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Sekito Kisen's Sandokai: The Identity of Relative and Absolute – Part 1
Episode 74
Published 7 years, 10 months ago
Description
Sandokai is a teaching poem composed by Chinese Chan (Zen) master Sekito Kisen (Shitou Xiqian, 700-790). It's recited daily in Soto Zen temples throughout the world. In this episode I explore the meaning of the Sandokai and why it's given such a central place in Soto Zen. I discuss the "big deal" about absolute and relative (why Zen talks about this topic so much), read the poem, and then start exploring it line by line. I only get part way through, so I'll finish up the exploration next week.