Everything always in its place ...
One day [Yangshan] went along with Guishan
to prepare a field for planting. The teacher [Yangshan] asked, "Why is it that this part
is low and that part is high?" Guishan said, "Water can level things;
let us just use water to level it." The teacher said, "Water is not
reliable, master. It is just that high places are high and level; low places
are low and level."
Guishan assented.
Keep the white water
with which you have washed the rice; do not wastefully discard it. In ancient
times they used a cloth bag to strain the white water and used it to boil the
rice when making gruel. Having put [the rice] into the cooking pot, pay attention
and guard it. Do not allow mice and the like to touch it by mistake, nor any
covetous idlers to examine or touch it.
When cooking the
vegetable side dishes for the morning gruel, also prepare the platters and tubs
used for rice, soup, etc., as well as the various utensils and supplies that
will be used for that day's midday meal. Wash them so that they are completely
pure and clean, placing up high those that belong in high places and putting
down low those that belong in low places. "High places are high and level;
low places are low and level." Treat utensils such as tongs and ladles,
and all other implements and ingredients, with equal respect; handle all things
with sincerity, picking them up and putting them down with courtesy.
From: Tenzo Kyokun - Instructions for the Cook by Eihei Dogen - Translated by Griffith Foulk
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