Category Archives: Dogen

  Poem made on “the entire ten directions being the true human body”:   Isn’t there a true human In this wide world? No limit is seen In the great sky color   Jin-jippō-kai shinjitsu-jintai-wo eiji-tamau   Yononakani Makotono hitoya … Continue reading →

    Poem made when the first snow of more than one foot fell on the 25th of September in kangen 2 (1244 C.E.)   Snow has fallen On the red leaves of September. Having seen this Who would not … Continue reading →

Five poems in reference to the Lotus Sutra, 5:   Nobody dislikes the colt of Day-light and night-shadow, But there are very few who Attain the Way of the Dharma.   Dare-totemo Hikage-no koma-wa Kirawanuwo Nori-no michi uru Hito-zo sukunaki … Continue reading →

Five poems in reference to the Lotus Sutra, 4:   Colors of peaks and Sounds of valleys are Altogether voices and Forms of our Shakyamuni.   Mine-no iro Tani-no hibiki mo Mina-nagara Waga Shakamuni-no Koe-to sugata-to   峯の色 谷の響きも 皆ながら … Continue reading →

    Five poems in reference to the Lotus Sutra, 3:   Once the heart of this Sutra is attained, Even the voice of selling and buying In this wide world Are the Dharma preaching.   Kono kyō-no Kokoro-wo ureba … Continue reading →

  Five poems in reference to the Lotus Sutra, 2   Harken to the monkey Sounding throughout the peaks Resounding in the valleys As preaching this Sutra.   Tani-ni hibiki Mine-ni naku saru Tae-dae-ni Tada kono kyō-wo Toku-to koso kike … Continue reading →

    Illuminating the First heaven for fifty four years, (I), suddenly springing up, break though the Great Thousand (Worlds). Iih! Entire body, seeking nothing, falls into the Yellow spring (Nadir) alive.   Yui-ge   Gojū-yo-nen Dai-itten-wo terasu. Kono-bocchoo-wo dashi, … Continue reading →

    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 … Continue reading →