No.57 No meaning is its meaning

“No meaning is its meaning (義なきを義とすgi naki o gi to su)” was a turn of phrase much employed by Honen Shonin in the course of his lifetime.

One finds sayings of his such as “In the nembutsu no use is its use” (a saying presented to his acolyte, Zuiren) and “In the nembutsu no meaning is its meaning” (a further saying presented to Zuiren).

Fully conversant with Honen Shonin’s intention, Shinran Shonin remarks “[Honen] Shonin used to say that in Other Power no meaning is its meaning” (The Lamp of the Latter Age).

Opinions differ widely as to the precise meaning of the phrase, but it may be sufficient for us just to take it that no thinking of meaning on our part leads to right understanding of meaning.

Shinran Shonin quotes Honen Shonin’s phrase where he wants to clarify the ultimate meaning of Other Power. He illustrates the quintessence of Honen’s words by simply stating, “ ‘Meaning (義gi)’ refers to the way of thinking of someone attached to self power. Thus it can be said that in Other Power no meaning is its meaning” (The Letters by Shinran).

Humbly and respectfully

Chimyo Takehara

親鸞聖人もそのお言葉を十分に心に銘じておられ、「他力には<義なきを義とす>と聖人の仰せ言にてありき」(『末灯鈔』)と記しておられます。

「義なきを義とす」に関して、種々解釈がありますが、「自らは、計らわぬがよき計らいなり」という程度に受け止めておけば良いのではないでしょうか。

親鸞聖人は、法然上人から日頃承ったお言葉を、他力至極を明かされる重要なところにお引きになります。

「義と申すことは自力の人の計を申すなり。他力には、しかれば義なきを義とすと候なり」(『親鸞聖人御消息集』)と端的にその真髄をお示し頂いています。

 竹原智明