「方丈記六(英訳)」
六
おほかた、この所に住みはじめし時は、あからさまと思ひしかども、今すでに、五年を経たり。仮の庵も、ややふるさととなりて、軒に朽ち葉ふかく、土居に苔むせり。おのづから、ことの便りに都を聞けば、この山にこもり居て後、 やむごとなき人のかくれ給へるもあまた聞こゆ。まして、その数ならぬたぐひ、 尽してこれを知るべからず。たびたび炎上にほろびたる家、また、いくそばくぞ。ただ仮の庵のみ、のどけくしておそれなし。ほどせばしといへども、夜臥す床あり、昼居る座あり。一身を宿すに不足なし。寄居[かむな]は小さき貝を好む。これ、事知れるによりてなり。みさごは荒磯に居る。すなはち、人をおそるるがゆゑなり。われまた、かくのごとし。事を知り、世を知れれば、願はず、わしらず、ただしづかなるを望みとし、憂へなきを楽しみとす。
惣[すべ]て、世の人のすみかを作るならひ、必ずしも、事の為にせず。或は妻子・眷属[けんぞく]の為に作り、或は親呢[しんぢつ]・朋友の為に作る。或は主君・師匠、および財宝・ 牛馬の為にさへ、これを作る。
われ、今、身の為にむすべり。人の為に作らず。ゆゑいかんとなれば、今の世のならひ、この身のありさま、ともなふべき人もなく、たのむべき奴[やつこ]もなし。 縦[たと]ひ、ひろく作れりとも、たれを宿し、たれをか据ゑん。
夫[それ]、人の友とあるものは、富めるをたふとみ、ねむごろなるを先とす。必ずしも、なさけあると、すなほなるとをば愛せず。只、絲竹[しちく]・花月を友とせんにはしかじ。人の奴たるものは、賞罰はなはだしく、恩顧あつきを先とす。更に、 はぐくみあはれむと、安くしづかなるとをば願はず。只、わが身を奴婢とするにはしかず。
いかが奴婢とするとならば、もし、なすべき事あれば、すなはちおのが身をつかふ。たゆからずしもあらねど、人をしたがへ、人をかへりみるよりやすし。
もし、ありくべき事あれば、みづからあゆむ。苦しといへども、馬・鞍・牛・ 車と、心をなやますにはしかず。
今、一身をわかちて、二つの用をなす。手の奴、足の乗り物、よくわが心にかなへり。身、心の苦しみを知れれば、苦しむ時は休めつ、まめなれば使ふ。 使ふとても、たびたび過ぐさず。ものうしとても、心を動かす事なし。いかにいはむや、つねにありき、つねにはたらくは、養性なるべし。なんぞ、いたづらに休みをらん。人をなやます、罪業なり。いかが、他の力を借るべき。
衣食のたぐひ、またおなじ。藤の衣、麻のふすま、得るにしたがひて、肌をかくし、野辺のおはぎ、峰の木の実、わづかに命をつぐばかりなり。 人にまじはらざれば、姿を恥づる悔いもなし。糧ともしければ、おろそかなる報をあまくす。
惣[すべ]て、かやうの楽しみ、富める人に対して云ふにはあらず。只、わが身ひとつにとりて、昔と今とをなぞらふるばかりなり。
おほかた、世をのがれ、身を捨てしより、恨みもなく、恐れもなし。命は天運にまかせて、惜しまず、いとはず。身は浮雲になずらへて、頼まず、全[また]しとせず。一期の楽しみは、うたたねの枕の上にきはまり、生涯の望みは、折り折りの美景に残れり。
夫[それ]、三界はただ心一つなり。心もし安からずは、象馬[ぞうめ]・七珍もよしなく、宮殿・楼閣も望みなし。今、さびしきすまひ、一間の庵、みづからこれを愛す。 おのづから、都に出でて、身の乞■[がい]となれる事を恥づといへども、帰りてここに居る時は、他の俗塵に馳する事をあはれむ。
もし、人この云へる事を疑はば、魚と鳥とのありさまを見よ。魚は水に飽かず。魚にあらざれば、その心を知らず。鳥は林を願ふ。鳥にあらざれば、その心を知らず。閑居の気味もまた同じ。住まずして、たれかさとらむ。
When I first came to live here, I thought my time would be brief, but five years have passed. This passing shelter of mine has slowly become a home; the eaves are deep in rotting leaves, moss covers the foundations.
When news of the capital happens to come my way, I learn of many people in high places who have met their end since I retired to this mountain, and other lesser folk besides, too many to be told. And how many houses, too, have been lost in all those fires? In all this, my mere passing shelter has remained tranquil and safe from fears.
Small it may be, but there is a bed to sleep on at night, and a place to sit in the daytime. As a simple place to house myself, it lacks nothing. The hermit crab prefers a little shell for his home. He knows what the world holds. The osprey chooses the wild shoreline, and this is because he fears mankind. And I too am the same. Knowing what the world holds and its ways, 1 desire nothing from it, nor chase after its prizes. My one crav ing is to be at peace, my one pleasure to live free of troubles.
People do not always build a house with the important things in mind. Some will build for wife and children or for the wider household, others for their intimates and friends. Some may build for their master or their teacher, or even for their possessions or their oxen and horses. But I have built this house for my own self and for no one else. And this is because, the world being what it is, and the way I am now, I have no one who shares my life, nor any servants to work for me. Who would I put in a larger house if I built one, after all?
People who cultivate friendships prize men with wealth, and prefer those who are eager to please. They do not always cherish friends who are loving, or pure of heart. Best by far is the company of flute and strings, and of the flowers and moon. Servants and retainers crave endless rewards, and love a master who showers them with favours. They have no interest in affec tionate concern or a calm and peaceful life. Better far to be your own servant. How? If something needs doing, use yourself to do it. It may be tiring, but it is easier than employing another and troubling yourself over him. If you need to go somewhere, walk yourself. You may grow weary, but better far than worrying over horse and saddle, oxen and cart.
These days, I divide myself into two uses these hands are my servants, these feet my transport. They serve me just as I wish. Mind knows when things feel hard for the body; at such times it will grant the body rest, and work it when it is willing. Yet, work the body though it does, the mind will never push too far, and if the body is reluctant, this will not perturb the mind. Indeed the habit of walking and working is good for the health. Why sit idly about, after all? It is a sin to bring trouble to others. Why should I borrow another's strength?
So too with food and clothing. Be it robe of vine fibre or hempen quilt, I cover myself in whatever comes to hand, and keep myself alive with wild asters from the fields and nuts from the mountains. Since I do not mix with others, shame causes me no regrets. Plain fare tastes all the better when food is scarce.
I do not make claims for these pleasures to disparage the rich. I am simply comparing my past life with my present one. The Triple World is solely Mind. Without a peaceful mind, elephants, horses and the seven treasures are worthless things, palaces and fine towers mean nothing.
I love my tiny hut, my lonely dwelling. When I chance to go down into the capital, I am ashamed of my lowly beggar status, but once back here again I pity those who chase after the sordid tewards of the world. If any doubt my words, let them look to the fish and the birds. Fish never tire of water, a state incomprehensible to any but the fish. The bird's desire for the forest makes sense to none but birds. And so it is with the pleasure of seclusion. Who but one who lives it can understand its joys?
Translated by Meredith Mckinney
