Monthly Archives: October 2013

Dogen’s Doei (道元道詠): Poems in the Way, 36

Posted on October 6, 2013 by Rosan Daido

  Thirty casual poems at my grass hut (16):   The white hairs with lies All from top to bottom Preaches the dream Of tangled thoughts.     Sōan-no gū-ei sanjisshu (16):   Moto-sue-mo Mina itsuwari-no Tsukumo-gami Omoi midaruru Yume-wo … Continue reading →

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Manaslu & Tsum Valley, Day 10: Lopka – Bihi

Posted on October 5, 2013 by Rosan Daido

    Showing no sign of soon dying, cicadas’ sound. Showing no sign of soon dying, squirrels’ stealing.   I remember I posted these haikus (1st: Basho, 2nd: mine): http://missourizencenter.org/mzcherenow/?p=1110   In leaving Tsum Valley, the vegetation becomes lush again.  Monkeys jump in trees, radiant, blue butterflies are surrounding us and the sound of uncountable cicadas is a constant companion.         Women carrying baskets       Prayer wheel in creek       Another beautiful flower       Hanging bridge       Old hanging bridge soon to be replaced       Rhods, Chandraman and Chandra (porters)  waiting for us in front of Kani (entrance door to village)   … Continue reading →

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Dogen’s Doei (道元道詠): Poems in the Way, 35

Posted on October 4, 2013 by Rosan Daido

  Thirty casual poems at my grass hut (15):   How precious the time-honored Words of Seven Buddhas are! Through learning them We surpass the Six Paths.     Sōan-no gū-ei sanjisshu (15):   Ana tauto Nana-no hotoke-no Furu-koto-wa Manabu-ni … Continue reading →

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Manaslu & Tsum Valley, Day 9: Lamagoan – Lopka

Posted on October 4, 2013 by Rosan Daido

    Sitting quietly, doing nothing.   Spring comes and the grass grows by itself.   Zenrin Kashi   Due to bad weather, we do not continue our trail to Mu Gompa, which is located at the end of the valley, but return to the Manaslu circuit.  On the way back, we meet the first foreigners – a small group  of Australians who organized medical help for the population of Tsum Valley.  Australian doctors come with helicopters from Kathmandu, medical supply is brought by donkeys.       Dolma as a working warrior       Chorten in the mist       Walking in the mist       Children in the mist       Namaste and Tashe Delek (Tibetan greeting)       Preparation of soup for lunch       Two children … Continue reading →

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Stopping, Surpassing Samsara Suffering

Posted on October 4, 2013 by Rosan Daido

Good morning!   It is a beautiful autumn Sunday morning with sittings and service, the sounds of birds flapping and flying. It is the best season, just after equinox with equal day and night, a cool and clear atmosphere.   Yesterday I posted Dogen’s poem on one mind treading on the Six Paths or transmigrating through them –hell beings path/way/passage/destiny/career, etc. at our website:   1. Hell being path/destiny (niraya-gati) 2. Beastly being path/destiny (tiracchānayoni-gati) 3. Ghostly being path/destiny (pittivisaya-gati) 4. Devilish being path/destiny (asura-gati) 5. Human being path/destiny (manussa-gati) 6. Celestial being path/destiny (deva-gati)   Because of our karmas, we appropriate and identify the body as “I” and act as (if) “an independent, eternal being.” This is the common convention, to get into self- centeredness and self-assertion, creating the triple poisons.   This is the fundamental delusion or nescience (non-witness of nirvana/bodhi, unconditioned peace/unsurpassed awakening), evolved by karmas (actions, habits, heredity, etc., even called the selfish gene) for desire/divisiveness.   The triple poisons lead to the Six Paths with limitless varieties, which is called samsara, and involves suffering due to impermanence (no self-same) and dissatisfaction (no self-sovereign) of dependently originated phenomena.   This has been the case for all beings in all places and at all times, because they are karma heirs, karma relatives, karma machines, in short, karma slaves, not knowing how and thus not acting to put an end to such state.   The Buddha could know and act the right way to solve such a slave state in samsara suffering for the first time in the history of living beings. He sat, stopped karmas, saw the dharma of dependent origination and solved suchness.   He solved the problem of nature and nurture, which Dr. Suzuki called the law of heredity and the law of ability, from the very root of life with body, mind, and the world in the dharma of dependent origination. … Continue reading →

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Dogen’s Doei (道元道詠): Poems in the Way, 34

Posted on October 3, 2013 by Rosan Daido

  Thirty casual poems at my grass hut (14):   Viewing the moon Of the mind in the great sky Was loving the color By straying in the darkness.     Sōan-no gū-ei sanjisshu (14):   Oozora-ni Kokoro-no tsuki-wo Nagamuru-mo … Continue reading →

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Manaslu & Tsum Valley, Day 8: Lamagaon

Posted on October 3, 2013 by Rosan Daido

    Heaven and earth come from the same root as myself. All things and I are one.   天地同根      萬物一體       Sêng-chao/Sõjõ (僧肇 384-414)     Today we stay in Lamagaun and visit Piren Phu, the Pigeon Cave, where Milarepa, Tibet‘s most famous yogi and poet,  meditated almost 1000 years ago.  Except for one Lama, who lives here temporarily and has been here for three years already, the monastery is only used for ceremonies. In the afternoon, we visit Rachen Gompa, a monastery for nuns.  Over 100 nuns live here, mostly children.       Dolma washing dishes with Rachen Gompa in the background (monastery)       Walking to Piren Phu passing Chortens and Mani walls       Piren Phu high up on the mountain       View to Rachen Gompa from Piren Phu       Buddhisattva Avalokiteshvara ? … Continue reading →

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Dogen’s Doei (道元道詠): Poems in the Way, 33

Posted on October 2, 2013 by Rosan Daido

  Thirty casual poems at my grass hut (13):   At the beginning of summer, Gathering young rice plants, They offer as the prayer Hirose-Tatsuta Festival.     Sōan-no gū-ei sanjisshu (13):   Sanae toru Natsu-no hajime-no Inori-ni-wa Hirose-Tatsuta-no Matsuri-wo-zo … Continue reading →

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Manaslu & Tsum Valley, Day 7: Dumje – Lamagaon

Posted on October 2, 2013 by Rosan Daido

    We should continue our practice forever.  How we continue our practice forever is  to be involved in what we are doing right now.    Shunryu Suzuki Roshi     In steep spirals, the path leads up to the high mountain valley.  For hours we do not meet anybody.  Since the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1951 – 60 years ago – the trading routes to Tibet are basically closed.       Walking on the path       Fields of amaranth       Resting beside three Chorten       Muddy path       Mandala in Kani (entrance door to a village)       Mani Wall, always to be passed on the right       Single stone of Mani wall with OM MANI PADME HUM … Continue reading →

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Dogen’s Doei (道元道詠): Poems in the Way, 32

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Rosan Daido

  Thirty casual poems at my grass hut (12):   Since spring has arisen At the hedge of the poor, I have been picking Young green s on an old field.     Sōan-no gū-ei sanjisshu (12): Shizu-no-o-no Kakine-ni haru-no … Continue reading →

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