Dogen’s Doei (道元道詠): Poems in the Way, 2

 

 

The very last poem made just thirteen days before his passing:

 

The  poem made on the evening of the 15th of August in the

year (1253 C.E.) of his entering nirvana (August 28):

 

Even in the autumn, when

I’d expect seeing again,

I could not have slept

With the moon of tonight.

 

 

Gonyūmetsu-no toshi hachi-gatsu jūgoya gyo-eika-ni iu

 

Mata minto

Omoishi tokino

Aki-danimo

Koyoi-no tsuki-ni

Nerareyawasuru

 

 

御入滅之年八月十五夜、御詠歌に云

 

又見んと

思ひし時の

秋だにも

今夜の月に

ねられやはする

 

Note: The full moon represents the Buddha heart,

perfectly round, harmonious, fully clear and calm.

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