As we approach the full moon, a final commentary from Dogen, this time on the ninth precept, ‘I vow not to harbour ill will’:
‘Not negative, not positive, neither real nor unreal. There is an ocean of illuminated clouds, and an ocean of bright clouds.’
Reading Enkyo O’Hara Roshi’s book, Most Intimate, she offered a different translation in her chapter on anger that helped illuminate the meaning:
‘Not advancing, not retreating, not real, not empty. There is an ocean of bright clouds. There is an ocean of solemn clouds.’
Shundo David Haye 