| \n <\/span><\/a><\/div>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n | <\/div>\n <\/p>\n Maybe it\u2019s the turning weather \u2013 snowing again today \u2013 but I find myself reflecting on \u201cturning\u201d in zazen.\n Most translations of Dogen\u2019s zazen instructions, Fukanzazengi<\/span>, have \u201cturn the light inward.\u201d<\/p>\n Literally, the text has no character for \u201cinward\u201d in \u201csubekara-ku e kohen sho no tai ho o gaku\u201d (or inelegantly, \u201cJust learn the backward step, revolving the light around to illuminate\u201d).<\/p>\n An important point for practice, it seems to me.<\/p>\n Most translations also drop \u201csubekara-ku\u201d or \u201cjust.\u201d I find this another important detail in helping students get a clearer bead on shikantaza.<\/p>\n Significant too in terms of sudden and gradual approaches is the notion of \u201clearning\u201d (or \u201cgaku\u201d above), as in \u201cLearn the backward step.\u201d If the backward step is something that is learned, it might be a gradual practice akin to calming the mind in dhyana.<\/p>\n However, further on in the text Dogen has \u201cThe zazen I speak of is not meditation practice\u201d (or as the old Abe version had \u201cThe zazen I speak of is not learning meditation\u201d) or as the text might be literally rendered (\u201ciwa-yuru zazen was shu zen ni-wa ara-zu\u201d), \u201cSo-called zazen is not learning zen.\u201d<\/p>\n The \u201cI speak of\u201d as well as the distinction between zazen and meditation practice appear to be imputations that may not reflect Dogen\u2019s 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 \u201ctotally culminated enlightenment.\u201d Learning the backward step then must also be within the practice-enlightenment circle of the way.<\/p>\n Dogen offers a toe hold, turning the light around, in the face of the eighty thousand foot precipice.<\/p><\/div>\n Maybe it\u2019s the turning weather \u2013 snowing again today \u2013 but I find myself reflecting on \u201cturning\u201d in zazen. Most translations of Dogen\u2019s zazen instructions, Fukanzazengi, have \u201cturn the light inward.\u201d Literally, the text has no character for \u201cinward\u201d in \u201csubekara-ku e kohen sho no tai ho o gaku\u201d (or inelegantly, \u201cJust learn the backward […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":182,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-481","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n |
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