Making a poem on the tenet of the skillful striving in zazen:

The moon settling in

The quiet mind,

Waves, being broken,

Become bright light.

 

 

Zazen kufû-no i-wo eizu:

Shizukanaru

Kokoro-no uchi-ni

Sumu tsuki-wa

Nami-mo kudakete

Hikari-to-zo naru

 

詠坐禅工夫之意:

しずかなる

心の中に栖む

月は

波もくだけて

光とぞなる

 

 

Note: In Zazen, skillful striving, one’s heart as the mind moon becomes calm and

clear, without winds and waves, like the full moon with beautiful brilliance and

pure peace in the primordial perfection (perfect round in complete satisfaction.

Sumu means “live” (住む) and “purify” (澄む) or “settle” (済む、決済/落着する)

(with both meanings) like the top settling in peace (in motion) and purity (in color).

We say “koma-ga sumu” (The top purified/settled). Zazen is settling in peace and

purity like a top settles in peace and purity at its free full function (unobstructed

and utmost). Ichiensô (一円相: One Circle Phase) symbolizes this state of  supra-

mundane in solid serene sitting – “unity in perfection of all” or “perfect oneness of

all.”

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Photo by Chantal Ansari, National Geographic