Shundo David Haye – Zen Priest

‘Dogen Zenji says there is a standard of practice which is called jijuyu zammai. Ji means of itself. Ju means to receive, to accept. Yu means to function. Zammai is samadhi. Professor Masanaga translated this as the self-joyous samadhi. I translate it living vivid samadhi, accepting your life in the reality of the present.

This vivid living samadhi looks like a spinning top standing upright on the floor on one very thin foot. Within its movement there are both static and dynamic aspects.

Jiuru zammai, Dogen Zenji says, is based on shikan taza or zazen. Even though I explain many times how to sit in meditation, straighten your back or your head or your mouth (“Where are your hands? Where is your tongue?”), unless you get the taste of your own zazen, straightening your own back and head, taking care of your mouth, tongue, hands, how can I guide your life? Within this zazen is your own vivid living samadhi in life. At that time you can learn what the dharma is.’ (from Wind Bell)

“Living vivid samadhi” sounds like a good translation of this key phrase from Dogen, who was always leaning on “vitality” as we actualise the practice.