Once Dßgen settled at Eiheiji he remained there, with the exception of
a seven-month trip east to the new capital, Kamakura, in 1247. He was
probably summoned to Kamakura by his patron [the samurai Lord] Hatano Yoshishige, who
was in residence there at the time. Some speculation suggests that Dßgen,
or perhaps Yoshishige, was seeking new support in Kamakura for Dßgen’s
teaching. When he returned to Eiheiji in the third month of 1248, as
recounted in Dharma hall discourse 251, Dßgen assured his monks that he
had not taught the samurai rulers anything that they had not themselves
heard, and he seems to acknowledge that he had made a mistake by leaving
the monastery for so long. William Bodiford infers from this Dharma
hall discourse that Dßgen’s disciples were furious about his trip to
Kamakura.14 Dßgen concludes the discourse: “This mountain monk has
been gone for more than half a year. I was like a solitary wheel placed in
vast space. Today, I have returned to the mountains, and the clouds are
feeling joyful. My great love for the mountains has magnified since
before.”
In late 1252 Dßgen’s health began to decline rapidly. His last Dharma
hall discourses in Eihei Kßroku were in the tenth month or so of 1252.
...
251. Dharma Hall Discourse on the Fourteenth Day of the Third Month
of the Second Year of Hßji [1248]102
On the third day of the eighth month of last year, this mountain monk
departed from this mountain and went to the Kamakura District of
Sagami Prefecture to expound the Dharma for patrons and lay students.
On this month of this year, just last night, I came home to this temple,
and this morning I have ascended this seat. Some people may have some
questions about this affair. After traversing many mountains and rivers, I
did expound the Dharma for the sake of lay students, which may sound
like I value worldly people and take lightly monks. Moreover, some may
ask whether I presented some Dharma that I never before expounded,
and that they have not heard. However, there was no Dharma at all that
I have never previously expounded, or that you have not heard. I merely
explained to them that people who practice virtue improve; that those
who produce unwholesomeness degenerate; that they should practice the
cause and experience the results; and should throw away the tile and only
take up the jewel. Because of these, this single matter is what this old man
Eihei has been able to clarify, express, trust, and practice. Does the great
assembly want to understand this truth?
After a pause, Dßgen said: I cannot stand that my tongue has no means
to express the cause and the result. How many mistakes I have made in
my effort to cultivate the way. Today how pitiful it is that I have become
a water buffalo. This is the phrase for expounding Dharma. How shall I
utter a phrase for returning home to the mountains? This mountain monk
has been gone for more than half a year. I was like a solitary wheel placed
in vast space. Today, I have returned to the mountains, and the clouds are
feeling joyful. My great love for the mountains has magnified since before.
https://terebess.hu/zen/dogen/EiheiKoroku.pdf
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Originally Posted by Shinshi
