし）した者もおびただしい。そんな人たちに、懸命に泳ぎ方のコーチをしているのが、政治、経済、科学、医学、芸術文学法律などとはいえないだろか。

「どこに向かって泳ぐのか」「なぜ、生きねばならぬのか」肝心の泳ぐ方角がまったく論じられないおかしさに、人々はいつ驚くのだろうか。世の中最大の不可解事であり、人類の不幸これにすぎたるはなかろ。

生死（しょうじ）の苦海ほとりなし

久しく沈めるわれらをば

弥陀弘誓(みだぐぜい)の船のみぞ

乗せてかならずわたしける

(『高僧和讃( こうそうわさん )』親鸞聖人)

「苦しみの波の果てしない海に、永らくさまよいつづけてきた私たちを、大悲の願船（だいひのがんせん）だけが、必ず乗せてわたしてくださるのだ」

一関また一関、波高ければ船また高しの、救助の大船（たいせん）の厳存と、方角を明示されているのが親鸞聖人である。

Japanese edition

なぜ生きる（１万年堂出版）

https://www.10000nen.com/

My friend have been studying Buddhist philosophy,here (She lives in USA.)