Dogen’s “Doei (道元道詠): Poems in the Way,” 1

 

 

Dogen’s poems were collected by Toun Kishun, 8th abbot of Hokyoji Temple in Oh’ei

27 (1420 C.E.), 168 years after Dogen’s parinirvana, passing away, and later added.

The first one is on his journey from Eiheiji to Kyoto for his medical care. Koun Ejo,

his successor, and Tettsu Gikai, the Ejo’s successor, accompanied him, but the latter

had to bid final farewell to Dogen to take care of Eiheiji at Mt. Kinome Pass, about

thirty miles from Eiheiji and about forty miles to Kyoto. Dogen passed away twenty

three days later (August 28, 1253 C.E.). The poem and the note on it is as follows:

 

The founder of the mountain monastery went up to Kyoto on the fifth of August in

Kencho 5 (1253 C.E) and made the following poem:

 

The one who renounced

At the gate of grass blades

Feels like being in the cloud –

Path at Mount Kinome

 

Kusanohani

kadodeserumino

Kinomeyama

Kumoni okaaru

Kokochikososure

 

草の葉に

かどでせる身の

木部山

雲におかある

心地こそすれ

 

kinometouge 13-06 (2)

Kinome-toge, Kinome Pass, Tree-bud Pass, beyond which is the Remote Places or Deep Provinces

 

kinometouge 13-06 (13)

Kinome-toge separating Kyoto-Yamato area culture and beyond (remote provinces)

 

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Tomb stones of Dogen (center), Ejo (left), and Gikai (right)

and the description of the parting of the master and his

disciple at Kinome Pass

 

IMG_0202

 

The translated poems are from the Limitless Life – Dogen’s World by

Rosan Osamu Yoshida, published by Missouri Zen Center in 1999 C.E.

The remaining poems will be posted successively in this blog site.

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