Great Vow Zen Monastery

Chants and Sutras

© 2005 Great Vow Zen Monastery P.O. Box 368 www.greatvow.org Clatskanie, OR 97016

Contents Verse of the Kesa ...... 3 Gatha of Atonement ...... 3 Ti Sarana...... 3 Three Refuges ...... 4 Heart of Great Perfect Wisdom Sutra ...... 5 Maka Hannya Haramitta Shingyo...... 7 Identity Of Relative And Absolute...... 9 Precious Mirror Samadhi...... 11 Shari Raimon...... 13 Verse of Homage to Buddha’s Relics...... 13 Universal Dedication...... 14 Gatha on Opening the Sutra ...... 14 Patriarchal Lineage ...... 15 Matriarchal Lineage...... 20 Enmei Juku Kannon Gyo...... 23 Kanzeon Sutra...... 23 Chant of Boundless Compassion ...... 24 Shosai Myokichijo Dharani ...... 24 Jizo Shingon Dharani...... 24 Affirming Faith in Mind...... 25 Genjo Koan—The Way of Everyday Life...... 31 Song of the Grass Hut...... 40 Lovingkindness (Metta) Sutra ...... 42 Four Great Bodhisattva Vows...... 45 Shigu seign mon (Four Vows in Japanese) ...... 45 The Five Remembrances...... 45 Sharing of Blessings...... 46 Suffusion with the Divine Abidings...... 48 Song of Zazen ...... 50 Vow for Awakening...... 52 Dai Hi Shin Dharani ...... 54 Torei Zenji's Bodhisattva Vow...... 56 Fukanzazengi...... 58 Verse of the Diamond Sutra ...... 63 Night Chant ...... 63

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Verse of the Kesa (Japanese) Three Refuges (in Pali) Dai sai gedap-puku Buddham saranam ga chami muso fuku den e (I take refuge in the Buddha) hi bu nyorai kyo Dhammam saranam ga chami ko do shoshu jo (note: “Dhammam,” not “Dharma”) Verse of the Kesa (I take refuge in the dharma) Sangham saranam ga chami How great the robe of liberation, (I take refuge in the sangha) a formless field of benefaction!

Wrapping ourselves in Buddha's teaching, Duti yampi, Buddham saranam ga chami we free all living beings. (For the second time I take refuge in the Buddha) Gatha of Atonement Duti yampi, Dhammam saranam ga chami (Sange mon) (For the second time I take refuge in the sangha) All evil karma ever committed by me Duti yampi, Sangham saranam ga chami since of old, (For the second time I take refuge in the dharma) on account of my beginningless greed, anger and ignorance, Tati yampi, Buddham saranam ga chami (For the third time I take refuge in the Buddha) born of my body, mouth, and thought, Tati yampi, Dhammam saranam ga chami now I atone for it all. (For the third time I take refuge in the dharma) Ti Sarana (in Pali) Tati yampi, sangham saranam ga chami Namo Tassa Bagavato Arahato Samma Sam (For the third time I take refuge in the sangha) Buddhassa (Honor to the Buddha, worthy one, who is perfectly and completely enlightened!)

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Heart of Great Perfect Wisdom Sutra the mind is without hindrance. Without (Maka Hannya Haramitta Shingyo) hindrance, there is no fear. Far beyond all Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, when deeply inverted views, one realizes nirvana. All buddhas practicing prajna paramita, clearly saw that of past, present, and future rely on prajna all five aggregates are empty and thus paramita and thereby attain unsurpassed, relieved all suffering. complete, perfect enlightenment. Shariputra, form does not differ from emptiness, Therefore, know the prajna paramita as the great emptiness does not differ from form. Form itself is miraculous mantra, the great bright mantra, the emptiness, emptiness itself form. Sensations, supreme mantra, the incomparable mantra, which perceptions, formations, and consciousness are removes all suffering and is true, not false. also like this. Therefore we proclaim the prajna paramita Shariputra, all dharmas are marked by emptiness; mantra, the mantra that says: they neither arise nor cease, are neither defiled "Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha." nor pure, neither increase nor decrease. Therefore, given emptiness, there is no form, no sensation, no perception, no formation, no consciousness; no eyes, no ears, no nose, no tongue, no body, no mind; no sight, no sound, no smell, no taste, no touch, no object of mind; no realm of sight ... no realm of mind consciousness. There is neither ignorance nor extinction of ignorance ... neither old age and death, nor extinction of old age and death; no suffering no cause, no cessation, no path; no knowledge and no attainment. With nothing to attain, a bodhisattva relies on prajna paramita, and thus

7 8 Maka Hannya Haramitta Shingyo Identity Of Relative And Absolute (Heart of Perfect Wisdom Sutra—Japanese) (Sandokai) kan ji zai bo satsu gyo jin han nya ha ra by Zen Master Sekito Kisen mi ta ji sho ken go on kai ku do is sai The mind of the great sage of India was intimately ku yaku conveyed from west to east. sha ri shi shiki fu i ku ku fu i shiki shiki soku ze ku ku soku ze shiki ju so gyo Among human beings are wise ones and fools, but shiki yaku bu nyo ze in the way there is no northern or southern sha ri shi ze sho ho ku so fu sho fu ancestor. The subtle source is clear and bright, the metsu fu ku fu jo fu zo fu gen ze ko ku tributary steams flow through the darkness. To be chu mu shiki mu ju so gyo shiki mu gen attached to things is illusion, To encounter the ni bi zes shin ni mu shiki sho ko mi soku absolute is not yet enlightenment. ho mu gen kai nai shi mu i shiki kai Each and all, the subjective and objective spheres mu mu myo yaku mu mu myo jin nai shi are related, and at the same time, independent. mu ro shi yaku mu ro shi jin mu ku shu Related, yet working differently, though each metsu do mu chi yaku mu toku i mu sho tok ko bo dai sat ta e han nya ha ra mi keeps its own place. ta ko shin mu ke ge mu ke ge ko mu u Form makes the character and appearance ku fu on ri is sai ten do mu so ku gyo different, sounds distinguish comfort and ne han san ze sho butsu e han nya ha ra discomfort. The dark makes all words one; the mi ta ko toku a noku ta ra sam myaku brightness distinguishes good and bad phrases. sam bo dai ko chi han nya ha ra mi ta ze dai jin shu The four elements return to their nature as a child ze dai myo shu ze mu jo shu ze mu to to its mother. Fire is hot, wind moves, water is to shu no jo is sai ku shin jitsu fu ko ko wet, earth hard, eyes see, ears hear, nose smells, setsu han nya ha ra mi ta shu soku setsu tongue tastes the salt and sour. Each is shu watsu independent of the other. gya te gya tei ha ra gya tei hara so gya Cause and effect must return to the great reality. tei bo ji sowa ka han nya shin gyo

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The words high and low are used relatively. Precious Mirror Samadhi Within light there is darkness, but do not try to (Hokyo zanmai) understand that darkness; within darkness there by Zen Master Tozan Ryokai is light, but do not look for that light. Light and The dharma of thusness is intimately transmitted darkness are a pair, like the foot before and the by Buddhas and ancestors. Now you have it; foot behind, in walking. preserve it well. Each thing has its own intrinsic value and is A silver bowl filled with snow, a heron hidden in related to everything else in function and position. the moon. Taken as similar, they are not the Ordinary life fits the absolute as a box and its lid. same; not distinguished, their places are known. The absolute works together with the relative like The meaning does not reside in the words, but a two arrows meeting in mid-air. pivotal moment brings it forth. Reading words you should grasp the great reality. Move and you are trapped, miss and you fall into Do not judge by any standards. If you do not see doubt and vacillation. Turning away and touching the Way, you do not see it even as you walk on it. are both wrong, for it is like massive fire. Just to When you walk the Way it is not near it is not far. portray it in literary form is to stain it with defilement. In darkest night it is perfectly clear; in If you are deluded you are mountains and rivers the light of dawn it is hidden. away from it. I respectfully say to those who wish to be enlightened: Do not waste your time It is a standard for all things; its use removes all by night or day. suffering. Though it is not constructed, it is not beyond words. Facing a precious mirror; form and reflection behold each other. You are not it, but in truth it is you. Like a newborn child, it is fully endowed with five aspects. No going, no coming, no arising, no abiding; a baby babbles is anything said or not?

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In the end it says nothing, for the words are When inverted thinking stops, the affirming mind not yet right. naturally accords. In the illumination hexagram, apparent and real If you want to follow in the ancient tracks, please interact; stacked together they become three, the observe the sages of the past. permutations make five, like the taste of the five One on the verge of realizing the buddha Way flavored herb, like the five pronged vajra. contemplated a tree for ten long kalpas, like a Wondrously embraced within the real, drumming battle-scarred tiger, like a horse with shanks gone and singing begin together. Penetrate the source grey. Because some are vulgar, jeweled tables and travel the pathways; embrace the territory and ornate robes; because some are wide-eyed, and treasure the roads. You would do well to cats and white oxen. respect this; do not neglect it. With a great archer's skill one can hit the mark at Natural and wondrous, it is not a matter of a hundred yards, but arrows meeting head on, how delusion or enlightenment. Within causes and could it be a matter of skill? conditions, time and season, it is serene and Wooden man starts to sing; Stone woman gets up illuminating. So minute it enters where there is no dancing. It is not reached by feelings or gap, so vast it transcends all dimension. Just a consciousness, how could it involve deliberation? hair's breadth's deviation, and you are out of tune. Ministers serve their lords, children obey their Now there are sudden and gradual, so teachings parents; Not obeying is not filial, failure and approaches arise. With these matters to serve is no help. distinguished, each has its standard. Mastered or With practice hidden, function secretly, like a not, reality constantly flows. fool, like an idiot; Just to do this continuously is Outside still and inside trembling, like tethered called the host within the host. colts or cowering rats, The ancient sages grieved for them, and offered them the dharma. Led by their inverted views, they take black for white.

13 14 Shari Raimon Universal Dedication Is-shin cho rai man toku en man sha ka All Buddhas throughout space and time, nyo rai shin jin sha ri hon ji hos-shin All Honored ones, Bodhisattvas, Mahasattvas, hok-kai to ba ga to rai kyo i ga gen shin Wisdom beyond wisdom, nyu ga ga nyu butsu ga ji ko ga sho bo Maha Prajna Paramita. dai i butsu jin riki ri yaku shu jo hotsu bo dai shin shu bo satsu gyo do nyu en Universal Dedication (Japanese) jaku byo do dai chi kon jo cho rai ji ho san shi i shi fu shi son bu sa mo ko sa Verse of Homage to Buddha’s Relics mo ko ho ja ho ro mi With wholehearted reverence we bow to the Gatha on Opening the Sutra relics of the true body of the Tathagata Shakyamuni, who is fully endowed with myriad (Kaikyo ge) virtues; to the dharma body which is the The dharma, incomparably profound and infinitely fundamental ground; and to his stupa, which is the subtle, is rarely encountered, even in hundreds of whole universe. With deep respect we venerate thousands of millions of ages. As we see it, hear the one who manifested a body for our sake. it, receive and maintain it, may we completely Through the sustaining power of the Buddha, realize the Tathagata’s true meaning. which enters us even as we enter it, we verify awakening. By means of the Buddha’s spiritual power, we benefit living beings, arouse the thought of awakening, cultivate bodhisattva practice, and together enter perfect peace, the knowledge of the equality of all things. Now let us reverently bow.

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Patriarchal Lineage Great Teacher Rahulata Of Chozen Roshi Great Teacher Sanghanandi Great Teacher Gayashata (Names of the Past 7 Buddhas) Great Teacher Kumarata Vipashyin Buddha Daiosho Great Teacher Hayata Shikhin Buddha Daiosho Great Teacher Vasubandhu Vishvabhu Buddha Daiosho Great Teacher Manorhita Krakucchanda Buddha Daiosho Great Teacher Haklenayashas Kanakamuni Buddha Daiosho Great Teacher Arya Simha Kashyapa Buddha Daiosho Great Teacher Basiasita Shakyamuni Buddha Daiosho Great Teacher Punyamitra (Indian Ancestors) Great Teacher Prajnatara Great Teacher Mahakashyapa Great Teacher Bodhidharma

Great Teacher Ananda (Chinese Ancestors) Great Teacher Shanavasa Great Teacher Tai·dzoo Hway·ko Great Teacher Upagupta (T'ai·tsu Hui·k'o) Great Teacher Dhritaka Great Teacher Jyen·jrh Song·tsan Great Teacher Micchaka (Chien·chih Seng·ts'an) Great Teacher Vasumitra Great Teacher Dah·yee Dau·syin Great Teacher Buddhanandi (Ta·i Tao·hsin) Great Teacher Buddhamitra Great Teacher Dah·mahn Hoong·ren Great Teacher Parshva (Ta·man Hung·jen) Great Teacher Punyayashas Great Teacher Dah·jyen Hway·neg Great Teacher Ashvaghosha (Ta·chien Hui·neng) Great Teacher Kapimala Great Teacher Ching·yuen Sying·sih Great Teacher Nagarjuna (Ching·yüan Hsing·ssu) Great Teacher Kanadeva

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Great Teacher Shr·toe Syi·chien Great Teacher Tyen·toong Dzoong·jueh (Shih·t'ou Hsi·ch'ien) (T'ien·t'ung Tsung·chueh) Great Teacher Yueh·shan Lyang·jyeh Great Teacher Shueh·doe Jrh·jyen (Yao·shan Liang·chieh) (Hsüeh·tou Chih·chien) Great Teacher Yoon·yen Tahn·sheng Great Teacher Tyen·toong Roo·jing (Yün·en T'an·sheng) (T'ien t'ung Ju·ching)

· · Great Teacher Doong shan Lyang jyeh (Japanese Ancestors) (Tung·shan Liang·chieh) Great Teacher Eihei Do̅gen Great Teacher Yoon·joo Dow·ying Great Teacher Kou̅ n Ejo̅ (Yün·chü Tao·ying) Great Teacher Tetsu Gikai Great Teacher Toong·ahn Dow·Pe Great Teacher Keizan Jo̅kin (T'ung·an Tao·p'i) Great Teacher Gasan Jos̅ eki Great Teacher Toong·ahn Gwon·jrh Great Teacher Taigen Sos̅ hin (T'ung·an Kuan·chih) Great Teacher Baizan Monpon Great Teacher Lyang·shan Yuen·gwan Great Teacher Nyochu̅ Tengin (Liang·shan Yüan·kuan) Great Teacher Kisan Shos̅ an Great Teacher Dah·yahng Jing·shwen Great Teacher Morin Shihan (Ta·yang Ching·hsüan) Great Teacher Taishi So̅tai Great Teacher Toe·dz Yee·ching Great Teacher Daiju So̅ko̅ (T'ou·tzu I·ch'ing) Great Teacher Kinpo̅ Jusen Great Teacher Fu·roong Dow·kai Great Teacher Tetsuei Seiton (Fu·jung Tao·k'ai) Great Teacher Shu̅koku Cho̅ton Great Teacher Dhan·shah Dz·chun Great Teacher Ketsuzan Tetsuei (Tan·hsia Tzu·ch'un) Great Teacher Hos̅ hi Soo̅ n Great Teacher Jen·syeh Ching·lyiao Great Teacher Goho̅ Dainon (Chen·hsieh Ch'ing·liao) Great Teacher Tenkei Denson Great Teacher Zo̅zan Monko̅

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Great Teacher Niken Sekiryo Matriarchal Lineage Great Teacher Reitan Roruo Prajna Paramita Dai·osho̅ Great Teacher Kakujo̅ Tos̅ ai Maha Ma̅ya̅ Dai·osho̅ Great Teacher Kakuan Ryo̅gu Ratna·̅ vati Dai·osho̅ Great Teacher Ryo̅ka Daibai Shri·̅̅ ma̅la̅ Dai·osho̅ Great Teacher Ungan Guhaku Na̅ga Deva Dai·osho̅ Great Teacher Baian Hakujun Pra·̅ bhu̅ta̅ Dai·osho̅ Great Teacher Koun Taizan (Indian Ancestors) Great Teacher Maha Paja̅̅·pati̅ Great Teacher Khe·̅ ma̅ Great Teacher Punnika Great Teacher Pata̅·chara Great Teacher Bhad·da Great Teacher Dhamma·dinna̅ Great Teacher Su·mana̅ Great Teacher Kisa·go·tami Great Teacher Su·bha̅ Great Teacher Dhamma̅ Great Teacher Suk·ka̅ Great Teacher Up·pala·vanna̅ (Chinese Ancestors) Great Teacher Dzung Chr (Zongchi) Great Teacher Shr·ji (Shiji) Great Teacher Ling Sying·po ̅ (Ling Xingpo)

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Great Teacher Ling·jau Great Teacher Sho·̅ gaku (Lingzhao) Great Teacher Egi Great Teacher Lyou Tye·mo Great Teacher Mugai Nyo·dai (Liu Tiemo) Great Teacher Kaku·zan Shido̅ Great Teacher Mo·shan Lyau·ran Great Teacher E·kan Dai·shi (Moshan Liaoran) Great Teacher Myo̅ sho̅ En kan Great Teacher Myau·syin Great Teacher Kon·to̅ Ekyu̅ (Miaoxin) Great Teacher Moku·fu So·nin Great Teacher Hwei·gwang Great Teacher Sho·̅ taku (Huiguang) Great Teacher Yo·̅ do̅ Great Teacher Hwei·wen Great Teacher E·shun (Huiwen) Great Teacher Dai·tsu Bun·chi Great Teacher Fadeng Great Teacher Ryo·̅ nen Genso ̅ (Fadeng) Great Teacher Tei·jitsu ̅ Great Teacher Gung·shr Dau·ren Great Teacher Ohashi ̅ (Kongshi Daoren) Great Teacher Ten·myo̅ Jor·̅ in Great Teacher Wen·jau Great Teacher Naga·sawa So·zen (Wenzhao) Great Teacher Ken·do̅ Koji·ma Great Teacher Yu Dau·po Great Teacher Yo·̅ shida E·shun (Yu Daopo) (Western ancestors) Great Teacher Myau·dau Great Teacher E·ryu Jo·kei (Miaodao) (Ruth Fuller Sasaki) (Japanese Ancestors) Great Teacher Myo·on Great Teacher Zen·shin (Maurine Stuart) Great Teacher Ko·̅ myo̅ Great Teacher Ges·shin Myo·ko Great Teacher Sei·shi (Prabhasa Dharma Cheney) Great Teacher Ryo·̅ nen Great Teacher Ho·un Jiyu (Jiyu Kennett)

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Enmei Juku Kannon Gyo (Japanese) Chant of Boundless Compassion Kanzeon! Absorbing world sounds awakens na mu Butsu a buddha right here! yo Butsu u in This buddha the source of compassion! yo Butsu u en This buddha receives only compassion! bup po so en Buddha, dharma, sangha—just compassion. jo raku ga jo Thus the pure heart always rejoices! cho nen Kanzeon! In the light recall this! bo nen Kanzeon! In the dark recall this! nen nen ju shin ki Moment after moment the true heart arises. nen nen fu ri shin! Time after time there is nothing but THIS! Kanzeon Sutra Shosai Myokichijo Dharani Kanzeon! (Dharani for averting disasters) One with the Buddha No mo san man da moto nan oha ra chi Directly Buddha koto sha sono nan to ji to en gya gya Indirectly Buddha gya ki gya ki un nun shiu ra shiu ra One with Buddha, dharma, sangha hara shiu ra hara shiu ra chishu sa chishu Joyful, pure, eternal, being! sa chishu ri chishu ri sowa ja sowa ja sen Morning mind, Kanzeon! chi gya shiri ei somo ko. Evening mind, Kanzeon! Jizo Shingon (Japanese) Mind of this very moment, Kanzeon! om ka ka kabi san ma e sowa ka Never let it go! Jizo Dharani (Sanskrit) om ha ha ha vis ma e svaha

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Affirming Faith in Mind And not to know this unity lets conflict lead you (Hsin Hsin Ming) far astray. by Zen Master Kanchi Sosan When you assert that things are real you miss Note: Indented sections are dropped half a tone. their true reality. But to assert that things are void also misses The Great Way is not difficult for those who do reality. not pick and choose. The more you talk and think on this the further When preferences are cast aside the Way from the truth you'll be. stands clear and undisguised. Cut off all useless thoughts and words and there's But even slight distinctions made set earth and nowhere you cannot go. heaven far apart. Returning to the root itself, you'll find the If you would clearly see the truth, discard meaning of all things. opinions pro and con. If you pursue appearances you overlook the To founder in dislike and like is nothing but the primal source. mind's disease. Awakening is to go beyond both emptiness as And not to see the Way's deep truth disturbs well as form. the mind's essential peace. All changes in this empty world seem real The Way is perfect like vast space, where there's because of ignorance. no lack and no excess. Do not go searching for the truth, just let those Our choice to choose and to reject prevents fond opinions go. our seeing this simple truth. Abide not in duality, refrain from all pursuit of it. Both striving for the outer world as well as for the If there's a trace of right and wrong, True-mind inner void condemn us to entangled lives. is lost, confused, distraught. Just calmly see that all is One and by From One-mind comes duality, but cling not even themselves false views will go. to this One. Attempts to stop activity will fill you with activity When this One-mind rests undisturbed then Remaining in duality, you'll never know nothing in the world offends. of unity.

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And when no thing can give offense, then all This heavy burden weighs you down—so why obstructions cease to be. keep judging good and bad? If all thought-objects disappear the thinking If you would walk the highest Way, do not subject drops away. reject the sense domain. For things are things because of mind, as mind is For as it is, whole and complete, this sense world mind because of things. is enlightenment. These two are merely relative and both at The wise do not strive after goals, but fools source are Emptiness. themselves in bondage put. In Emptiness these are not two, yet in each are The One Way knows no differences, the foolish contained all forms. cling to this and that. Once coarse and fine are seen no more, then To seek Great Mind with thinking mind is how can there be taking sides? certainly a grave mistake. The Great Way is without limit, beyond the easy From small mind come rest and unrest, but mind and the hard. awakened transcends both. But those who hold to narrow views are Delusion spawns dualities—these dreams are fearful and irresolute; their frantic haste just merely flowers of air—why work so hard at slows them down. grasping them? If you're attached to anything, you surely will Both gain and loss, and right and wrong—once go far astray. and for all get rid of them. Just let go now of clinging mind, and all When you no longer are asleep, all dreams things are just as they are. In essence nothing will vanish by themselves. goes or stays. If mind does not discriminate, all things are as See into the true self of things, and you're in step they are, as One. with the Great Way, thus walking freely, To go to this mysterious Source frees us from undisturbed. all entanglements. But live in bondage to your thoughts, and you When all is seen with "equal mind," to our Self- will be confused, unclear. nature we return.

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This single mind goes right beyond all reasons The Way's beyond all space, all time, one instant and comparison. is ten thousand years. Seek movement and there's no-movement, seek Not only here, not only there, truth's right rest and no-rest comes instead. before your very eyes. When rest and no-rest cease to be, then even Distinctions such as large and small have oneness disappears. relevance for you no more. This ultimate finality's beyond all laws, can't The largest is the smallest too—here be described. limitations have no place. With single mind one with the Way, all ego- What is—is not, what is not—is. If this is not yet centered strivings cease; clear to you, you're still far from the inner truth. Doubts and confusion disappear, and so true faith One thing is all, all things are one—know this pervades our life. and all's whole and complete. There is no thing that clings to us, and nothing When faith and Mind are not separate, and not that is left behind. separate are Mind and faith, this is beyond all All's self-revealing, void and clear, without words, all thought exerting power of mind. For here there is no yesterday, no tomorrow, Thought cannot reach this state of truth, here no today. feelings are of no avail. In this true world of Emptiness both self and other are no more. To enter this true empty world, immediately affirm "not-two." In this "not-two" all is the same, with nothing separate or outside. The wise in all times and places awaken to this primal truth.

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Genjo Koan—The Way of Everyday Life Further, there are those who attain by Zen Master Eihei Dogen enlightenment above enlightenment; (Part 1) there are those who are deluded within delusion. When all dharmas are Buddha-Dharma there are enlightenment and delusion, When Buddhas are truly Buddhas, practice, life and death, one need not be aware of being buddha. buddhas and creatures However, one is the realized buddha and further advances in realizing buddha. When the ten thousand dharmas are without self Seeing forms with the whole body-and-mind, there are no delusion, no enlightenment, hearing sounds with the whole body-and-mind, no buddhas, no creatures, no life and death. one understands them intimately.

The Buddha way transcends Yet it is not like a mirror with reflections nor like being and not being, water under the moon— therefore there are life and death When one side is realized, the other side is dark.

delusion and enlightenment, (Officiant alone) buddhas and creatures. To study the Buddha way is to study the self. Nevertheless, To study the self is to forget the self. flowers fall with our attachment, To forget the self is to be enlightened by the ten and weeds spring up thousand dharmas. with our aversion. To be enlightened by the ten thousand dharmas is To carry the self forward and realize the ten to free one’s body and mind thousand dharmas is delusion. and the body and mind of others. That the ten thousand dharmas advance No trace of enlightenment remains, and this and realize the self is enlightenment. traceless enlightenment continues forever.

It is Buddhas who enlighten delusion. When one first seeks the truth It is creatures who are deluded in enlightenment. one separates one self far from its environs.

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When one has already correctly transmitted Just as firewood does not become firewood again the truth to oneself, after it is ash, so after one’s death one does not

one is one’s original face at that moment. return to life again.

When riding on a boat Thus, that life does not come before death if one watches the shore is a confirmed teaching of the Buddha-Dharma. one may assume the shore is moving. For this reason life is called the non-born. But watching the boat directly, That death does not become life is a confirmed

one knows that it is the boat that moves. teaching of the Buddha-Dharma.

If one examines the ten thousand dharmas Therefore, death is called the non- extinguished. with a deluded body and mind, one will suppose that one’s mind and nature Life is a period of itself.

are permanent. Death is a period of itself.

But if one practices intimately For example, they are like winter and spring. and returns to the true self, We do not think that winter becomes spring, Nor do we say that spring becomes summer. it will be clear that the ten thousand dharmas are without self. Gaining enlightenment is like the moon reflecting

(Officiant) in the water. Firewood turns into ash and does not turn into The moon does not get wet nor is the water disturbed. firewood again. But do not suppose that the ash is after and the firewood is before. Although its light is extensive and great, The We must realize that the firewood is in the state moon is reflected even in a puddle an inch across. of being firewood and has its before and after. The whole moon and the whole sky

Yet having this before and after it is independent are reflected in a dew drop in the grass, in one drop of water. of them. Ash is in the state of being ash and has its before and after. Enlightenment does not disturb the person just as the moon does not disturb the water.

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A person does not hinder enlightenment Although ordinary life and enlightened life Just as a dew drop does not hinder the moon assume many aspects, in the sky. we only recognize and understand through

The depth of the drop is the height of the moon. practice what the penetrating power of our vision can reach. As for the duration of the reflection You should examine the water’s vastness In order to appreciate the ten thousand dharmas, or smallness, we should know that although they may look And you should discern the brightness or round and square, dimness of the heavenly moon. the other qualities of oceans and mountains are

infinite in variety. Genjo Koan Part 2 (Officiant) Furthermore, other universes lie in all quarters. When the truth does not fill our body and mind It is so not only with ourselves but also right We think that we have enough. here, and in a single drop of water.

When the truth fills our body and mind When a fish swims in the ocean there is no end We realize that something is missing. to the water

For example when we view the four directions no matter how far it swims. from a boat on the ocean where no land is in sight, When a bird flies in the sky there is no end to the air we only see a circle and nothing else. No other aspects are apparent. no matter how far it flies.

It is like a palace, it is like a jewel. However, no fish or bird has ever left its element It just seems circular as far as the eye can since the beginning. reach at the time. When the need is great, the function is great.

The ten thousand dharmas are like this. When the need is small, the function is small.

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Thus, no creature ever comes short of its way, when one realizes one dharma, one own fullness. penetrates one dharma.

Wherever it is, it functions freely. When one encounters one activity, one If a bird leaves the air, it will die at once. practices one activity. Because the Place is right here and the Way leads If a fish leaves the water, it will die at once. everywhere, Know, then, that water is life. Know that air is the reason the limits of what can be known, life. cannot be known,

Life is the bird and life is the fish. Is that this knowing and the total penetration of

Beyond these there are further implications. the Buddha Dharma

arise together and practice together. It is the same with practice and enlightenment, mortality and immortality. Attaining this place, do not think that it becomes

one’s own knowledge or one’s own conception. However if a bird or a fish tries to move after reaching the limit of the sky or water, Even though this penetrating realization

this bird or this fish will not find a path or manifests at once, the most intimate nature is place. not easily understood. Some may realize it and some may not. Attaining this Place, one’s daily life manifests the Priest Pao-Ch’e of Ma-Ku Shan was fanning himself. ultimate reality, Attaining this Way, one’s daily life manifests the A monk approached and asked, "The nature of ultimate reality, wind is eternal, and there is no place it does not

reach. Why, then, must you still fan yourself? " This Place and this Way are neither large nor small, neither self nor other "Although you understand the nature of wind is They neither existed before nor are arising just eternal, you do not understand that “there is no now. They are just as they are. place it does not reach.”

Thus if one practices and realizes the Buddha "How does it reach everywhere?"

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The master just fanned himself. The monk bowed Song Of The Grass Hut with deep respect. (Japanese-Soanka) This is the enlightened experience of Buddha- by Zen Master Sekito Kisen dharma and the vital way of its correct transmission. I've built a grass hut where there's nothing

of value. Those who say we should not use a fan because After eating, I relax and enjoy a nap. the wind is eternal, and so we should know the existence of wind without using a fan, When it was completed, fresh weeds appeared.

Now it's been lived in—covered by weeds. know neither the eternal nor the nature of wind. The person in the hut lives here calmly,

not stuck to inside, outside, or in-between. Because the nature of wind is eternally present, the wind of Buddhism actualizes the gold of the Places worldly people live, he doesn't live. earth Realms worldly people love, he doesn't love.

and turns the long river into sweet cream. Though the hut is small, it includes the entire world. In ten feet square, an old man illumines forms and their nature.

A Mahayana bodhisattva trusts without doubt. The middling or lowly can't help wondering;

Will this hut perish or not? Perishable or not, the original master is present,

Not dwelling south or north, east or west. Firmly based on steadiness, it can't be surpassed.

A shining window below the green pines— jade palaces or vermilion towers can't compare with it.

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Just sitting with head covered all things Lovingkindness (Metta) Sutra are at rest. Thus, this mountain monk doesn't understand This is what should be done at all. by one who is skilled in goodness, Living here he no longer works to get free. Who would proudly arrange seats, trying and who knows the path of peace: to entice guests? Let them be able and upright, Turn around the light to shine within, then just return. straightforward and gentle in speech, The vast inconceivable source can't be faced or humble and not conceited, turned away from.

Meet the ancestral teachers, be familiar contented and easily satisfied, with their instructions, unburdened with duties and frugal in their ways, bind grasses to build a hut, and don't give up.

Let go of hundreds of years and relax completely. peaceful and calm, and wise and skillful, Open your hands and walk, innocent. not proud and demanding in nature.

Thousands of words, myriad interpretations, Let them not do the slightest thing are only to free you from obstructions.

that the wise would later reprove. If you want to know the undying person in the hut, don't separate from this skin bag here and now. Wishing: In gladness and in safety,

may all beings be at ease.

Whatever living beings there may be,

43 44 whether they are weak or strong, omitting none: and downwards to the depths, the great or the mighty, medium, short or small; outwards and unbounded, the seen and the unseen; freed from hatred and ill-will. those living near and far away, Whether standing or walking, seated those born and to-be-born— or lying down, may all beings be at ease! free from drowsiness,

Let none deceive another, one should sustain this recollection. or despise any being in any state; This is said to be the sublime abiding: let none through anger or ill-will By not holding to fixed views, wish harm upon another. the pure-hearted one, having clarity of vision,

Even as a mother protects with her life being freed from all sense desires, her child, her only child, is not born again into this world. so with a boundless heart should one cherish all living beings; radiating kindness over the entire world, spreading upwards to the skies

45 46 Four Great Bodhisattva Vows Sharing of Blessings Beings are numberless; I vow to free them. Delusions are inexhaustible; I vow to end them. Through the goodness that arises from Dharma gates are boundless; I vow to enter them. my practice, The Buddha way is unsurpassable; I vow to embody it. May my spiritual teachers and guides of

Shigu seign mon (Four Vows in Japanese) great virtue, shujo muhen sei gan do bon-no mujin sei gan dan My mother, my father and my relatives, ho mon muryo sei gan gaku butsu do mujo sei gan jo The sun and the moon, The Five Remembrances And all virtuous leaders of the world I am of the nature to grow old; May the highest gods and evil forces; there is no way to escape growing old.

I am of the nature to have ill health; Celestial beings, guardian spirits of the Earth there is no way to escape having ill health. And the lord of death; I am of the nature to die; there is no way to escape death. May those who are friendly, indifferent or hostile;

All that is dear to me and everyone I love are of May all beings receive the blessings of my life. the nature of change; there is no escape from being separated from them. May they soon attain the threefold bliss

My deeds are my closest companions; I am the And realize the Deathless. beneficiary of my deeds. My deeds are the ground on which I stand. Through the goodness that arises from

my practice,

47 48 Suffusion with the Divine Abidings And through this act of sharing, May I abide in well-being May all desires and attachments quickly cease In freedom from affliction And all harmful states of mind. In freedom from hostility Until I realize Nibbana, In freedom from ill-will In every kind of birth, In freedom from anxiety May I have an upright mind And may I maintain well-being in myself. With mindfulness and wisdom, austerity and vigor. May everyone abide in well-being

May the forces of delusion not take hold In freedom from hostility

Nor weaken my resolve. In freedom from ill-will

The Buddha is my excellent refuge, In freedom from anxiety

Unsurpassed is the protection of the Dhamma, And may they maintain well-being in themselves.

The Solitary Buddha is my noble guide, May all beings be released from all suffering The sangha is my supreme support. And may they not be parted from Through the supreme power of all these, The good fortune they have attained.

May darkness and delusion be dispelled.

49 50 Song of Zazen When they act upon intention by Zen Master Hakuin All beings are the owners of their action From the beginning all beings are Buddha, like water and ice; without water no ice. And inherit its results. Outside us no Buddhas. How near the truth, yet how far we seek, Their future is born from such action like one in water crying, "I thirst!" Companion to such action Like the son of a rich man wandering poor on this earth, And its results will be their home. we endlessly circle the six worlds. The cause of our sorrow is ego delusion. All actions, with intention From dark path to dark path we've wandered Be they skillful or harmful; in darkness How can we be free from the wheel of Samsara? Of such acts, they will be the heirs. The gateway to freedom is zazen Samadhi. Beyond exaltation, beyond all our praises the

pure Mahayana. Observing the precepts, repentance and giving, The countless good deeds and the Way of Right Living All come from zazen. Thus one true Samadhi extinguishes evils, It purifies karma, dissolving obstructions. Then where are the dark paths to lead us astray? The pure lotus land is not far away. Hearing this truth, heart humble and grateful. To praise and embrace it, to practice its wisdom

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Brings unending blessings, brings mountains Vow for Awakening of merit. by Zen Master Dai E And if we turn inward and prove our True Nature Our deepest prayer is to be firm in our That True Self is no-self, Our own self is no-self determination to give ourselves completely to the We go beyond ego and past clever words. Buddha's Way, so that no doubts arise however Then the gate to the oneness of cause-and-effect long the road seems to be; to be light and easy in is thrown open. the four parts of the body; to be strong and Not two and not three, straight ahead undismayed in body and in mind; to be free from runs the Way. illness and drive out both depressed feelings and Our form now being no-form, distractions; to be free from calamity, misfortune, In going and returning we never leave home. harmful influences and obstructions; not to seek Our thought now being no-thought, the Truth outside of ourselves, so we may instantly Our dancing and songs are the Voice enter the right way; to be unattached to all of the Dharma. thoughts that we may reach the perfectly clear How vast is the heaven of boundless Samadhi! bright mind of prajna and have immediate How bright and transparent the moonlight enlightenment on the Great Matter. of wisdom! Thereby we receive the transmission of the deep What is there outside us? wisdom of the Buddhas to save all sentient beings What is there we lack? who suffer in the round of birth and death. In this Nirvana is openly shown to our eyes. way we offer our gratitude for the compassion of This earth where we stand is the pure lotus land the Buddhas and the ancestors. And this very body the body of Buddha. Our further prayer is not to be extremely ill or to be suffering at the time of departure, to know its coming seven days ahead so that we can quiet the mind to abandon the body and be unattached to all things at the last moment wherein we return

53 54 to the Original Mind of no birth and no death and Dai Hi Shin Dharani merge infinitely into the whole universe to (Dharani Of The Great Compassionate One) manifest as all things in their True Nature and namu kara tan no tora ya ya namu ori with the great wisdom of the Buddhas to awaken ya boryo ki chi shifu ra ya fuji sato bo all beings to the Buddha Mind. ya moko sato bo ya mo ko kya runi kya We offer this to all Buddhas and Bodhisattva- ya en sa hara ha e shu tan no ton sha Mahasattvas of the past, present and future in the namu shiki ri toi mo ori ya boryo ki chi ten quarters and to the Maha Prajna Paramita. shifu ra rin to bo na mu no ra kin ji ki ri mo ko ho do sha mi sa bo o to jo shu ben o shu in sa bo sa to no mo bo gya mo ha te cho to ji to en o bo ryo ki ru gya chi kya ra chi i kiri mo ko fuji sa to sa bo sa bo mo ra mo ra mo ki mo ki ri to in ku ryo ku ryo ke mo to ryo to ryo ho ja ya chi mo ko ho ja ya chi to ra to ra chiri ni shifu ra ya sha ro sha ro mo mo ha mo ra ho chi ri i ki i ki shi no shi no ora san fura sha ri ha za ha zan fura sha ya ku ryo ku ryo mo ra ku ryo ku ryo ki ri sha ro sha ro shi ri shi ri su ryo su ryo fuji ya fuji ya fudo ya fudo ya mi chiri ya nora kin ji chiri shuni no hoya mono somo ko shido ya somo ko moko shido ya somo ko shido yu ki shifu ra ya somo ko nora kin ji somo ko mo ra no ra somo ko shira su omo gya ya somo ko sobo moko shido ya somo ko shaki ra oshi do ya somo ko hodo mogya shido ya somo ko

55 56 nora kin ji ha gyara ya somo ko mo hori Torei Zenji’s Bodhisattva Vow shin gyara ya somo ko namu kara tan no by Zen Master Torei tora ya ya namu ori ya boryo ki chi shifu Disciples, when I humbly observe the true nature ra ya somo ko shite do modo ra hodo of things, all are the marvelous manifestation of ya so mo ko. the Tathagata’s truth. Atom by atom, instant by instant, all are none other than his mysterious radiance. Because of this our virtuous ancestors extended loving care and reverence toward even such beings as birds and beasts. How, then, can we be but humbly grateful for the food, drink, and clothing that nourishes and protects us throughout the day, these being in essence the warm skin and flesh of the great masters, the incarnate compassion of the Buddha? If it is so even with inanimate objects, how much more should we be kind and merciful towards human beings, even those who are foolish? Though they become our sworn enemies, reviling and persecuting us, we should regard them as bodhisattva manifestations who, in their great compassion, are employing skillful means to help emancipate us from the twisted karma we have produced over countless kalpas through our biased, self-centered views. If we awaken in ourselves this deep, pure faith, offering humble words and taking sincere refuge in the Buddha, then with every thought there will

57 58 blossom a lotus flower, each with a Buddha. Fukan zazengi These Buddhas will establish Pure Lands (Universally Recommended Instructions for Zazen) everywhere and reveal the radiance of the by Zen Master Eihei Dogen Tathagata beneath our very feet. May we extend The way is originally perfect and all-pervading. this mind throughout the universe, so that we and How could it be contingent on practice and all sentient beings may equally bring to fruition realization? The true vehicle is self-sufficient. the seeds of wisdom. What need is there for special effort? Indeed, the whole body is free from dust. Who could believe in a means to brush it clean? It is never apart from this very place; what is the use of traveling around to practice? And yet, if there is a hairsbreadth deviation, it is like the gap between heaven and earth. If the least like or dislike arises, the mind is lost in confusion. Suppose you are confident in your understanding and rich in enlightenment, gaining the wisdom that knows at a glance, attaining the way and clarifying the mind, arousing an aspiration to reach for the heavens. You are playing in the entranceway, but you are still short of emancipation. Consider the Buddha: although he was wise at birth, the traces of his six years of upright sitting can yet be seen. As for Bodhidharma, although he had received the mind-seal, his nine years of facing a wall is celebrated still.

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If even the ancient sages were like this, how can lightly touching. Straighten your body and sit we today dispense with wholehearted practice? upright, leaning neither left nor right, neither Therefore, put aside the intellectual practice of forward nor backward. align your ears with your investigating words and chasing phrases, and shoulders and your nose with your navel. Rest the learn to take the backward step that turns the light tip of your tongue against the front of the roof of and shines it inward. Body and mind of your mouth, with teeth together and lips shut. themselves will drop away, and your original face Always keep your eyes open and breather softly will manifest. If you want to realize such, get to through your nose. work on such right now. Once you have adjusted your posture, take a For practicing Zen, a quiet room is suitable. Eat breath and exhale fully, rock your body right and and drink moderately. Put aside all involvements left, and settle into steady, immovable sitting. and suspend all affairs. Do not think “good” or Think of not thinking. Not thinking—what kind of “bad.” Do not judge true or false. Give up the thinking is that? Nonthinking. This is the essential operations of mind, intellect, and consciousness; art of zazen. stop measuring with thoughts, ideas, and views. The zazen I speak of is not meditation practice. It have no designs on becoming a buddha. how is simply the dharma gate of joyful ease, the could that be limited to sitting or lying down? practice-realization of totally culminated At your sitting place, spread out a thick mat and enlightenment. It is the koan realized; traps and put a cushion on it. Sit either in the full-lotus or snares can never reach it. If you grasp the point, half-lotus position. In the full-lotus position, first you are like a dragon gaining the water, like a place your right foot on your left thigh, then your tiger taking to the mountains. For you must know left foot on your right thigh. In the half-lotus, that the true dharma appears of itself, so that from simply place your left foot on your right thigh. Tie the start dullness and distraction are struck aside. your robes loosely and arrange them neatly. When you arise from sitting, move slowly and Then place your right hand on your left leg and quietly, calmly and deliberately. Do not rise your left hand on your right palm, thumb-tips suddenly or abruptly. In surveying the past, we

61 62 find that transcendence of both mundane and variations, they just wholeheartedly engage the sacred, and dying while either sitting or way in zazen. standing, have all depended entirely on the Why leave behind the seat in your own home to power of zazen. wander in vain through the dusty realms of other In addition, triggering awakening with a finger, a lands? If you make one misstep, you stumble past banner, a needle, or a mallet, and effecting what is directly in front of you. realization with a whisk, a fist, a staff, or a You have gained the pivotal opportunity of human shout—these cannot be understood by form. Do not pass your days and nights in vain. discriminative thinking; much less can they be You are taking care of the essential activity of the known through the practice of supernatural power. buddha-way. Who would take wasteful delight in They must represent conduct beyond seeing and the spark from a flintstone? Besides, form and hearing. Are they not a standard prior to substance are like the dew on the grass, the knowledge and views? fortunes of life like a dart of lightning—emptied in This being the case, intelligence or lack of it is an instant, vanished in a flash. not an issue; make no distinction between the Please, honored followers of Zen, long dull and the sharp-witted. If you concentrate accustomed to groping for the elephant, do not your effort single-mindedly, that in itself is doubt the true dragon. Devote your energies to the wholeheartedly engaging the way. Practice- way of direct pointing at the real. Revere the one realization is naturally undefiled. Going forward who has gone beyond learning and is free from is, after all, an everyday affair. effort. Accord In general, in our world and others, in both India with the enlightenment of all the buddhas; and China, all equally hold the buddha-seal. succeed to the samadhi of all the ancestors. While each lineage expresses its own style, they Continue to are all simply devoted to sitting, totally blocked live in such a way, and you will be such a person. in resolute stability. Although they say that there The treasure store will open of itself, and you may are ten thousand distinctions and a thousand enjoy it freely.

63 Verse of the Diamond Sutra

A star at dawn,

A bubble in a stream,

A flash of lightning in a summer cloud,

A flickering lamp,

A phantom and a dream,

So is this fleeting world.

Night Chant

Even as the night darkens the green earth,

The wheel turns ~~~

Death follows birth.

Strive through the night with every breath. ~~~

That you may wake

Past day, past death!

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