一いち河がの流ながれを汲くむも他た生しょうの縁えん

expression

even chance encounters are fated; today's events are shaped by past lives

A Buddhist-influenced proverb expressing that even the smallest interactions or coincidences are not random but result from karmic connections formed in previous lives. Often used to reflect on the mysterious nature of human relationships.

See also: 一樹の陰一河の流れも他生の縁 (いちじゅのかげいちがのながれもたしょうのえん)

• 旅たび先さきで偶ぐう然ぜん再さい会かいしたのも、一いち河がの流ながれを汲くむも他た生しょうの縁えんというものだろう。

  Meeting again by chance on a trip must be what they mean by 'even drawing water from the same river is a bond from a former life.'