At the Zen Center tonight, after our usual two periods of zazen, we read the 11th Chapter of Book 1 of Shobogenzo Zuimonki:

Dogen instructed, "Impermanence is swift; life-and-death is a vital matter. For the short while you are alive, if you wish to study or practice some activity, just practice the Buddha-Way and study the buddha-dharma. Since literature and poetry are useless, you should give them up. Even when you study the buddha-dharma and practice the Buddha-Way, do not study extensively. Needless to say, refrain from learning the Exoteric and Esoteric scriptures of the teaching-schools. Do not be fond of learning on a large scale, even the sayings of the buddhas and patriarchs. It is difficult for us untalented and inferior people to concentrate on and complete even one thing. It is no good at all to do many things at the same time and lose steadiness of mind."

Shohaku Okomura's excellent footnotes explain that life-and-death, or birth-and-death, is a translation of shoji, or in Sanskrit, samsara, which means transmigration within the six realms of delusion. In Shobogenzo Shoji (Life-and-Death), however, Dogen said, “Life-and-death is the precious Life of the Buddha. For human beings, clarifying the reality of life-and-death is the great matter.”

Impermanence is also usually used in a negative sense, though Dogen quoted the Sixth Patriarch in Shobogenzo Bussho (Buddha-nature), “Therefore, grass, trees, and bushes are impermanent, and are nothing but Buddha-nature. Human beings and things, body and mind are impermanent, and are nothing but Buddha-nature. The earth, mountains, and rivers are impermanent, because they are Buddha-nature. Supreme awareness (Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi) is impermanent, since it is Buddha-nature. The great Nirvana is Buddha-nature since it is impermanent.”

Finally, I think Dogen's reference to "us untalented and inferior people" refers to the theory of the decline of the Dharma, popular during Dogen's time. According to this theory, the age of Semblance Dharma, when the practice and teaching remain, follows the age of the True Dharma, when the Buddha's enlightenment is present as well as the practice and teaching. The Semblance Dharma is followed by the Final Dharma age, in which only the teaching remains. Okumura noted that Dogen usually disputes the ultimate truth of this theory, believing in the current possibility of practice and awakening. But he does use the theory, as above, as an expedient means to encourage students, going on to say that this is especially the time to practice diligently.

The conversation eventually morphed into everyone's recollection of what they were doing on September 11, 2001 (haven't heard that conversation in a while). I got home in time to watch the Celtics rally back from a 28-point deficit to come to within 3 points against the Orlando Magic, but fall short of a win at the final buzzer. Tonight's lesson in acceptance.

But the Red Sox are leading New York 4-0 right now in a rain-delayed game at Yankee Stadium.