Blog

TO PAINT THE PORTRAIT OF A BIRD

First paint a cage
with an open door
then paint
something pretty
something simple
something beautiful
something useful
for the bird
then place the canvas against a tree
in a garden
in a wood
or in a forest
hide behind the tree
without speaking
without moving…
Sometimes the bird comes quickly
but he can just as well spend long years
before deciding
Don’t get discouraged
wait
wait years if necessary
the swiftness or slowness of the coming
of the bird having no rapport
with the success of the picture
When the bird comes
if he comes
observe the most profound silence
wait till the bird enters the cage
and when he has entered
gently close the door with a brush
then
paint out all the bars one by one
taking care not to touch any of the feathers of the bird
Then paint the portrait of the tree
choosing the most beautiful of its branches
for the bird
paint also the green foliage and the wind’s freshness
the dust of the sun
and the noise of insects in the summer heat
and then wait for the bird to decide to sing
If the bird doesn’t sing
it’s a bad sign
a sign that the painting is bad
but if he sings it’s a good sign
a sign that you can sign
so then so gently you pull out
one of the feathers of the bird
and you write yours name in a corner of the picture

– Jacques Prevert, translated by Lawrence Ferlinghetti

Sabine Timoteo’s erster Tag als Antaiji-Tenzo. Nach nur 5 Tagen als Jisuis Assistent in der Kueche wird sie nun fuer die naechsten fuenf Tage verantwortlich fuer unser koerperliches Wohlbefinden sein.
Heute, am Morgen eines freien Tages, gibt es erst einmal ein Fruehstueck mit Sandwiches, gefuellt mit Karrotten und Tobinambur.
Waehrend sie sich um die Kueche kuemmert, bereitet Tsukan im Essraum die Tische vor, Eko macht Buero arbeiten, Yudai studiert und Gusho versucht bis zum Fruehstueck noch kurz Satori zu erlangen. Der Rest schlaeft noch.

Wir sind inzwischen mit der Ringvorlesung ueber das Gakudoyojinshu ans Ende gekommen, und seit gestern geht es um den Bendowa-Text von Dogen. Heute war Gusho an der Reihe, „Jijuyuzanmai“ zu erklaeren. Ein zentraler Begriff, der in der englischen Uebersetzung unten als „self-joyous meditation“ wiedergegeben wird. Leider lief der Kamera die Batterie aus, bevor Gusho seine eigene Antwort geben konnte.

Uebersetzung von Prof. Masunaga Reiho (gefunden hier: http://www.zenki.com/index.php?lang=en&page=bendo01)

The various Buddhas and Tathagatas have a most enlightened way of realizing superior wisdom and transmitting the supreme law. When transmitted from Buddha to Buddha, its mark is self-joyous meditation. To enter this meditation naturally, right sitting is the true gate. Though each man has Buddha-nature in abundance, he cannot make it appear without practice or live it without enlightenment. If you let it go, it fills your hand; it transcends the one and many. If you talk about it, it fills your mouth; it is beyond measurement by height and width. All Buddhas eternally have their abode here without becoming attached to one-sided recognition. All beings are working here without attachment to sides in each recognition. The devices and training that I teach now manifest all things in original enlightenment and express unity in action. And when you thoroughly understand, why cling to such trifles as these?

On awakening of the desire to seek the way, I visited Buddhist masters in all parts of the country. Finally I met Zenko (Myozen, disciple of Eisai) at Kennin temple. The nine years that If served as his follower passed quickly. From him I heard about the Rinzai style. Zenko, as the leading disciple of Eisai, truly transmitted the highest Buddhism. Other disciples could not […]