From this month’s second Zen maxim in Japanese site of Rinzai-Obaku Zen.
When we are young, we tend to speak of our achievements, our ideas, and what we believe to be right.
Yet before speaking of a life whose conclusion has not yet been written, perhaps we might quietly turn our eyes toward the footsteps of those who came before us.
In doing so, we may come to realise that we are not trees growing alone, but stand upon the countless fallen blossoms and fruits that came before us.
老来仏法都忘却 独立閑庭数落梅 (ろうらいぶっぽうすべてぼうきゃくす、ひとりかんていにたちてらくばいをかぞう）
臨黄ネットの今月のふたつ目の禅語から。
人は若いうち、自らの成果や思想や正しさを語りたくなるものです。
しかし、まだ結論の出ていない自らの生を語る前に、静かに先人たちの足跡へ目を向けてみるのはいかがでしょうか。
その時、自分もまた一本だけで生えた木ではなく、多くの落ちた花や実りの先に立っているのだと気づかされます。
Ahakoa ka wareware katoa te ako a te Dharma, e tū mokemoke ana au i te māra mārie, e tatau ana i ngā pua paramu e taka ana
Hei tā te kōrero tuarua o te marama i te wāhanga Hapani o te Rinzai-Obaku Zen.
I a tātou e rangatahi ana, he hiahia nō tātou ki te kōrero mō ā tātou whakatutukitanga, ā tātou whakaaro, me ngā mea e whakapono ana tātou he tika.
Engari i mua i te kōrero mō tō tātou ake oranga kāore anō kia oti te tuhi, tērā pea me tahuri puku atu ki ngā tapuwae o te hunga kua haere i mua i a tātou.
Nā reira ka mōhio tātou, ehara tātou i te rākau e tupu mokemoke ana, engari e tū ana i muri i ngā puāwai kua taka me ngā hua kua puta i mua i a tātou.
