Dogen vs Marjory, Bird Music and an Umbrella Opening

SUNAWACHI SHOSHIN TANZA SHI TE
Just sit upright.
“Free your neck.”

Sit upright.
“Free your neck.”

Sit upright.
“Say No! Free your neck....”



KANKI ISSOKU SHI TE
Breathe out fully.
“Back to lengthen and WIDEN.”

Breathe out fully.
“Back to lengthen and WIDEN.”

Breathe out fully.
“Say No! Let the neck be free, to let the head go forward and up, to let the back lengthen and WIDEN.”



Aaaaah!



Now then:

GOTSU-GOTSU TOSHITE ZAJO SHI TE
Sit totally still.
“Don’t fix.”

Sit totally still.
“Don’t fix.”

Sit totally still.
“Honestly, love, there is no such animal as being right. Being wrong is the best friend we’ve got. Don’t try to be right. Don’t fix.”



HI-SHIRYO
Non-thinking!
"Non-doing!"

Non-thinking. Just do it.
“No, the upward direction is an undoing. You can't do it. Just think it.”

Non-thinking. Just do it.
“No, love, you’re still doing it.”

Non-thinking. Just....

Doo, doo, doo, doo, da, da, da, da, is all I’ve got to say to you....


Twitter, twitter, twitter... chirp, chirp... twitter....


A memory:

Some time during Japan’s bubble years of the 1980s, I am stepping out with Gudo into a cold, wet and windy autumn evening. Gudo, back turned to the wind and rain, is struggling to unfold a compact umbrella; the wind keeps catching it and bending the spokes back upon themselves. “Point it into the wind,” I say. The old fool does so and the umbrella suddenly opens out. “Ah, yes!” Gudo laughs loudly. “It is a kind of wisdom.”

But I wonder if he truly ever got the point, or not.



“MIKE! BREAKFAST’S READY!”