Rochester Zen Center Version |
The Great Way is not difficult
When pref'rences are cast aside
But even slight distinctions made
If you would clearly see the truth,
To founder in dislike and like
And not to see the Way's deep truth
The Way is perfect like vast space,
Our choice to choose and to reject
Both striving for the outer world
Just calmly see that all is One
Attempts to stop activity
If there's a trace of right and wrong,
From One-mind comes duality,
When this One-mind rests undisturbed
And when no thing can give offense,
If all thought-objects disappear
For things are things because of mind,
These two are merely relative
In Emptiness these are not two,
Once coarse and fine are seen no more,
The Great Way is without limit,
But those who hold to narrow views
If you're attached to anything,
Both gain and loss, and right and wrong--
When you no longer are asleep,
If mind does not discriminate,
To go to this mysterious Source
When all is seen with "equal mind,"
This single mind goes right beyond
Seek movement and there's no-movement,
When rest and no-rest cease to be,
This ultimate finality's
With single mind one with the Way,
Doubts and confusion disappear,
There is no thing that clings to us,
Remaining in duality,
And not to know this unity
When you assert that things are real
But to assert that things are void
The more you talk and think on this
Cut off all useless thoughts and words
Returning to the root itself,
If you pursue appearances
Awak'ning is to go beyond
All changes in this empty world
Do not go searching for the truth,
Abide not in duality,
Just let go now of clinging mind,
See into the true self of things,
But live in bondage to your thoughts,
This heavy burden weighs you down--
If you would walk the highest Way,
For as it is, whole and complete,
The wise do not strive after goals,
The One Way knows no diff'rences,
To seek Great Mind with thinking mind
From small mind come rest and unrest,
Delusion spawns dualities--
All's self-revealing, void and clear,
Thought cannot reach this state of truth,
In this true world of Emptiness
To enter this true empty world,
In this "not-two" all is the same,
The wise in all times and places
The Way's beyond all space, all time,
Not only here, not only there,
Distinctions such as large and small
The largest is the smallest too--
What is is not, what is not is --
One thing is all, all things are one--
When faith and Mind are not separate,
For here there is no yesterday,
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Source: Pages 16-22 of "Rochester Zen Center's Chant Book Copyright Rochester Zen Center 1990." Used with permission of the Rochester Zen Center.
Go back to Richard B. Clarke's Translation
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