Sandokai - The Identity Of Relative And Absolute

This is a poem by the eighth Chinese Zen ancestor Shitou Xiqian (Sekito Kisen, 700–790) and a fundamental text of the Sōtō school of Zen, chanted daily in temples throughout the world. It is a beautiful poem-meditation, each phrase contains an ocean of knowledge. Let it sink in, allow your self to feel the poem.

I hope you like it, and I appreciate every feedback. It helps me a lot.
Namaste (:

Transcript

Sandokai,

The identity of relative and absolute.

The mind of the great sage of India is intimately transmitted from west to east.

Among human beings are wise ones and fools,

But in the way there is no ancestor of north or south.

The spiritual source is clear and bright,

The tributary streams flow through the darkness.

To be attached to things is illusion,

To encounter the absolute is not yet enlightenment.

Each and all the subjective and objective spheres are related and at the same time independent,

Committed and yet working differently,

Though each keeps its own place.

Form makes the character and appearance different,

Sounds distinguish comfort and discomfort.

The dark makes all worlds one,

The brightness distinguishes good and bad phrases.

The four elements return to their own nature as a child to its mother.

Fire is hot,

Wind moves,

Water is wet,

Earth hot.

Eyes see,

Ears hear,

Nose smells,

Tongue tastes the salt and the sour,

Each is independent of the other.

Cause and effect must return to the great reality.

The worlds high and low are used relatively.

Within light there is darkness,

But do not try to understand that darkness.

Within darkness there is light,

But do not look for that light.

Light and darkness are a pair,

Like the foot before and the foot behind in walking.

Each thing has its own intrinsic value and is related to everything else in function and position.

The relative fits the absolute as a box and its lead.

The absolute works together with the relative like two arrows meeting in mid air.

Reading the words you should grasp the great reality,

Do not judge by any standards.

If you do not see the way,

You do not see it even as you walk on it.

When you walk the way you are not near nor far,

But if you are deluded you are mountains and rivers away from it.

I respectfully say to those who wish to be enlightened,

Night and day,

Do not waste your time.

Reviews

🙏🏼

Thank you for this amazing lecture. Namaste (:

Sweet and sound! Namaste

Excellent meditation.
Thank you.

That was beautiful. Well done Clara.

Love this!!! Gassho!

wonderful how it calms me to know that 😊

Beautiful. Inspiring!