1. THE INSCRIBED MODEL OF SILENT REFLECTION - AN INVESTIGATION 默照铭
曹洞宗
SILENT REFLECTION
Since it is clear that Dogen presented quite a different idea in his "just sitting," then modern Soto has distanced itself from the Caodong "Silent Reflection."
The important question is, is that a complete assessment?
If one looks carefully at this translation of 照, we find that it signifies either "according to / in accordance with / to shine / to illuminate / to reflect / to look at (one's reflection) /to take (a photo) / photo / as requested / as before."
One cannot simply take a translation out of the context of the full thread that runs through the character series. To take "illuminate" out of the context of the thread as "Illumination" in the transcendental sense is not acceptable.
Let us examine the poem titled: 默照铭
默照铭. The last character, 铭, ming,
means either "to engrave" or "inscribed model."
The Inscribed Model of Silent Reflection 默照铭
默默忘言。昭昭现前。鉴时廓尔。體處靈然。
This first set of characters is incorrectly translated in Zen circles as:
Silently and serenely one forgets all words.
Clearly and vividly it appears before one.
When one realizes it, time is limitless.
When one experiences it, one’s surroundings come to life.
When the following different and more valid alternative translation is presented of the Caodong model's first stanza, we find ONLY a coincidence in the first line.
Examine carefully the difference
默默忘言.
In silence, words are forgotten.
昭昭现前。
Brightness and clearness is presented ahead
鉴时廓尔。
The reflection period is thus empty
體處靈然.
The form of dwelling is rapidly correct.
DOES THIS SAME TREND FOLLOW IN THE SECOND VERSE WHEN A NEW TRANSLATION IS MADE THAT IS INDEPENDENT OF ZEN EXPEDIENT MEANS?
灵然独照。照中还妙。露月星河。雪松云峤。
This second set of characters is translated in Zen circles as:
Singularly illuminating is this bright awareness.
Full of wonder is this pure illumination.
The appearance of the moon, a river of stars,
Snow on pine trees, and clouds hovering on the mountain peaks.
灵然独照。
Rapid thus is the single reflection
照中还妙.
Reflection hits the mark even more wonderfully.
露月星河.
Revealing the moon and a river of stars
雪松云峤
Having the appearance of snow on pines and clouds on the highest peak
This time in the second verse we find coincidence ONLY in the translation in the last two lines. The question is, why do the descriptive phrases coincide but the meat of the text does not?
晦而弥明。隐而愈显。鹤梦烟寒。水含秋远。
This third set of characters is translated in Zen circles as:
In darkness they are glowing bright.
In obscurity they shine with resplendent light.
Like the feeling of a crane flying in empty space,
Like the still clear water of an autumn pool.
You will see that once more the four descriptions show coincidence.
晦而弥明
Darkness, yet brimming with brightness
隐而愈显
Concealed, as well as more conspicuous
鹤梦烟寒
The dream of a crane in a cold mist
水含秋远。
Water contained in Autumn distanced from oneself
浩劫空空。相与雷同。妙存默处。功忘照中。
This fourth set of characters is translated in Zen circles as:
Limitless aeons dissolve into nothingness,
Undistinguishable from one another.
In this illumination
all efforts are forgotten.
浩劫空空。
Grand Kalpas, empty and unoccupied
相与雷同.
Appearance the same mirroring the other
妙存默处。
Existing wonderfully in Silent dwelling
功忘照中。
Achievement is forgotten, reflection hitting the mark
处, chu, in the third line in Zen is translated without reason as illumination, probably only through a faulty association with the character "silent" which appears before it.
Once more, ONLY the descriptions have coincidence. Should we consider this a pattern of dissonance or a distortion at some point in history?
In the last line, an alternative is "accordingly hitting the mark."
There seems to have been in the translators' mind a retinance to translate the characters which have the necessary meaning of REFLECTION, into ILLUMINATION. This was probably to negate any possibility of "just sitting" to be interpreted as a GRADUAL CONTEMPLATION.
This, as we shall see, showed a lack of true understanding of the transators which has unfortunatly led to a grave decline in the level of practice by both teachers and students.
When one understands Caodong model, one can easily determine that the manner of correct REFLECTION is in fact a DIRECT ACCESS to the gates of awakening and is not GRADUAL.
While Caodong and Soto do provide a more difficult ABSORPTION DIRECT ACCESS for those with the capacity to perform the training and just sitting contemplation, the majority of persons should be really using the correct REFLECTION approach.
This error explains the reason why so many modern day Soto students have spent so many years embroiled in a cul de sac. The problem is amplified by the number of people who repeat the error like an parrot, actually contaminating the "silence" which is so important.
2. EITHEI DOGEN'S TREASURY OF TEACHINGS 正法眼蔵
Those who may be inclined should translate the following verses.
妙存何存。惺惺破昏。默照之道。离微之根。
Where does this wonder exist?
A startled awakening shatters the dullness,
The path of silent illumination,
The origin of the infinitesimal.
彻见离微。金梭玉机。正偏宛转。明暗因依。
To penetrate the infinitesimal,
A gold shuttle on a loom of jade.
Subject and object influence each other.
Light and darkness are mutually dependent.
依无能所。底时回互。饮善见药。檛涂毒鼓。
There is no mind or world to rely on
Yet these two are mutually interacting.
Drink the medicine of correct views.
Beat the poison-smeared drum.
回互底时。杀活在我。门里出身。枝头结果。
When these two are complementary
Killing and bringing to life are up to me.
One emerges from the door
The fruit has ripened on the branch.
默唯至言。照唯普应。应不堕功。言不涉听。
Silence is the final teaching.
Illumination is the universal response.
The response is devoid of effort.
The teaching is not heard with the ears.
万象森罗。放光说法。彼彼证明。各各问答。
All manifestations throughout the universe
Emit light and speak the Dharma.
They testify to each other
And answer each other’s questions.
问答证明。恰恰相应。照中失默。便见侵凌。
Mutually testifying and answering,
Responding in perfect harmony.
If there is illumination without serenity
Then distinctions will be seen.
证明问答。相应恰恰。默中失照。浑成剩法。
Mutually testifying and answering,
Responding in perfect harmony.
If within serenity illumination is lost,
All will become wasteful and secondary.
默照理圆。莲开梦觉。百川赴海。千峰向岳。
When the principle of silent illumination is complete
The lotus blossoms and the dreamer awakens.
The hundred rivers flow to the ocean,
The thousand peaks face the loftiest mountain.
如鹅择乳。如蜂采花。默照至得。输我宗家。
Like the goose who always chooses milk above water,
Like a bee gathering pollen from a flower,
When silent illumination reaches the ultimate
I carry on the tradition of my sect.
宗家默照。透顶透底。
The tradition of my sect is silent illumination.
It penetrates from the highest to the deepest.