I

The migrating bird

leaves no trace behind

and does not need a guide.

 

II

As he listened,

mindlessly,

the eavesdrops entered him.

 

Dogen Zengi (1200 to 1253 AD) was the founder of the Soto school of Zen in Japan.  The two poems above are waka, a poetic form which preceded the haiku. Dogen promoted the practice of zazen, sitting meditation. It is easy to imagine these two powerful insights arising from that practice.

The migrating bird that leaves no trace and needs no guide presents not only a visual image from the world around us, but a short instruction on how to live our lives. While many of us at the beginning of our spiritual journey look for teachers and gurus, Dogen reminds us, as did J. Krishnamurti, who said that “truth is a pathless land” which can only be trodden by ourselves.  .

The second waka is especially poignant and immediate. When we sit or act mindlessly, we are completely open to both the inner and the outer world. The moment of connection can be bridged from any of the senses; in this case, hearing. This is reminiscent of Christ saying, “He who has ears, let him hear.” When the thinking mind is absent, the ears can be great deep wells of awareness, willingly receiving the humble raindrops.