{"id":11433,"date":"2023-01-23T09:25:31","date_gmt":"2023-01-23T15:25:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/?p=11433"},"modified":"2023-01-23T09:25:31","modified_gmt":"2023-01-23T15:25:31","slug":"round-and-smooth-like-a-pearl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/2023\/01\/round-and-smooth-like-a-pearl.html","title":{"rendered":"Round and Smooth Like a Pearl"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><head><meta http-equiv=\"content-type\" content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\"><meta http-equiv=\"content-type\" content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\"><\/head><body><div class=\"DraftEditor-paragraphElement\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"vsnv\" data-offset-key=\"5v749-0-0\">\n<div class=\"public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\" data-offset-key=\"5v749-0-0\">\n<div class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/88\/2023\/01\/IMG_3749-scaled.jpg\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11436\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/88\/2023\/01\/IMG_3749-300x211.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"211\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"DraftEditor-paragraphElement\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"vsnv\" data-offset-key=\"7d934-0-0\">\n<div class=\"public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\" data-offset-key=\"7d934-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"7d934-0-0\">The short passage that I\u2019m sharing today comes from <\/span><span data-offset-key=\"7d934-0-1\">D\u014dgen\u2019s Extensive Record <\/span><span data-offset-key=\"7d934-0-2\">(<\/span><span data-offset-key=\"7d934-0-3\">Eihei koroku<\/span><span data-offset-key=\"7d934-0-4\">), V8.14, like the recent post,\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"sc-1bctqj2-0 qOIqX decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/posts\/76439091\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span data-offset-key=\"7d934-1-0\">Dogen: Find a Good Teacher, Ask For a Koan, Break Through.<\/span><\/a><span data-offset-key=\"7d934-2-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"DraftEditor-paragraphElement\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"vsnv\" data-offset-key=\"8v7am-0-0\">\n<div class=\"public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\" data-offset-key=\"8v7am-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"8v7am-0-0\">Intended for householders, this snippet is a powerful summary of the Zen path. I\u2019ll first share my translation, then highlight a few elements of the passage.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"DraftEditor-paragraphElement\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"vsnv\" data-offset-key=\"a6kmc-0-0\">\n<h3 class=\"public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\" data-offset-key=\"a6kmc-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"a6kmc-0-0\">Translation\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"DraftEditor-paragraphElement\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"vsnv\" data-offset-key=\"apm3f-0-0\">\n<div class=\"public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\" data-offset-key=\"apm3f-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"apm3f-0-0\">\u201cVigorous people who study and practice Zen: You absolutely must meet a <a href='https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/library\/buddhism' target='_blank'>dharma<\/a> teacher who, through right view, embodies the Way. Then stay close and serve them for three-five years. Ask for their instructions for body, speech, and mind; carefully, precisely follow their instructions for body, speech, and mind. First, awaken \u2018withered tree, dead ash.\u2019 Next, use a bamboo staff and all day long, month after month, knock it all into one. Round and smooth like a pearl rolling without exhausting the limits. How would one not become a true buddha lion?!\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"apm3f-0-0\">\n<h4><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/doshoport?fan_landing=true\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Click here<\/a> to support my Zen teaching practice at Patreon of which translations and writings like this are one facet. You will also find an advertisement free version of this post there too.<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"DraftEditor-paragraphElement\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"vsnv\" data-offset-key=\"3492u-0-0\">\n<h3 class=\"public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\" data-offset-key=\"3492u-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"3492u-0-0\">Highlights<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"DraftEditor-paragraphElement\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"vsnv\" data-offset-key=\"dbt1e-0-0\">\n<div class=\"public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\" data-offset-key=\"dbt1e-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"dbt1e-0-0\">First, it is notable that D\u014dgen encourages householders to work closely with a teacher and that he seems confident folks in this lifestyle can become true buddha lions. No small thing.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\" data-offset-key=\"dbt1e-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"dbt1e-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"DraftEditor-paragraphElement\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"vsnv\" data-offset-key=\"cv6v0-0-0\">\n<div class=\"public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\" data-offset-key=\"cv6v0-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"cv6v0-0-0\">Second, it isn\u2019t just about meeting a teacher, but staying close and serving them. Nowadays, with the commodification of the most things, including the buddhadharma (and the teacher-student relationship), this really stands out. Many people now regard a Zen teacher less like someone they serve and more like an employee whose job duties include making life easier, or more meaningful, or somehow more special for the student.\u00a0An all too common attitude is, \u201cHey, I pay my money, now your job is to confirm my delusions and selfishness.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"cv6v0-0-0\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"DraftEditor-paragraphElement\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"vsnv\" data-offset-key=\"5341s-0-0\">\n<div class=\"public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\" data-offset-key=\"5341s-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"5341s-0-0\">D\u014dgen\u2019s time range for this work of meeting, serving and awakening is three-five years. This strikes me as a low bar \u2013 it takes longer than that for most people and it certainly did for me. D\u014dgen, though, was with his main teacher, Rujing, for about that long, so maybe that\u2019s his frame of reference. Perhaps three-five years is fitting for the very best horses who run even at the shadow of the whip.<\/span><\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"5341s-0-0\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"DraftEditor-paragraphElement\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"vsnv\" data-offset-key=\"7sgft-0-0\">\n<div class=\"public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\" data-offset-key=\"7sgft-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"7sgft-0-0\">But the most curious point here, I think, is that D\u014dgen is writing a dharma discourse (and then reading it, apparently) to his major patron and the patron\u2019s friends who are all householders with really demanding day jobs. Earlier in this dharma discourse, he refers to his audience as \u201cministers and generals.\u201d Are ministers and generals going become monks, or at least physically stay close with D\u014dgen at Kosh\u014dji or Eiheiji for three-five years?\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"7sgft-0-0\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"DraftEditor-paragraphElement\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"vsnv\" data-offset-key=\"hig-0-0\">\n<div class=\"public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\" data-offset-key=\"hig-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"hig-0-0\">Maybe some will, but if D\u014dgen\u2019s prescription is aimed at a householder audience, then \u201cstay close and serve them\u201d might have some other meaning. Perhaps he\u2019s saying \u201cbe as close as you can.\u201d But that feels like a dodge.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"hig-0-0\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"DraftEditor-paragraphElement\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"vsnv\" data-offset-key=\"cq4kn-0-0\">\n<div class=\"public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\" data-offset-key=\"cq4kn-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"cq4kn-0-0\">Perhaps he\u2019s referring to the closeness and service that comes from following through with the prescribed practices of body, speech, and mind \u2013 seeing with the same eyes, hearing with the same ears \u2013 whether we are in the same building with our teacher or not. If that was D\u014dgen\u2019s intent, then our present model of online training certainly also allows for \u201cstay close and serve them\u2026.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"cq4kn-0-0\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"DraftEditor-paragraphElement\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"vsnv\" data-offset-key=\"enauo-0-0\">\n<div class=\"public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\" data-offset-key=\"enauo-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"enauo-0-0\">Third, earlier in this discourse, Dogen recommended that students first find a teacher, then ask for a k\u014dan. Here D\u014dgen repeats the admonition to find a teacher and offers an example of a keyword from a k\u014dan, \u201cwithered tree, dead ash,\u201d as if this is what he offers students.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"enauo-0-0\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"DraftEditor-paragraphElement\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"vsnv\" data-offset-key=\"3qu68-0-0\">\n<div class=\"public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\" data-offset-key=\"3qu68-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"3qu68-0-0\">With \u201cwithered tree, dead ash,\u201d D\u014dgen seems to be employing a saying of Sh\u00edshu\u0101ng Q\u00ecngzh\u016b (807-888). Sh\u00edshu\u0101ng was a third generation successor of Sh\u00edt\u00f3u X\u012bqi\u0101n (700-790), who once said, \u201cStop; rest; one <\/span><span data-offset-key=\"3qu68-0-1\">nen<\/span><span data-offset-key=\"3qu68-0-2\">, ten-thousand years; become cold ash, withered tree; practice going as one strip of white.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"3qu68-0-0\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"DraftEditor-paragraphElement\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"vsnv\" data-offset-key=\"87lm8-0-0\">\n<div class=\"public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\" data-offset-key=\"87lm8-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"87lm8-0-0\">This phrase is also included in an important k\u014dan we now deal with deep into the Harada Yasutani <\/span><span data-offset-key=\"87lm8-0-1\">shitsunai<\/span><span data-offset-key=\"87lm8-0-2\">, in <\/span><em>Record of Going Easy<\/em><span data-offset-key=\"87lm8-0-4\">, Case 96: Jiufeng Does Not Agree.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"87lm8-0-0\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"DraftEditor-paragraphElement\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"vsnv\" data-offset-key=\"6q9er-0-0\">\n<div class=\"public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\" data-offset-key=\"6q9er-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"6q9er-0-0\">D\u014dgen, as you may have noticed, switches the order of the tree and the ash, and rather than \u201ccold ash\u201d has \u201cdead ash.\u201d What can I say? He was one helluva quirky guy who seems to flown along depending on his incredible memory.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"6q9er-0-0\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"DraftEditor-paragraphElement\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"vsnv\" data-offset-key=\"64v3j-0-0\">\n<div class=\"public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\" data-offset-key=\"64v3j-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"64v3j-0-0\">Other examples like this come to me from Daid\u014d Loori R\u014dshi. When he was translating <\/span><span data-offset-key=\"64v3j-0-1\">The True Dharma Eye<\/span><span data-offset-key=\"64v3j-0-2\">, he confided that D\u014dgen\u2019s k\u014dans had regular, small differences from any of the original sources for the k\u014dans that we have today. Some of the changes seemed to have significance and intention, others, not so much \u2013 more like memory blips. The case of \u201ccold ash\u201d or \u201cdead ash\u201d seems to fall in the latter category.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"64v3j-0-0\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"DraftEditor-paragraphElement\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"vsnv\" data-offset-key=\"6s0bg-0-0\">\n<div class=\"public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\" data-offset-key=\"6s0bg-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"6s0bg-0-0\">Another possibility is that D\u014dgen is thinking about another k\u014dan. But for keyword practice, it really doesn\u2019t matter. Just \u201cawaken \u2018withered tree, dead ash.'\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"6s0bg-0-0\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"DraftEditor-paragraphElement\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"vsnv\" data-offset-key=\"7b8is-0-0\">\n<div class=\"public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\" data-offset-key=\"7b8is-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"7b8is-0-0\">Sh\u00edshu\u0101ng\u2019s saying, including the snippet \u201cwithered tree, dead ash,\u201d is sometimes regarded as an expression of deep absorption (aka, samadhi), the one color gained through completely surrendering to the form of zazen. By the way, \u201cwithered trees\u201d is also the name given some ascetics who sat in meditation, never lying down, like petrified rocks and withered trees.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"7b8is-0-0\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"DraftEditor-paragraphElement\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"vsnv\" data-offset-key=\"fcvgj-0-0\">\n<div class=\"public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\" data-offset-key=\"fcvgj-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"fcvgj-0-0\">D\u014dgen, though, urges his listeners to \u201cawaken \u2018withered tree, dead ash.'\u201d So rather than a one-chopstick dharma of absorption, D\u014dgen teaches the same wisdom-absorption (prajna-samadhi) that H\u00f3ngzh\u00ec Zh\u0113ngju\u00e9 (1091\u20131157) and W\u00e0ns\u014dng X\u00edngxi\u00f9 (1166\u20131246) present in <\/span><span data-offset-key=\"fcvgj-0-1\">Record of Going Easy<\/span><span data-offset-key=\"fcvgj-0-2\">, Case 96: Jiufeng Does Not Agree. It is also in accord with the Sixth Ancestor\u2019s statement in the <\/span><span data-offset-key=\"fcvgj-0-3\">Platform Sutra<\/span><span data-offset-key=\"fcvgj-0-4\">, \u201cThe words \u2018samadhi\u2019 and \u2018prajna\u2019 are different, but samadhi and prajna are one essence and are not two\u201d (trans. Alan Gregory Wonderwheel).\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"fcvgj-0-0\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"DraftEditor-paragraphElement\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"vsnv\" data-offset-key=\"2b0op-0-0\">\n<div class=\"public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\" data-offset-key=\"2b0op-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"2b0op-0-0\">D\u014dgen continues, \u201cNext, use a bamboo staff (Japanese, <\/span><span data-offset-key=\"2b0op-0-1\">shippei<\/span><span data-offset-key=\"2b0op-0-2\">) and all day long, month after month, knock it all into one.\u201d \u201cNext\u201d here is important. First, awaken, then <\/span><span data-offset-key=\"2b0op-0-3\">next<\/span><span data-offset-key=\"2b0op-0-4\"> comes the post awakening practice of integrating that awakening through the nitty-gritty details of daily life.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"2b0op-0-0\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"DraftEditor-paragraphElement\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"vsnv\" data-offset-key=\"2aj1t-0-0\">\n<div class=\"public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\" data-offset-key=\"2aj1t-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"2aj1t-0-0\">The <\/span><span data-offset-key=\"2aj1t-0-1\">shippei<\/span><span data-offset-key=\"2aj1t-0-2\">, by the way,<\/span> <span data-offset-key=\"2aj1t-0-4\">is about three feet in length with a slight bow. It is made from bamboo splints and wrapped together with wisteria \u2013 entangling vines, one might say. In modern times, it is the staff used by the head monk to knock the floor when they meet students for dharma encounter.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"2aj1t-0-0\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"DraftEditor-paragraphElement\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"vsnv\" data-offset-key=\"ceoip-0-0\">\n<div class=\"public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\" data-offset-key=\"ceoip-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"ceoip-0-0\">But in D\u014dgen\u2019s time, the <\/span><span data-offset-key=\"ceoip-0-1\">shippei<\/span><span data-offset-key=\"ceoip-0-2\"> was probably the staff held by the dharma teacher (like himself) when giving a dharma discourse, knocking the floor to make a point. If so, it was the implement at hand, meeting and becoming one with the body, speech, and mind of just now. D\u014dgen uses the <\/span><span data-offset-key=\"ceoip-0-3\">shippei<\/span><span data-offset-key=\"ceoip-0-4\"> as the embodiment of that process of becoming one, for the dharma implement of body, speech, and mind to meet and knock the separation outta body, speech and mind.<\/span><\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"ceoip-0-0\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"DraftEditor-paragraphElement\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"vsnv\" data-offset-key=\"a665c-0-0\">\n<div class=\"public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\" data-offset-key=\"a665c-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"a665c-0-0\">Finally, the fruit of mature practice: \u201c\u2026round and smooth like a pearl rolling without exhausting the limits.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"a665c-0-0\">\n<div data-offset-key=\"drvm3-0-0\">\n<hr>\n<\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"drvm3-0-0\">\n<div class=\"DraftEditor-paragraphElement\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"1pdti\" data-offset-key=\"2fv6l-0-0\">\n<div data-offset-key=\"2fv6l-0-0\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/88\/2022\/07\/IMG_5956-3-scaled.jpg\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-9809\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/88\/2022\/07\/IMG_5956-3-212x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"148\" height=\"209\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>D\u014dsh\u014d Port began practicing Zen in 1977 and now co-teaches with his wife, Tetsugan Zummach Sensei, with the <a class=\"decorated-link decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vineobstacleszen.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Vine of Obstacles Zen<\/a>, an online training group. D\u014dsh\u014d received dharma transmission from Dainin Katagiri R\u014dshi and inka sh\u014dmei from James My\u014dun Ford R\u014dshi in the Harada-Yasutani lineage. He is also the author of<i>\u00a0<a class=\"decorated-link decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/smile.amazon.com\/Keep-Me-Your-Heart-While\/dp\/0861715683\/ref=sr_1_2?crid=KREZQHVEIX92&amp;keywords=keep+me+in+your+heart+a+while&amp;qid=1641742292&amp;sprefix=keep+me+in+your+heart+a+while%2Caps%2C88&amp;sr=8-2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Keep Me In Your Heart a While: The Haunting Zen of Dainin Katagiri<\/a><\/i>. D\u014dsh\u014d\u2019s translation and commentary on <a class=\"decorated-link decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Record-Empty-Hall-Hundred-Classic\/dp\/161180891X\/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&amp;keywords=record+of+empty+hall&amp;qid=1604329778&amp;sr=8-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><em>The Record of Empty Hall: One Hundred Classic Koans,<\/em><\/a> was published in 2021 (Shambhala). His\u00a0third book, <a href=\"https:\/\/sumeru-books.com\/products\/going-through-the-mysterys-one-hundred-questions\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><em>Going Through the Mystery\u2019s One Hundred Questions<\/em><\/a>, is now available. <a class=\"decorated-link decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=VZPBWMDJVGCFS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Click here<\/a> to support the teaching practice of D\u014dsh\u014d R\u014dshi.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The short passage that I\u2019m sharing today comes from D\u014dgen\u2019s Extensive Record (Eihei koroku), V8.14, like the recent post,\u00a0Dogen: Find a Good Teacher, Ask For a Koan, Break Through.\u00a0 Intended for householders, this snippet is a powerful summary of the Zen path. I\u2019ll first share my translation, then highlight a few elements of the passage. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":182,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[11,335],"class_list":["post-11433","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-dogen","tag-eihei-koroku"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Round and Smooth Like a Pearl<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The short passage that I&#039;m sharing today comes from D\u014dgen\u2019s Extensive Record (Eihei koroku), V8.14, like the recent post,\u00a0Dogen: Find a Good Teacher, Ask\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/2023\/01\/round-and-smooth-like-a-pearl.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Round and Smooth Like a Pearl\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The short passage that I&#039;m sharing today comes from D\u014dgen\u2019s Extensive Record (Eihei koroku), V8.14, like the recent post,\u00a0Dogen: Find a Good Teacher, Ask\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/2023\/01\/round-and-smooth-like-a-pearl.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Wild Fox Zen\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dosho.port\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-01-23T15:25:31+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/88\/2023\/01\/IMG_3749-300x211.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Dosho Port\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Dosho Port\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/2023\/01\/round-and-smooth-like-a-pearl.html\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/2023\/01\/round-and-smooth-like-a-pearl.html\",\"name\":\"Round and Smooth Like a Pearl\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2023-01-23T15:25:31+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-01-23T15:25:31+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/#\/schema\/person\/45224391b7690e99673782337bd0eabd\"},\"description\":\"The short passage that I'm sharing today comes from D\u014dgen\u2019s Extensive Record (Eihei koroku), V8.14, like the recent post,\u00a0Dogen: Find a Good Teacher, Ask\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/2023\/01\/round-and-smooth-like-a-pearl.html#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/2023\/01\/round-and-smooth-like-a-pearl.html\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/2023\/01\/round-and-smooth-like-a-pearl.html#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Round and Smooth Like a Pearl\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/\",\"name\":\"Wild Fox Zen\",\"description\":\"Living the Dream\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/#\/schema\/person\/45224391b7690e99673782337bd0eabd\",\"name\":\"Dosho Port\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7b9712e98924dea6c08d55890403352f?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7b9712e98924dea6c08d55890403352f?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Dosho Port\"},\"description\":\"Dosho Port began practicing Zen in 1977 and now co-teachers with his wife, Tetsugan Zummach, with the Vine of Obstacles Zen. 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