Identity Of Relative & Absolute (Sandokai) Audio Reading

The Sandōkai is a poem by the eighth Chinese Zen ancestor Sekito Kisen (700–790) and a fundamental text of the Sōtō school of Zen, chanted daily in temples throughout the world. English translations of the title, some more and some less literal include "Merging of Difference and Unity", "Merging of Difference and Equality", "Agreement of Difference and Unity" or "Identity of Relative and Absolute. Please enjoy listening to this meditative audio reading.

Transcript

The mind of the great sage of India was intimately conveyed from west to east.

Among human beings are wise ones and fools,

But in the way there is no northern or southern ancestor.

The subtle source is clear and bright.

The tributary stream flows 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,

Related 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 words one.

The brightness distinguishes good and bad phrases.

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

Fire is hot,

Wind moves,

Water is wet,

Earth hard,

I see.

Ears hear,

Nose smells,

Tongue tastes,

The salt and sour.

In accordance with each dharma the root gives rise to separate leaves.

Root and branch must return to the great reality.

The words 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.

Ordinary life fits the absolute as a box and its lid.

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

Reading words you should grasp the great reality,

But 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,

It is not near,

It is not far.

If you are deluded,

You are mountains and rivers away from it.

I respectfully say to those who wish to be enlightened,

Do not waste your time by night or day.