Tuesday Dharma Tea at Two pm: Inryū Sensei will lead the discussion about the “Sandokai” “Harmony of Difference and Equality” on September 7th, 2021 at 2pm. Use this link to join
Harmony of Difference and Equality
The mind of the great sage of India
is intimately transmitted from west to east.
While human faculties are sharp or dull,
The Way has northern or southern ancestors.
The spiritual source shines clear in the light;
the branching streams flow on in the dark.
Grasping at things is surely delusion;
according with sameness is still not enlightenment.
All the objects of the senses
interact and yet do not.
Interacting brings involvement.
Otherwise, each keeps its place.
Sights vary in quality and form,
sounds differ as pleasing or harsh.
Refined and common speech come together in the dark,
clear and murky phrases are distinguished in the light.
The four elements return to their natures
Jus as a child turns to its mother;
Fire heats, wind moves,
water wets, earth is solid.
Eye and sights, ear and sounds,
Nose and smells, tongue and tastes;
Thus with each and every thing,
depending on these roots, the leaves spread forth.
Trunk and branches share the essence;
revered and common, each has its speech.
In the light there is darkness,
but don’t take it as darkness;
In the dark there is light,
but don’t see it as light.
Light and darkness oppose one another
like front and back foot in walking.
Each of the myriad things has its merit,
expressed according to function and place.
Phenomena exist; box and lid fit.
Principle responds; arrow points meet.
Hearing the words, understand the meaning;
don’t set up standards of your own.
If you don’t understand the Way right before you,
how will you know the path as you walk?
Progress is not a matter of far or near,
but if you are confused, mountains and rivers
block your way.
I respectfully urge you who study the mystery,
do not pass your days and nights in vain.
Sandôkai
(Harmony of Difference and Equality, Japanese original, by Sekito Kisen [700-790])
CHIKUDO DAISEN NO SHIN
TÔZAI MITZU NI AIFUSU
NINKON NI RIDON ARI
DÔ NI NANBOKU NO SO NASHI
REIGEN MYÔNI KÔ KETTARI
SHIHA ANNI RUCHÛSU
JI O SHÛSURU MO MOTO KORE MAYOI
RI NI KANÔ MO MATA SATORI NI ARAZU
MON MON ISSAI NO KYÔ
EGO TO FUEGO TO
ESHITE SARANI AI WATARU
SHIKARA ZAREBA KURAI NI YOTTE JÛSU
SHIKI MOTO SHITSUZÔ O KOTONISHI
SHÔ MOTO RAKKU O KOTONISU
AN WA JOSHU NO KOTO NI KANAI
MEI WA SEIDAKU NO KU O WAKATSU
SHIDAI NO SHÔ ONOZUKARA FUKUSU
KONO SONO HAHA O URU GA GOTOSHI
HI WA NESSHI KAZE WA DÔYÔ
MIZU WA URUOI CHI WA KENGO
MANAKO WA IRO MIMI WA ONJÔ
HANA WA KA SHITA WA KANSO
SHIKAMO ICHI-ICHI NO HÔ NI OITE
NE NI YOTTE HA BUNPUSU
HONMATSU SUBEKARAKU SHÛ NI KISU BESHI
SONPI SONO GO O MOCHIYU
MEICHÛ NI ATATTE AN ARI
ANSÔ O MOTTE Ô KOTO NAKARE
ANCHÛ NI ATATTE MEI ARI
MEISÔ O MOTTE MIRU KOTO NAKARE
MEIAN ONO-ONO AITAI SHITE
HISURU NI ZENGO NO AYUMI NO GOTOSHI
BANMOTSU ONOZUKARA KÔ ARI,
MASANI YÔ TO SHO TO O YU BESHI
JISON SUREBA KANGAI GASSHI
RIÔZUREBA SENPÔ SASÔ
KOTO O UKETE WA SUBEKARAKU SHÛ O ESU BESHI
MIZUKARA KIKU O RISSURU KOTO NAKARE
SOKUMOKU DÔ O ESE ZUNBA
ASHI O HAKOBU MO IZUKUNZO MICHI O SHIRAN
AYUMI O SUSUMUREBA GONNON NI ARAZU
MAYÔTE SENGA NO KO O HEDA(TSU)*
TSU(TSU)* SHINDE SAN GEN NO HITO NI MÔSU
KÔIN MUNASHIKU WATARU KOTO NAKARE