Poetry Stones #1–3
The street leading to Eiheiji Temple is dotted with nine stone monuments inscribed with poems composed by Zen Master Dōgen (1200–1253), the founder of the Sōtō school of Zen Buddhism in Japan. The poems encourage visitors to reflect on the spirit of Zen and incorporate the teachings of Buddhism into their daily lives. Each poem consists of 31 syllables divided into five lines of 5, 7, 5, 7, and 7 syllables.
#1
The first monument is located in a corner of Eiheiji’s Chōei Dai-1 parking lot:
mizudori no
yuku mo kaeru mo
ato taete
saredomo michi wa
wasure zari keri
The waterfowl
whether coming or going
do not leave ripples,
but even as they paddle
they do not forget the way
Explanation:
Gliding through the water without leaving any trace, ducks and geese seem carefree. However, beneath the water they are constantly paddling, and they never lose sight of which direction they are going.
#2
The second monument is located just outside the entrance to Eiheiji Temple, next to a square plinth bearing a tall, stone stele on which the temple’s name is carved.
nigori naki
kokoro no mizu ni
sumu tsuki wa
nami mo kudakete
hikari to zo naru
Even the waves break
and turn to shimmering light
upon the pale moon
dwelling in the waters of
a pure and unclouded mind
Explanation:
When engaging in seated Zen practice, the mind should be calm and free of distractions, like a still pond that reflects the light of the moon.
#3
The third monument is tucked away in a garden in front of Gallery Neiha, a tile-roofed store that sells traditional crafts of the Echizen region (Fukui Prefecture):
fuyukusa mo
mienu yukino no
shirasagi wa
ono ga sugata ni
mi o kakushi keri
To a white heron
standing in a snowy field
it is not soon clear
where the white heron’s shape ends
and the withered grass begins
Explanation:
Standing alone in a field, the white heron can hardly be distinguished from the snowy landscape. Likewise, followers of the dharma should wholeheartedly engage in Buddhist practice until they realize their own Buddha-nature.
