Eight Awareness

January 6^th is the day in 1253 that Dogen Zenji wrote his last fascicle of the Shobogenzo, “Hachidainingaku” (“The Eight Truths of Great People”). Shakyamuni Buddha first spoke of these eight truths in his final hours.  

Here is Hashimoto Eko, one of Katagiri Roshi’s teachers, on the context in which Dogen wrote “Eight Truths of a Great Person”: 

Dogen-zenji had wanted to leave behind 100 fascicles [of Shobogenzo]. However, the year before he died, even while sick, he incessantly continued to write and the final fascicle of the Twelve Fascicle Shobogenzo was “The Eight Truths of a Great Person.” 

He finished writing this on the 6^th of January of the year he died (1253). After that, no matter how hard he tried he couldn’t write. Soon after succumbed to his sickness (literally, “he went to his tatami”).

Even though we say the 6^th day of the New Year, that time was the old lunar calendar, and so it was the coldest time. Because it was Eiheiji, it was too cold to write. In the mountain it was so cold that even the Indian ink froze.

Even though if you are not able to write the dharma you can’t be said to be “under the eaves” (maybe meaning “cloistered”), in this coldness it became difficult to open his sick body and it was not easy for Dogen to write.

So when remembering these sorts of things, we realize how incredibly difficult it was to write and leave behind the “The Eight Truths of a Great Person.”After that, the time that he was stuck to the tatami ended and he died (literally, his sick bed became imaginary).

– translated by Ken Port

Click here for the translation of this fascicle by Maezumi Roshi and Francis Cook.

Click here for Mike Cross’ translation.

The Eight Truths (without much commentary):

1. Having few desires: Not seeking too much among the objects of the five desires is called “having few desires.
2. Knowing how to be satisfied: Knowing how much to take is called “knowing how to be satisfied.”
3. Enjoying serenity and tranquility: Being apart from all disturbances and dwelling alone in a quiet place is called “enjoying serenity and tranquility.
4. Exerting meticulous effort: Exerting oneself meticulously and unceasingly in various beneficial practices is called “meticulous effort.” Be precise, not careless; go forward, do not regress.
5. Not forgetting right thought: This is also called “maintaining right thought.” “Protecting the Dharma and not losing it” means “right thought,” or “not forgetting right thought.”
6. Practicing Samadhi: Dwelling in the Dharma undisturbed is what is called “Samadhi.”
7. Cultivating wisdom: Wisdom is aroused by hearing, reflecting, practicing, and realizing.
8. Avoiding idle talk: Having realization and being free from discrimination is what is called “avoiding idle talk.” To totally know the true form of all things is the same as being without idle talk.