Dogen's Manuals of Zen Meditation

Documents 2 : A—E. "Principles of Seated Meditation": A Comparative Translation of Dōgen's Meditation Manuals

Documents 2 :A—E "Principles of Seated Meditation": A ComparativeTranslation of Dogen's MeditationManuals This table compares (B) the Tenpuku version of the Fukan z.az,en gi (FKZZG [i]) with the following: A. CYCK: Tsung-tse's Ch'an-yiian ch'ing-kuei Tso-ch'an i C. FKZZG (2): Koroku Fukan z.az.en gi D. SBGZ: Shobogenz.oz.az.engi E. BDH: Bendoho, "zazen ho" section For convenience of comparison, the following conventions have been used: Boldface: a. in CYCK, passages common to FKZZG (i) b. in other texts, passages common to CYCK Italics: a. in FKZZG, passages not common to ( i ) and (2) b. in other texts, passages not common to FKZZG Fukan z.az.en gi (2) has been translated into English several times; for a good example, see Waddell and Abe, "Dogen's Fukanzazengi and Shobo genzo zazengi," which, as its title indicates, also includes a translation of Document D. Fukan z.az.engi ( i ) has been rendered into German by Heinrich Dumoulin, in "Allgemeine Lehren zur Forderung des Zazen von ZenMeister Dogen," Monumenta Nipftonica 14 (1958): 429-36. For English versions of the Bendo ho, see Yokoi Yuho, Regulations for Monastic Life by Eihei Dogen: Eihei-genzenji-shingi (1973), 27-39; Jiyu Kennett, %en Is Eternal Life (1976), 112-23. My translation of Document A has appeared as an appendix to my "Ch'ang-lu Tsung-tse's Tso-ch'an i and the 'Secret' of Zen Meditation." Principles of Seated Meditation 775 CYCK The Bodhisattva who studies prajna should first arouse the thought of great compassion, make the extensivevows, and then carefully cultivatesamadhi. Vowing to save sentient beings, he should not seek liberation for himself alone. FKZZG ( l ) Fundamentally speaking, the basis of the way is perfectly pervasive; how could it be contingent on practice and verification? The vehicle of the ancestors is naturally unrestricted; why should we expend sustained effort? Surely the whole being is far beyond defilement; who could believe in a method to polish it? Never is it apart from this very place; what is the use of a pilgrimage to practice it? And yet, ifa hair's breadth ofdistinction exists, the gap is like that between heaven and earth; once the slightest like or dislike arises, all is confused and the mind is lost. Youshould know that repeated migrations through eons of time depend on a single moment's reflection; losing the way in this world of defilement derivesfrom thefailure to stop deliberation. If you wish to transcend to the extreme beyond, just directly accede [to the way]. FKZZG (2) Fundamentally speaking, the basis of the way is perfectly pervasive; how could it be contingent on practice and verification?The vehicle of the ancestors is naturally unrestricted; why should we expend sustained effort? Surely the whole being is far beyond defilement;who could believe in a method to polish it? Never is it apart from this very place; what is the use of a pilgrimage to practice it? And yet, if a hair's breadth of distinction exists, the gap islike that between heaven and earth; once the slightest like or dislike arises, all is confused and the mind is lost. ij6 Documents FKZZG ( l ) Though you are proud of your understanding and replete with insight, getting hold of the wisdom that knows at a glance, though you attain the way and clarify the mind, giving rise to the spirit that assaults the heavens, you may have gained the precincts of the entrance and still be missing the path of liberation. Even in the case of that old one, Sakyamuni, innately wis though he was, there remains the mark of his six years sitting erect; even the great master Bodhidharma, though he succeeded to the mind seal, left the trace of his nine years facing the wall. When even the ancient sages were like this, how could men today dispense with pursuing [the way]? Therefore, reverse the intellectual practice of investigating words and chasing after talk; take the backward step of turning the light and shining it back. Of themselves body and mind will drop away, and your original face will appear. If you want such [a state], urgently work at z.az.en. FKZZG (2) Though you are proud of your understanding and replete with insight, getting hold of the wisdom that knows at a glance, though you attain the way and clarify the mind...