Rennyo Shonin
1415-1499

GOBUNSHO

On the White Ashes
(Hakkotsu no Sho)

Though in the morning we may be radiant with health, in the evening we may be white ashes.

Translation #1
BCA Service Book 1994

As we deeply observe the transient form of human life, we realize that in this world, from the beginning to end, what is momentary and passing is the illusory course of human life.

Thus, we have not heard anyone receiving human form which lasts for ten thousand years. The course of life ebbs very rapidly. Can anyone receiving their body for a hundred years at the present time? Not knowing whether it will come today or tomorrow, those who depart before us are as countless as the drops of dew.

Therefore, in the morning we may have radiant health; in the evening we may be white ashes. When the winds of uncertainty strike, our eyes closed forever; when the last breath leaves our body, the healthy color of the face is transformed and we lose the appearance of radiant life; loved ones may gather around and lament, but to no avail. When such an event occurs, the body is sent into an open field and cremated, leaving only the white ashes. What a sad plight!

Thus, we see that what we cannot control is the passing away of the young and old alike. Therefore, we should all look to our future life and with Faith in Amida Buddha repeat the Holy Name.

With reverence, I remain….

Translation #2
by Rev. Taitetsu Unno, earlier version

In Silently contemplating the fleeting nature of existence, nothing is more fleeting than our journey through this world. It is as an all too short dream.

Has anyone lived for 1,000 years? Life quickly passes, and how many have lived for even a hundred years?

Whether I go before others or others go before me, whether it is to be today or whether it is to be tomorrow, who is to know. Those who are sent before us are as fragile as drops of dew.

Though in the morning we may be radiant with health, in the evening we may be white ashes. When the winds of impermanency blow, our eyes are closed forever – and as we breath our last breath, our face loses its color. Our body is then carried into an open field and disappears in smoke which smolders through the night, leaving only while ashes. Is there any expression for this sad plight?

The fragile nature of human existence underlies both young and old. We should therefore, all the sooner, turn hearts to the singularly important matter of True Life.. We should recite the Nenbutsu upon having completely entrusted all that we are to the Truth of Life called Amida Buddha.

In gratitude do we acknowledge these words…

In silently contemplating the transient nature of human existence, nothing is more fragile and fleeting in this world than the life of man. Thus, we have not heard of human life lasting for ten thousand years. Life swiftly passes, and who among men can maintain his form for even a hundred years? Whether I go before others, or others go before me; whether it be today, or whether it be tomorrow; who is to know? Those who leave before us are as countless and as fragile as the drops of dew. Though in the morning, we may have radiant health, in the evening we may be white ashes.

When the winds of impermanence blow, our eyes are closed forever; and when the last breath leaves us, our face loses its color. Though loved ones gather and lament, everything is of no avail. The body is then sent into an open field and vanishes from this world with the smoke of cremation, leaving only the white ashes. There is nothing more real than this truth of life.

The fragile nature of human existence underlies both the young and the old, and therefore, we must – one and all – turn to the Teaching of the Buddha and awaken to the ultimate source of life. By so understanding the meaning of death, we shall come to fully appreciate the meaning of this life which is unrepeatable and thus to be treasured above all else. By virtue of True Compassion, let us realize the unexcelled value of our human existence; and let us live with the Nembutsu, Namu Amida Butsu, in our hearts.

Translation #4
Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha Service Book 2018 (Letters of Rennyo, 2000)

When I deeply contemplate the transient nature of human existence, I realize that, from beginning to end, life is impermanent like an illusion. We have not yet heard of anyone who lived ten thousand years. How fleeting is a lifetime!

Who in this world today can maintain a human form for even a hundred years? There is no knowing whether I will die first or others, whether death will occur today or tomorrow. We depart one after another more quickly than the dewdrops on the roots or the tips of the blades of grasses. So it is said. Hence, we may have radiant faces in the morning, but by evening we may turn into white ashes.

Once the winds of impermanence have blown, our eyes are instantly closed and our breath stops forever. Then, our radiant face changes its color, and the attractive countenance like peach and plum blossoms is lost. Family and relatives will gather and grieve, but all to no avail.

Since there is nothing else that can be done, they carry the deceased out to the fields, and then what is left after the body has been cremated and turned into midnight smoke in just white ashes. Words fail to describe the sadness of it all.

Thus the ephemeral nature of human existence is such that death comes to young and old alike without discrimination. so we should all quickly take to heart the matter of the greatest importance of the afterlife, entrust ourselves deeply to Amida Buddha, and recite the nembutsu.

Humbly and respectfully.

Translation #5
On White Bones
(BDK 1996)

When we deeply consider the transiency of this world, [we realize that] what is altogether fleeting is our own span of life: it is like an illusion from beginning to end. And so we have not yet heard of anyone living ten thousand years. A lifetime passes quickly. Can anyone now live to be a hundred? Will I die first, or will my neighbor? Will it be today or tomorrow? We do not know. Those we leave behind and those who go before us are more numerous than the dewdrops that rest briefly beneath the trees and on their leaftips. Hence we may have radiant faces in the morning but in the evening be no more than white bones.

With the coming of the wind of impermanence, both eyes are instantly closed, and when a single breath is forever stilled, the radiant face is drained of life and its vibrant glow is lost. Although family and relatives may gather and grieve broken-heartedly, this is to no avail. As there is nothing else to be done, [the once-familiar form] is taken to an outlying field, and when it has vanished with the midnight smoke, nothing is left but white bones. This is indeed indescribably sad.

And so, because the impermanence of this world creates a condition of uncertainty for young and old alike, we should all immediately take to heart the most important matter, the afterlife, and, deeply entrusting ourselves to Amida Buddha, say the nenbutsu.