Turning Turning

Most translations of Dogen’s zazen instructions, Fukanzazengi, have “turn the light inward.”

Literally, the text has no character for “inward” in “subekara-ku e kohen sho no tai ho o gaku” (or inelegantly, “Just learn the backward step, revolving the light around to illuminate”).

An important point for practice, it seems to me.

Most translations also drop “subekara-ku” or “just.” I find this another important detail in helping students get a clearer bead on shikantaza.

Significant too in terms of sudden and gradual approaches is the notion of “learning” (or “gaku” above), as in “Learn the backward step.” If the backward step is something that is learned, it might be a gradual practice akin to calming the mind in dhyana.

However, further on in the text Dogen has “The zazen I speak of is not meditation practice” (or as the old Abe version had “The zazen I speak of is not learning meditation”) or as the text might be literally rendered (“iwa-yuru zazen was shu zen ni-wa ara-zu”), “So-called zazen is not learning zen.”

The “I speak of” as well as the distinction between zazen and meditation practice appear to be imputations that may not reflect Dogen’s meaning. Seems to me that the old boy may be more interested here in clarifying practice-enlightenment than in distinguishing zazen from other approaches, other meditations. He may be saying that learning the backward step is not learning zen as that stinker is already “totally culminated enlightenment.” Learning the backward step then must also be within the practice-enlightenment circle of the way.

Dogen offers a toe hold, turning the light around, in the face of the eighty thousand foot precipice.