Shobogenzo (Bendowa)
Dogen Sangha Modern Interpretation
Establishing in myself a firm resolve to search for the Buddha’s truth, I
travelled to many parts of Japan to meet teachers who I hoped would
help me in my search. One of these was Master Myozen, who lived at
Kennin Temple. I stayed as his student for nine years, learning the
teachings of the Rinzai lineage. Master Myozen was the most excellent
of Master Eizai’s students, and had received the teachings of the
Buddha’s truth directly from him. None of the other students were
comparable. Then I travelled to China, searching east and west for
a good teacher, and learned of the traditions of the five lineages that
practice Zazen. Finally, I visited the temple on Mt. Dai-byaku-ho and
met Zen Master Nyojo, with whom I finally completed the great task
of a lifetime’s practice. Then in 1228, I returned to Japan determined to
spread the truth that I had found to others in order to save them. I felt
as if a heavy burden had been placed on my shoulders. But while
waiting for favourable circumstances to carry me forward, I thought
that I might spend some time wandering from place to place, following
the flow of events, like wise teachers of old have done. But I also
felt that there may be people who were already sincerely practicing
Zazen and seeking for what is true, people who were not seeking for
fame or wanting to get something, and those people might be misled
by teachers who were not genuine, whose teachings would only lead
them away from a correct understanding of what is true. They might
then deceive themselves with those wrong ideas and become caught
by their own delusions. How could they then strengthen their intuitive
ability to know what is true, and have the chance to practice what
is true? If I just wandered around waiting for the right time, where
would they be able to find a true place to practice? This seemed to me
a very sad situation, and so I have decided to write down all the customs
and criteria that I myself experienced during my visits to the Zen
monasteries in China, together with the teachings from my master,
Tendo Nyojo, which I have received and put into practice. I will then
leave these writings for people who learn by actually doing things,
and who find it easy to live in reality, so that they will know the true
teachings of the Buddha that have been passed on from person to
person. I feel that this task may be of great importance.
[17] The sutras say that the Great Gautama Buddha passed his truth on to
Master Mahakasyapa. The Buddha’s truth was then passed on without
any modification from teacher to student, until it reached the
Venerable Bodhidharma. He settled in China and passed the Buddha’s
truth on to Great Master Eka. This was the first arrival of the practice
of Zazen in China. Then, passed on naturally like this from teacher to
student, teacher to student, after five generations it arrived at Master Daikan Eno (continued....)
http://www.dogensangha.org.uk/Talks/1-% ... tation.pdf