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Many thanks to Anchi, Camille, Kyogen, Kumo, Aleksey and Anthony for their participation at the hommage to Thich Nath Hanh this Saturday. It was full of love, compassion and gratitude.
The Five Ranks
By
Tōzan Ryōkai (Dongshan Liangjie (807–869) )
translated by Thomas Cleary
I: The Relative within the Absolute
In the third watch,
beginning of the night,
before the moon is bright,
do not wonder at meeting without recognition;
still held hidden in the heart is the beauty of former days.
II: The Absolute within the Relative
A woman who's overslept
encounters an ancient mirror;
clearly she sees her face-
there is no other reality.
Nevertheless,
she still mistakes her reflection for her head.
III: Coming from within the Absolute
Within nothingness is a road out of the dust;
just be able to avoid violating the present taboo name
and you will surpass the eloquence of yore
that silenced every tongue.
IV: Arrival at Mutual Integration
When two blades cross,
no need to flee;
an expert is like a lotus in fire-
clearly there is a spirit spontaneuosly soaring.
V: Unity Attained
If you are not trapped
in being or nonbeing,
who can dare to join you?
Everyone wants to leave the ordinary current,
but in the final analysis
you come back and sit in the ashes.
__________________
_ 黙唱
Mokushō
Sat today
_____________
Drink Your Tea
~
Drink your tea slowly and reverently,
as if it is the axis
on which the world earth revolves
– slowly, evenly, without
rushing toward the future;
Live the actual moment.
Only this moment is life.
Here is the text we will read this week.
Miazawa Kenji
neither yielding to rain
nor yielding to wind
yielding neither to
snow nor to summer heat
with a stout body
like that
without greed
never getting angry
always smiling quietly
eating one and a half pieces of brown rice
and bean paste and a bit of
vegetables a day
in everything
not taking oneself
into account
looking listening understanding well
and not forgetting
living in the shadow of pine trees in a field
in a small
hut thatched with miscanthus
if in the east there’s a
sick child
going and nursing
him
if in the west there is a tired mother
going and for her
carrying
bundles of rice
if in the south
there’s someone
dying
going
and saying
you don’t have to be
afraid
if in the north
there’s a quarrel
or a lawsuit
saying it’s not worth it
stop it
in a drought
shedding tears
in a cold summer
pacing back and forth lost
called
a good-for-nothing
by everyone
neither praised
nor thought a pain
someone
like that
is what I want
to be
Sanki Raimon, Hakuin Zenji Zazen Wassan in English and Japanese dedicated to Doshin Cantor, Zazen sitting, Enmei Juku Kannon Gyo, dedication, Haïku and The Four Vows.
Is it necessary to specify that all our sittings and chants this week will be dedicated to the establishment of a lasting and equitable peace for the Ukrainians, Russians and all humanity ?
Is it necessary to specify that all our sittings and chants this week will be dedicated to the establishment of a lasting and equitable peace for the Ukrainians, Russians and all humanity ?
Hoping to see you soon,
It would be very nice to make special mention ... assuming that you are not opposed to "a lasting and equitable peace for the Ukrainians, Russians and all humanity?" which, I assume, you are not.
I joined the chanting and Zazen circle yesterday for the first time and I was a little confused with the chants (I've only done chants in English before). Can someone please point me to the right chants/chant book?
Comment