The first line of the Genjokoan says:
When all dharmas are the Buddha Dharma, there is delusion and realization, practice, life and death, buddhas and living beings.
This single line in itself explains the immensity of the Four Seals, and the 12 links of Dependent Origination, Pratityasamudpada; the foundational truths of the Shakyamuni Buddha’s teachings. To understand the Four Seals, you have to first go to the Three Turnings of the Wheel of Dharma and the four main schools of Buddhist philosophy.
Why does he say in the First Turning that the Four Noble Truths truly exists but in the second that nothing truly exists? What is the meaning of this seeming contradiction, asks Paramarthsamudgatha in the third gathering at Vaishali.
How the Seals and the teachings that follow evolve from this, is all contained in this single line.
You can also watch this episode on YouTube here:
The Genjokoan is a series that goes into the layers of 13th century Japanese Soto Zen master Dogen Zenji’s masterful and mystical essay.
Going forward we will be studying this relatively brief text line by line.
The Genjo Koan, Genjo meaning ‘current reality’, and Koan standing for the intersecting duality of relative and Absolute Truths, is an instrument of exploring Buddha Dharma through its foundational truths in a poetic and pithy way.
It is a great instrument of reflection like the Heart Sutra, the more you sit with it and its multiple commentaries, more facets of the diamond emerge. You will discover the words of the Shakyamuni buddha, summarizations of and references to his greatest sermons, and the pillars of Mahayana buddhism in this exposition.
We are using Shohaku Okamura’s translation and interpretation for this study, Realizing Genjokoan, though several other interpretations, just like multiple bhashyas of Patanjali’s Yogasutras, abound.
You will find both the original Genjokoan in various translations and commentaries available on several sources online. I encourage you to find the version that resonates best with you.
My intention is that you are able to use this as a jumping off point for your own contemplations and explorations, and that may lead you somewhat closer to your intended path.
Tara Das is an author, poet, and mind-body-spirit therapist.
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