Ryugin: Commentary with Seiso Roshi
Glossary of Terms:
Terms are listed in the order that they appear in the text
Withered Trees- Sitting in stillness, “vivid state of non-emotion,” Sitting non-attached
Dragon’s Moan (Howl, Song)- Expression of enlightenment
Inside the Skull- Sitting in stillness
Lion’s Roar- Buddha’s preaching, “vibrant awareness.”
Dead Ash- Sitting in stillness
Meet Spring- “Total experience of reality,” Realization
Sea Dried Up- Realization
Horns Growing out of the Head- Becoming realized or enlightened
Mountain Trees- Still, still state of sitting in zazen
Ocean Trees- Sitting in the depths of being
Sky Trees- Sitting in the realization of emptiness
Gourd- The gourd refers to a Master as a vessel for the Water of the True Dharma Eye, which is passed on through mind-to-mind transmission from ancestor to ancestor.
Many of these images are connected and synonymous. Dogen writes:
“The sea having dried up is the tree having withered and the tree having withered is meeting spring.” (Nishijima & Cross). Nishijima also notes that the character for withered and dried is the same.
Ryugin, “Dragon’s Song” Two Translations
Barre Zen Meditation Center Kokyoji, (Eternal Mirror Temple) 