Quote:
Bendowa
Dogen Sangha Modern interpretations
When the buddhas – those who live fully in the present – each of
whom has learned the Buddha’s truth from a real person, realise what
the truth is, they achieve it by the best method there is. This method,
in which there is no intention of reaching an aim, is subtle, and is only
taught by one buddha to another buddha. It never deviates from this.
It is a practice that balances the active and the passive, and it sets the
body-and-mind right. The authentic form of this practice, which is
known as Zazen, is sitting in an upright posture.
... versus this respected version by Aitken Roshi and Kaz Tanahashi ...
Quote:
The various Buddhas and Tathagatas have a most enlightened way of realizing superior wisdom and transmitting the supreme law. When transmitted from Buddha to Buddha, its mark is self-joyous meditation. To enter this meditation naturally, right sitting is the true gate. Though each man has Buddha-nature in abundance, he cannot make it appear without practice or live it without enlightenment. If you let it go, it fills your hand; it transcends the one and many. If you talk about it, it fills your mouth; it is beyond measurement by height and width. All Buddhas eternally have their abode here without becoming attached to one-sided recognition. All beings are working here without attachment to sides in each recognition. The devices and training that I teach now manifest all things in original enlightenment and express unity in action. And when you thoroughly understand, why cling to such trifles as these?
It is interesting to compare the two. As you can see, there is no mention here particularly of "upright posture", and instead there is something much more encompassing and subtle. I think.
Quote:
All Buddhas, without exception, confirm Their having realized the state of
enlightenment by demonstrating Their ability to directly Transmit the wondrous
Dharma. As embodiments of the Truth, They have employed an unsurpassed,
inconceivably marvelous method which functions effortlessly. It is simply this
method that Buddhas impart to Buddhas, without deviation or distortion, and Their
meditative state of delight in the Truth is its standard and measure. As They take
pleasure wherever They go to spiritually aid others while in such a state, They treat
this method of Theirs—namely, the practice of seated meditation—as the proper
and most straightforward Gate for entering the Way.
People are already abundantly endowed with the Dharma in every part of
their being, but until they do the training, It will not emerge. And unless they
personally confirm It for themselves, there is no way for them to realize what It is.
But when they give It out to others, It keeps filling their hands to overflowing for,
indeed, It makes no distinction between ‘for the one’ and ‘for the many’. When
they give voice to It, It flows forth from their mouths like a tide, limitless in Its
breadth and depth. All Buddhas continually dwell within this state, with None
holding onto any of Their thoughts or perceptions, regardless of whatever may
arise, whereas the great mass of sentient beings perpetually make use of what is
within this state, but without their being fully awake to any situation.
[/quote]