The Identity of Relative and Absolute

Ø Ø Ø The Identity of Relative and Absolute Ø

The mind of the Great Sage of India

Is intimately conveyed west and east.

Among human beings are wise ones and fools

In the Way there is no teacher of north and south.

The subtle Source is clear and bright;

The branching streams flow in the dark.

To be attached to things is primordial illusion;

To encounter the absolute is not yet enlightenment. Ø

All spheres, every sense and field

Intermingle even as they shine alone,

Interacting even as they merge,

Yet keeping their places in expressions of their own.

Forms differ primarily in shape and character

And sounds in harsh or soothing tones.

The dark makes all words one;

The brightness distinguishes good and bad phrases.

The four elements return to their true nature

As a child to its mother.

Fire is hot, water is wet,

Wind moves and the earth is dense.

Eye and form, ear and sound, nose and smell,

Tongue and taste, the sweet and sour:

Each independent of the other

Like leaves that come from the same root.

And though leaves and root must go back to the Source Both root and leaves have their own uses.

Light is also darkness, But do not move with it as darkness.

Darkness is light; Do not see it as light.

Light and darkness are not one, not two

Like the foot before and the foot behind in walking. Ø Each thing has its own being

Which is not different from its place and function. The relative fits the absolute

As a box and its lid.

The absolute meets the relative

Like two arrow points that meet in mid air. Ø 

Hearing this, simply perceive the Source, Make no criterion. If you do not see the Way,

You do not see it even as you walk on it.

When you walk the Way you draw no nearer, Progress no farther.

Who fails to see this 

Is mountains and rivers away. o 

Listen, those who would pierce this subtle matter; o Do not waste your time by night or day!

Buddha nature pervades the whole Universe, existing right here, now. In  reciting The Identity of Relative and Absolute, we dedicate its merits to our  Ancestor’s Lineage of: 

  1. Prajna Paramita Honored One
  2. Vipasyn Buddha Honored One
  3. Shikhn Buddha Honored One
  4. Visvashu Buddha Honored One
  5. Krakucchanda Buddha Honored One
  6. Kanakamuni Buddha Honored One
  7. Kasyapa Buddha Honored One
  8. Shakyamuni ∆ Buddha Honored One
  9. Mahakashyapa Honored One
  10. Ananda Honored One
  11. Shanavasa Honored One
  12. Upagupta Honored One
  13. Dhritaka Honored One
  14. Michaka Honored One
  15. Vasumitra Honored One
  16. Buddhanandi Honored One
  17. Buddhamitra Honored One
  18. Parshva Honored One
  19. Punyashas Honored One
  20. Ashvaghosa Honored One
  21. Kapimala Honored One
  22. Nagarjuna Honored One
  23. Aryadeva Honored One
  24. Rahulata Honored One
  25. Sanghanandi Honored One
  26. Gayashata Honored One
  27. Kumorata Honored One
  28. Jayata Honored One
  29. Vasubandhu Honored One
  30. Manorhita Honored One
  31. Haklenayashas Honored One
  32. Aryasimha Honored One
  33. Basiasita Honored One
  34. Punyamitra Honored One
  35. Prajñatara Honored One Ø
  36. Bodhidharma Honored One
  37. T’ai-tsu Hui-k’o Honored One  (T’ai tsu Hway k_)
  38. Chien-chih Seng-ts’an Honored One (Jien Jer Sung Tsan)
  39. Ta-man Hung-jen Honored One (Da man Hung-run)
  40. Ta-chien Hui-neng Honored One (Da jien Hway nung)
  41. Ch’ing-yuan Hsing-su Honored One (Chin yuan Shinsuh)
  42. Shih-t’ou Hsi-ch’ien Honored One (Sher to Shi chien)
  43. Yao-shan Wei-yen Honored One (Yow shan Way yen)
  44. Yun-yen T’an-sheng Honored One (Yun yen Tan shung)
  45. Tung-shan Liang-chieh Honored One (Dung shan Li-ang ji-e)
  46. Yun-Chu Tao-ying Honored One (Yun ju Dow ying)
  47. T’ung-an Tao-p’i Honored One (Tung an Dowpeh)
  48. T’ung-an Kuan-chih Honored One (Tung an Guan jer)
  49. Liang-shan Yuan-kuan Honored One (Li-ang shan Yu-an guan)
  50. Ta-yang Ching-hsuan Honored One (Da yang Jing shu-an)
  51. T’ou-tzu I-ch’ing Honored One (To tz_ I-ching)
  52. Fu-jung Tao-k’ai Honored One (Fu wrung Dow kai)
  53. Tan-hsia Tzu-ch’un Honored One (Dan shia tzuh chun)
  54. Chen-hsieh Ch’ing-liao Honored One  (Jun shi-e Ching li-ow)
  55. T’ien-t’ung Tsun-chueh Honored One  (Tein tung San ju-e)
  56. Cho-an Chih-chien Honored One  (J_-an Jer jien)
  57. T’ien-t’ung Ju-ching Honored One  (Tien tung Ru-jing) Ø
  58. Eihei Dogen Honored One
  59. Koun Ejo Honored One
  60. Tetsu Gikai Honored One
  61. Keizan Jokin Honored One
  62. Gasan Joseki Honored One
  63. Taigen Soshin Honored One
  64. Baizan Monpon Honored One
  65. Nyochu Tengin Honored One
  66. Kisan Shosan Honored One
  67. Morin Shihan Honored One
  68. Shoshi Sotai Honored One
  69. Kenchu Hantetsu Honored One
  70. Daiju Soko Honored One
  71. Kinpo Jusen Honored One
  72. Kajin Sochin Honored One
  73. Tetsuei Seiton Honored One
  74. Shukoku Choton Honored One
  75. Ketsuzan Tetsuei Honored One
  76. Hoshi Soon Honored One
  77. Goho Kainon Honored One
  78. Tenkei Denson Honored One
  79. Shozan Monko Honored One
  80. Niken Sekiryo Honored One
  81. Reitan Roryu Honored One
  82. Kakujo Tosai Honored One
  83. Kakuan Ryogu Honored One
  84. Ryoka Daibai Honored One
  85. Ungan Guhaku Honored One
  86. Baian Hakujun Honored One
  87. Taizan Maezumi Honored One
  88. Bernie Tetsugen Honored One

May we realize our Awakened Nature and show our gratitude by  accomplishing the Buddha Way together. 

Ø ALL BUDDHAS THROUGHOUT SPACE AND TIME

Ø ALL BODHISATTVA MAHASATTVAS

Ø WISDOM ° BEYOND ° WISDOM °

MAHA °° PRAJNA °°° PARAMITA ° ° ° ° ° °

(ringdown) ° Bow

° Bow

° ° Bow