Poetry Stones #4–6
#4
The fourth monument is located just west of Gallery Neiha, next to an old lamppost. It is inscribed with a poem reflecting on the nature of daily practice:
mamoru tomo
omowazu nagara
oyamada no
itazura naranu
kakashi narikeri
Though limp at its post
the useless-seeming scarecrow
does not realize
how important it is to
the small mountain rice paddy
Explanation:
The scarecrow is simply doing what it has always done, and it may not feel like it is really accomplishing anything. But by watching over the fields, the scarecrow is fulfilling its own important role. The same is true of us in our day-to-day lives.
#5
The fifth monument can be found in Eiheiji’s pocket park, a small grassy area with benches and a friendly looking statue of Ksitigarbha, a bodhisattva known as a protector of children:
kono kyō no
kokoro o ureba
yononaka no
uri kau koe mo
hō o toku kana
If you understand
the Lotus Sutra’s essence
even the sounds of
the bustling marketplace
will seem to preach the dharma
Explanation:
This poem serves as an important reminder that one does not need to become a monk to practice the teachings of the Buddha. Even a layperson can recite and understand the meaning of sutras while working hard in their chosen occupation.
#6
Continuing in the direction of Eiheiji Temple, visitors will find the sixth monument alongside the street across from the pocket park:
itazura ni
sugosu tsukihi wa
ōkeredo
michi o motomuru
toki zo sukunaki
How many they are
the days and months spent idly
doing this or that
and yet how ever scarcer
our time spent seeking the Way
Explanation:
In a world filled with desires and distractions, it can be difficult to devote oneself to Zen practice. It is crucial to make a wholehearted effort every single day, regardless of how hectic life may feel.
