Sandokai Translations
Merging of Difference and Unity
(Cleary, from Living by Vow)
The mind of the great sage of India
Is intimately communicated between east
and west.
People’s faculties may be dull or keen,
But in the path there are no “southern” or
“northern” ancestors.
The spiritual source shines clearly in the light;
The branching streams flow in the darkness.
Grasping at things is basically delusion;
Merging with principle is still not
enlightenment.
Each sense and every field
Interact and do not interact;
When interacting, they also merge—
Otherwise they remain in their own states.
Harmony of Difference and Equality
(Soto Shu Liturgy Conference, 1997)
The mind of the great sage of India is
intimately transmitted from west to east.
Sandokai
(Translator Unknown)
The mind of the great sage of Indian was
intimately conveyed from west to east.
While human faculties are sharp or dull, the
way has no Northern or Southern Ancestors.
Forms are basically different in material and
appearance. Sounds are fundamentally
different in pleasant or harsh quality.
“Darkness is a word for merging upper and
lower; “Light” is an expression for
distinguishing pure and defiled.
The four gross elements return to their own
natures like a baby taking to its mother; Fire
heats, wind moves, water wets, earth is solid.
Sights vary in quality and form,
Sounds differ as pleasing or harsh.
Among human beings are wise ones and
fools, but in the Way there is no northern or
southern Patriarch.
The subtle source is clear and bright; the
tributary streams flow through the darkness.
To be attached to things is illusion;
To encounter the absolute is not yet
enlightenment.
Each and all, the subjective and objective
spheres are related, and at the same time
independent.
Related, yet working differently, though each
keeps its own place.
Form makes the character and appearance
different; Sounds distinguish comfort and
discomfort.
The dark makes all words one; the brightness
distinguishes good and bad phrases.
Eye and form, ear and sound; nose and
smell, tongue and taste—
The spiritual source shines clear in the light;
The branching streams flow on in the dark.
Grasping at things is surely delusion;
according with sameness is still not
enlightenment.
All the objects of the senses
interact and yet do not.
Interacting brings involvement.
Otherwise, each keeps its place.
Refined and common speech come together
in the dark, clear and murky phrases are
distinguished in the light.
The four elements return to their natures
Just as a child turns to its mother.
Fire heats, wind moves,
Water wets, earth is solid.
Eye and sight, ear and sound,
nose and smell, tongue and taste.
The four elements return to their nature as a
child to its mother.
Fire his hot, wind moves, water is wet, earth
hard.
Eyes see, ears hear, nose smells, tongue
tastes the salt and sour.
Thus in all things
The leaves spread from the root;
The whole process must return to the source;
“Noble” and “base” are only manners of
speaking.
Right in light there is darkness, but don’t
confront it as darkenss;
Right in darkness there is light, but don’t see
it as light.
Light and dark are relative to one another
Like forward and backward steps.
All things have their function—
It is a matter of use in the appropriate
situation.
Phenomena exist like box and cover joining;
Principle accords like arrow points meeting.
Thus for each and every thing,
depending on these roots, the leaves spread
forth. Trunk and branches share the essence;
revered and common, each has its speech.
Each is independent of the other; cause and
effect must return to the great reality. The
words high and low are used relatively.
In the light there is darkness,
but don’t take it as darkness;
In the darkness there is light,
But don’t see it as light.
Light and dark oppose one another
like front and back foot in walking.
Each of the myriad things have its merit,
expressed according to function and place.
Hearing the words, you should understand
the source; Don’t make up standards of your
own
If you don’t understand the path as it meets
your eyes, How can you know the way to
walk?
Progress is not a matter of far or near,
But if you are confused, mountains and rivers
block the way.
I humbly say to those who study the mystery,
Don’t waste time.
Hearing the words, understand the meaning;
don’t set up standards of your own.
Within light there is darkness, but do not try
to understand that darkness; Within
darkness there is light, but do not look for
that light.
Light and darkness are a pair, like the foot
before and the foot behind in walking.
Each thing has its own intrinsic value and is
related to everthing else in function and
position.
Ordinary life fits the absolute as a box and its
lid. The absolute works together with the
relative like two arrows meeting in mid-air.
Reading the words you should grasp the
great reality. Do not judge by any standards.
Phenomena exist, like box and lid joining;
principle accords, like arrow points meeting.
If you don’t understand the way right before
If you do not see the Way, you do not see it
you, how will you know the path as you walk? even as you walk it.
Practice is not a matter of far or near,
But if you are confused, mountains and rivers
block your way.
I respectfully urge you who study the
mystery,
Don’t pass your days and nights in vain.
When you walk the Way, it is not near, it is
not far. If you are deluded, you are
mountains and rivers away from it.
I respectfully say to those who wish to be
enlightened: Do not waste your time by
night or day.