Today’s NHK program “Meet the Legend” was on Hojo Shuji, a drama writer. He and Kikuta Kazuo negotiated hard to get on board an airplane from Taipei to Japan, but failed. Later, reading a newspaper extra issue in their hotel, they learned that the plane had been lost in the nearby Okinawa ocean, with all its passengers. He and Kikuta were shocked and decided that they would devote their whole lives to what they truly wanted, taking it that they had died that very day.
Upon the news of the Buddha’s last moment, disciples gathered around him. He turned to them and said, “If you have any questions about Dhamma, Sangha, and practice, ask them now.” No one asked. He repeated his words and said, “It may be that you do not ask out of respect. That is not good. Ask as a friend asks another friend.” Ananda said, “No one seems to have any questions.” The Buddha said, “Now, mendicants, I say, all things in the world are impermanent. Strive without indolence. These are my last words.” The Buddha breathed his last in the depth of night. He betook himself to Mahâparinibbâna, Great Complete Peace.
Thus, these words are inscribed on a wooden board and it is hit to warn Zen practitioners.
生死事大 shôjiji dai
無常迅速 mujô jinsoku
各宜醒覚 kaku gi shôkaku
慎勿放逸 shin butsu houitsu
Imforming the Great Assembly:
The Matter of Birth and Death is Great.
Impermanence is Swift.
All Be Wakeful about This.
Accomplish without indolence.
– The Standard Observances of Soto Zen School
(The last sentence modified to reflect the original.)
Note:
The last sentence in the original Pali reads:
“Ap-pamâdena sampâdetha!”
“Without indolence, strive in attaining (the goal: nirvana/bodhi)!”
pamâda: indolence
mâda: indolence, carelessness
mada: intoxication, intoxicant, rut
Triple intoxications:
ârogya-mada: intoxication in health
yobana-mada: intoxication in youth
jîvita-mada: intoxication in life
sampâdetha: wishing you attain/accomplish
upa-sampadâ: full ordination (completely provided)
Striving itself is attaining, sitting and stopping karmas, thus
cultivation itself is verification. Sitting in Zazen is the Buddha
seal – anyone wholly sitting is sealed in the holy Buddha nature.
