The Buddha's essential functioning

[This document can be acquired from a sub-directory coombspapers via anonymous FTP and/or COOMBSQUEST gopher on the node COOMBS.ANU.EDU.AU]

The document's ftp filename and the full directory path are given in the coombspapers top level INDEX file]

[This version: 28 July 1993] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- TITLE: The Buddha's essential functioning AUTHOR: Eihei DOGEN SOURCE: The Ten Directions, Vol 2, No 2, June 1981. pp. 20 NOTES: A poem by Eihei Dogen Zenji, written approx. 1242, translated by Taizan MAEZUMI, Roshi and Neal DONNER. It complements an earlier poem by Hung-chih Cheng-chueh [T'ien-t'ung Hung-chih ] (J.Tendo Wanshi)

The Buddha's essential functioning, the partriarchs' functioning essence, manifest without deliberation and acomplishes without hindrance. Manifesting without deliberation, its manifestation is intimate of itself. Accomplishing without hindrance, its accomplishement is realized of itself. Its manifestation, intimate of itself, has never been defiled. Its accomplishement, realized of itself, is neither absolute nor relative. The intimacy that is never defiled drops away without dependence. The realization that is neither absolute nor relative penetrates without intent. Clear water soaks into the earth; the fish swims like a fish. The sky is vast and penetrates the heavens; the bird flies like a bird. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- end of file