We use these Japanese terms that can not be translated into English or I suspect any other language.
Question: What is the English translation of Rosen Rufu?
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#1 | Written by Engyo Mike Barrett about 8 years ago.Well, according to the Lotus Sutra, it means to:
“Propagate this chapter throughout the Jambudvipa in the later five hundred years after my extinction lest it be lost, and lest Mara the Evil One, the followers of Mara, gods, dragons, yaksas, and kumbhandas should take advantage [of the weak points of the people of the Jambudvipa].”
Chapter 23, The Previous Life of Medicine King Bodhisattva
Lotus Sutra, Murano translation, pp.307Or, alternatively:
“After I pass into extinction, in the last Five Hundred period you must spread it abroad widely throughout Jambudvipa and never allowed to be cut off, nor must you allow evil devils, the devils’ people, heavenly beings, dragons, yakshas or kumbhanda demons to seize the advantage!”
Chapter 23, The Former Deeds of Bodhisattva Medicine King
Lotus Sutra, Watson translationFor what it’s worth.
Namaste, Engyo Mike Barrett
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#2 | Written by Mark Rogow about 8 years ago.“After the Buddha’s extinction,
In the [last] dreadful age,
We will proclaim abroad [this sutra].” — Lotus Sutra Chapter 14 -
#3 | Written by robin about 8 years ago.vistarena samprakashayati 廣宣 {quangxuan / kosen}
विस्तरेन vistarena: widely, extensively, in detail
廣 ko: wide, many, spread, broad, wide, spaciousप्रकाशयति sam-prakashayati: proclaim, illuminate, reveal, manifest, make known.
宣 sen: announce, make public, declarePossibly प्रसृता prasrita 流布 {liubu / rufu} or
स्फरणम्, spharaṇa 流布 {kiubu / rufu}प्रसृता prasrita: stretch, spread out, extend; like a leg or hand.
स्फरणम्, spharaṇa: vibration, trembling, throbbing. pulsating, quivering, throbbing, penetrating流布 {rufu}: literally flow cloth; disseminate, circulate.
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#4 | Written by robin about 8 years ago.
Note that many of these words were originally spoken in a language similar to Pali or Sanskrit; then translated into Chinese. From what I gather, Kumarajiva coined the compound word we pronounce Kosen Rufu, using words from the Lotus Sutra.
The origin of the word Kosen is rather clear — sam-prakashayati: proclaim, illuminate, reveal, manifest, make known. I take it to mean making something public. Prakasha literally means “for to make visible / for to shine.” the prefix Sam- means “together with,: “with,” or “same.”
There are a number of Indic words translated as the words we pronounce “rufu.” I gave the leading suspects. samprakashayati prasrita would mean something like to Announce and Reach out. I like samprakashayati spharaṇa, It would be more like Proclaim and Suffuse the Good Vibes.
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#6 | Written by Patrick about 8 years ago.kosen-rufu
[広宣流布] ( Jpn)Wide propagation, or wide proclamation and propagation. A term from the Lotus Sutra that literally means to declare and spread widely. The “Medicine King” (twenty-third) chapter of the Lotus Sutra reads, “After I [Shakyamuni Buddha] have passed into extinction, in the last five-hundred-year period you must spread it abroad widely (kosen-rufu) throughout Jambudvipa and never allow it to be cut off.” Nichiren (1222-1282), identifying himself as the votary of the Lotus Sutra, made it his lifelong mission to fulfill the above injunction of the Buddha, that is, kosen-rufu. He saw widely propagating his teaching of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, which he identified as the essence of the sutra, as the fulfillment of that mission.
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#7 | Written by clown hidden about 8 years ago.Rosen Rufu? I don’t know the translation but I often heard it said on The Scooby-Doo Show by Scooby. It seemed to mean,”Hey what the hell!” in that context.
Kosen Rufu on the other hand is something like,”Go tell it on the Mountain that the Buddha was never born or died.” -
#8 | Written by Zakri Kneebone about 7 years ago.When I was officially part of the “New Pioneers” of NSA, there was this objecivity of kosen rufu that was explained to me. Kosen rufu is a philosophy that positive, Buddhist inner peace was addictive. In essence, by finding one’s inner-peace and then finding others, the sixth sense of others in the same room would pick up this inner peace and be receptive to instruction toward attainment. IMO, Kosen rufu is a valid argument assuming some innate magnetism toward goodness in general.
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#9 | Written by Simon Bramley about 4 years ago.Interesting ! The words “kosen rufu” do not appear in the Lotus Sutra - they certainly do not appear in the Burton Watson translation.
The words “spread it abroad widely ” do appear but they refer to spreading the 23rd Chapter, here is what it says:
“For this reason, Constellation King Flower, I entrust this chapter on the Former Affairs of the Bodhisattva Medicine King to you. After I have passed into extinction, in the last five-hundred-year period you must spread it abroad widely throughout Jambudvipa and never allow it to be cut off, nor must you allow evil devils, the devils’ people, heavenly beings, dragons, yakshas, kumbhanda demons, or others to seize the advantage!”
http://www.nichirenlibrary.org/en/lsoc/Content/23#para-43
This chapter talks a lot about making offerings to Buddha by burning your own body.
Can anybody clarify the etymology? -
#10 | Written by Simon Bramley about 4 years ago.
Interesting ! The words “kosen rufu” do not appear in the Lotus Sutra - they certainly do not appear in the Burton Watson translation.
The words “spread it abroad widely ” do appear but they refer to spreading the 23rd Chapter, here is what it says:
“For this reason, Constellation King Flower, I entrust this chapter on the Former Affairs of the Bodhisattva Medicine King to you. After I have passed into extinction, in the last five-hundred-year period you must spread it abroad widely throughout Jambudvipa and never allow it to be cut off, nor must you allow evil devils, the devils’ people, heavenly beings, dragons, yakshas, kumbhanda demons, or others to seize the advantage!”
http://www.nichirenlibrary.org/en/lsoc/Content/23#para-43
This chapter talks a lot about making offerings to Buddha Sun Moon Pure Bright Virtueby burning your own body.
Can anybody clarify the etymology?