水のさとり | A reflection on water

禅というからには心がテーマかと思いきや、その心の目はひたすら外に向かう。While Zen Buddhism is generally believed to be about the inner state of mind, Dogen’s eye is directed to areas outside of mind.

正法眼蔵に特徴的なのは、山に水に月に花に鳥や魚、目に見え声が聞こえるリアルな風景への言及が多いことだ。禅というからには心がテーマかと思いきや、むしろその心の目はひたすら外に向っている。

依自にあらず　依他にあらず　依水の透脱あり

：「山水経」正法眼蔵第二十九

自分の力でもなく、師に随ってでもなく、水による覚りというものがある。ならば、水を磨こう。水を究めよう。水を磨くとは、水をみる眼を磨くことだ。水をみる眼は火をもみる。火もまた磨くべし。

映画「火天の城」によれば、信長は安土城竣工の夜、千本の松明を灯して城の姿を湖水に映し、工人たちの奮闘を讃えたと伝えられる。

What impresses the readers of Shobogenzo is, among other things, that its text is so rich in remarks about natural things like mountains, waters, flowers, stars, birds, fishes and so on, which are visible, audible, and tangible. While Zen Buddhism is generally believed to be teachings and practices into the inner state of mind, Dogen’s eye is directed to areas outside of mind.

Not by yourself, not by your teacher, but by water that you will be awakened.

: Mountains and Waters Sutra, Ch.29 Shobogennzo

If so, why not polish water? To polish water is to polish your eyes to see water. Your polished eyes will then see fire, where your polishing practice will begin again.

In a movie “Castle of the Sky Fire”, the samurai-king Oda Nobunaga placed a thousand torches around the Azuchi Catsle at completion to reflect the illuminated edifice on the water of Lake Biwa, showing his satisfaction and appreciation to all the craftsmen.