Difference and Unity: Introduction to the Sandokai
"The Sandōkai (Chinese: 參同契; pinyin: Cāntóngqì) is a poem by the eighth Chinese Zen ancestor Shitou Xiqian (Sekito Kisen, 700–790) and a fundamental text of the Sōtō school of Zen, chanted daily in temples throughout the world."(Wikipedia)
This talk is an introduction to this important text, and is based on the OBC translation given below. It also refers to two translations which are given in the book Branching Streams Flow in the Darkness (see references).
The title of the Sandōkai is often translated as something like The Merging of Difference and Unity. The scripture discusses two seemingly different ways of seeing the world: seeing things as separate entities, and seeing the unity of all things. It uses the image of darkness and light to show how these two go together.
Rev. Master Daishin also gives a commentary on the Sandōkai in his book Buddha Recognizes Buddha (see references).
Duration: 25:46.
The Text
This is the OBC translation of the Sandōkai used in our daily ceremonial:
Sandōkai
From west to east, unseen, flowed out the Mind of India's greatest Sage
And to the source kept true as an unsullied stream is clear.
Although by wit and dullness the True Way is varied,
Yet it has no Patriarch of south or north.
Here born, we clutch at things
And then compound delusion, later on, by following ideals
Each sense gate and its object all together enter thus in mutual relations
And yet stand apart in a uniqueness of their own, — depending and yet non-depending both.
In form and feel component things are seen to differ deeply
Thus are voices, in inherent isolation, soft or harsh.
Such words as high and middle darkness match
Light separates the murky from the pure.
The properties of the four elements together draw
Just as a child returns unto its mother.
Lo! — The heat of fire, — the moving wind, — the water wet, — the earth all solid
Eyes to see, — sounds heard and smells; — upon the tongue the sour, salty taste.
And yet, in each related thing, — as leaves grow from the roots,
End and beginning here return unto the source — and "high" and "low" are used respectively.
Within all light is darkness
But explained it cannot be by darkness that one-sided is alone.
In darkness there is light
But, here again, by light one-sided it is not explained.
Light goes with darkness
As the sequence does of steps in walking
All things herein have inherent, great potentiality,
Both function, rest, reside within.
Lo! — With the ideal comes the actual,
Like a box all with its lid
Lo! — With the ideal comes the actual,
Like two arrows in mid-air that meet.
Completely understand herein
The basic Truth within these words
Lo! — Hear! — Set up not your own standards.
If, from your experience of the senses, — basic Truth you do not know,
How can you ever find the path that certain is, — no matter how far distant you may walk?
As you walk on distinctions between near and far are lost
And, — should you lost become, — there will arise obstructing mountains and great rivers.
This I offer to the seeker of great Truth,
Do not waste time.
References
- Kennett, Jiyu. The Liturgy Of The Order Of Buddhist Contemplatives For The Laity. Mt. Shasta, Calif.: Shasta Abbey Press, 1990. Print.
- Morgan, Daishin. Buddha Recognizes Buddha. Hexham: Throssel Hole Press, 2009. Print.
- Suzuki, Shunryū et al. Branching Streams Flow In The Darkness. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1999. Print.