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More translation and notes: Kyougebetsuden, Dogen’s Oyster poem

This post is related to the References for Kusen 274 post.

教外別傳

あら磯の波もえよせぬ高岩に かきも付くへきのりならはこそ

kyougebetsuden
intuitive awakening outside teaching

rugged coast’s
waves can’t reach
the high rock
oysters cling to it
because of the dharma

wild coastline’s waves
can’t even reach
the high rock
oysters clinging to it
buddha’s teaching reaches it

wild coastal waves
can’t get near the high rocky spinal shards,
where oysters are clinging,
like writing expressing the dharma,
inexhaustibly enlivening

wild coastal waves
can’t get near the high rocky spinal shards
where seaweed clings on
all the dharma words can be written completely
inexhaustibly expressing and unobstructed

wild coastal waves
can’t get near the high rocky spinal shards
where seaweed clings on
all the dharma can be written completely
safely permeating all space

Experiments by Shogen Blair

In zazen, we are a high cliff, white as bone
The ocean’s push is a baby’s hand:
The Dharma is written everywhere
Like white ink on white paper

Version by John Fraser

Notes:

tskukusu – finish off
kaki mo tsukubeki can write all down completely
kaki can mean scratch vb kaku
so scratch and attach, like clinging on hard with nails, emphasis on clinging on

this high rock even waves can’t reach
oyster(s) attached to the rock

Because of the buddha dharma oysters can be stuck on high rock which waves of the rough sea can’t reach

The Japanese is vague and metaphorical and subject and object not so clear, the likenesses between dharma – seaweed, oyster – dharma – practitioner – waves/ sea – teachings/ experience/ practice/ society/ world around – cliff – heart/ body – all these things are not set (we think!) and are fluid for the reader.

The actual content of poem is limited, so tempting with translation to add in more to explain, as Heine has done.

Notes in conversation with John:

Our efforts and language can’t be swept away, nor can the vigorous activity of interdependence; dharma like seaweed is always there and can always be expressed

Note similarity to other poems with small boat on waves, sea image is stormy rather than serene; the great tumultuous ocean of samsara; sea isn’t just the calm world of enlightenment, but samsara and enlightenment together

wall of bone is a person of zazen

oyster comes from ocean of words but points at something beyond words

We can express ourselves with language but our various ways to express are unlimited and inexhaustible eg words/ glances, creativity etc