Pages

Monday 24 February 2014

DOGEN ZENJI: ENLIGHTENMENT

Enlightenment is like the moon reflected on the water. The moon does not get wet, nor is the water broken. Although its light is wide and great, the moon is reflected even in a puddle an inch wide. The whole moon and the entire sky are reflected in dewdrops on the grass, or even in one drop of water. Enlightenment does not divide you, just as the moon does not break the water. You cannot hinder enlightenment, just as a drop of water does not hinder the moon in the sky. The depth of the drop is the height of the moon. Each reflection, however long or short its duration, manifests the vastness of the dewdrop, and realizes the limitlessness of the moonlight in the sky.

Dogen Zenji (1200 - 1253)




3 comments:

  1. What a beautiful and poetic saying!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. very profound too..especially 'Enlightenment does not divide you, just as the moon does not break the water. '...'Each reflection, however long or short its duration, manifests the vastness of the dewdrop, and realizes the limitlessness of the moonlight in the sky.'

      Delete