Spring Does Not Become Summer

Text

Firewood becomes ash, and does not become firewood again. Yet do not think that the ash is after and the firewood is before. Firewood abides in its dharma-position as firewood, with its own before and after. Spring does not become summer. We do not say that spring becomes summer. There is spring, and there is summer. Each abides in its own dharma-position completely. This is being-time. Life does not become death. Death does not become life. Life is its own complete moment; death is its own complete moment. They are like winter and spring—we do not say that winter becomes spring, or that spring becomes winter.

license: public_domain

Attribution

• Attributed To
  Dōgen

Lineage: Sōtō

By Dōgen

• How to Sit (Fukanzazengi, opening)practice-instruction
• Not Aware of Enlightenmentproverb
• Continuous Practiceproverb
• Flowers Fall, Weeds Springproverb
• Firewood and Ash (Genjokoan)sermon

From Shobogenzo

• Not Aware of Enlightenment
• Continuous Practice
• Firewood and Ash (Genjokoan)
• Enlightenment Is Like the Moon Reflected in Water (Genjokoan)
• To Study the Self
• Being-Time (Uji)
• Shōbōgenzō (Treasury of the True Dharma Eye)

Sources

• contentWikisource — English-language free library

  Shobogenzo, Genjokoan

  Shobogenzo: Spring Does Not Become Summer