Shundo David Haye – Zen Priest

‘What we call the Way is the imprint of the footsteps of the sages of the past. That is to say, the traces sages have left on the road they have taken. To take this Way is to make it one’s own and make it one’s own lifeline. To put it another ways in realizing our true nature we ourselves become the Way, each one all the while walking it in his own manner.’ (Commentary on the Song of Awakening)

I remember being very excited when this translation was published, as I was eager to read how this venerable teacher talked about the Shodoka; mostly I was disappointed as he meandered off to discuss all kinds of topics in his somewhat ribald way. I have dug it out again ahead of my class next weekend; at the very least, we will likely use Tonen O’Connor’s translation of the poem itself as our primary source.