普勧坐禅儀 / Universal Recommendations for Zazen
Fukanzazengi is the universal recommendations for zazen written by Dogen. It explains Zazen clearly in relatively simple words as to what is Zazen, posture of Zazen, mental condition during Zazen. In some Zendo and Zazenkai, every day's activity is completed by chanting Fukanzazengi at the end of the last Zazen. Below is text of Fukanzazengi in English. FUKANZAZENGI The Way is basically perfect and all-pervading. How could it be contingent upon practice and realization? The dharma-vehicle is free and untrammeled. What need is there for people's concentrated effort? Indeed, the Whole Body is far beyond the world's dust. Who could believe in a means to brush it clean? It is never apart from one right where one is. What is the use of going off here and there to practice? And yet, if there is the slightest discrepancy, the Way is as distant as heaven from earth. If the least like or dislike arises, the Mind is lost in confusion. Suppose one gains pride of understanding and inf...