Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Buddhist : Zen / Chan

Taoist

7th Century

China
(East Asia)

Yoka Genkaku (Yongjia Xuanjue)

Timeline (665 - 713)

Poems by Yoka Genkaku (Yongjia Xuanjue)
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The Shodoka is a beautiful collection of enlightenment and wisdom poems. Although it is known primarily in the West through the influence of Japanese Zen practice, it actually is a seventh century Chinese composition. In Japanese, it is known as the Shodoka, composed by Yoka Genkaku; in Chinese, it is called the Cheng Tao Ko, by Yongjia Xuanjue.

Poems by Yoka Genkaku (Yongjia Xuanjue)

	[1] There is the leisurely one, (from The Shodoka)
	[2] When the Dharma body awakens completely, (from The Shodoka)
	[3] When we realize actuality, (from The Shodoka)
	[4] Once we awaken to the Tathagata-Zen, (from The Shodoka)
	[5] No bad fortune, no good fortune, no loss, no gain; (from The Shodoka)
	[6] Who has no-thought? Who is not-born? (from The Shodoka)
	[7] Release your hold on earth, water, fire, wind; (from The Shodoka)
	[8] Transience, emptiness and enlightenment -- (from The Shodoka)
	[9] People do not recognize the Mani-jewel. (from The Shodoka)
	[10] The rays shining from this perfect Mani-jewel (from The Shodoka)
	[11] Always working alone, always walking alone, (from The Shodoka)
	[12] We know that Shakya's sons and daughters (from The Shodoka)
	[13] This jewel of no price can never be used up (from The Shodoka)
	[14] The best student goes directly to the ultimate, (from The Shodoka)
	[15] Some may slander, some may abuse; (from The Shodoka)
	[16] When I consider the virtue of abusive words, (from The Shodoka)
	[17] The incomparable lion-roar of doctrine (from The Shodoka)
	[18] I wandered over rivers and seas, crossing mountains and streams, (from The Shodoka)
	[19] Walking is Zen, sitting is Zen; (from The Shodoka)
	[20] Our teacher, Shakyamuni, met Dipankara Buddha (from The Shodoka)
	[21] Since I abruptly realized the unborn, (from The Shodoka)
	[22] I have entered the deep mountains to silence and beauty; (from The Shodoka)
	[23] When you truly awaken, (from The Shodoka)
	[24] Why should this be better (from The Shodoka)
	[25] Just take hold of the source (from The Shodoka)
	[26] The moon shines on the river, (from The Shodoka)
	[27] A bowl once calmed dragons (from The Shodoka)
	[28] The awakened one does not seek truth-- (from The Shodoka)
	[29] The mind-mirror is clear, so there are no obstacles. (from The Shodoka)
	[30] To live in nothingness is to ignore cause and effect; (from The Shodoka)
	[31] Holding truth and rejecting delusion-- (from The Shodoka)
	[32] They miss the Dharma-treasure; (from The Shodoka)
	[33] Students of vigorous will hold the sword of wisdom; (from The Shodoka)
	[34] They roar with Dharma-thunder; (from The Shodoka)
	[35] High in the Himalayas, only fei-ni grass grows. (from The Shodoka)
	[36] One moon is reflected in many waters; (from The Shodoka)
	[37] One level completely contains all levels; (from The Shodoka)
	[38] All categories are no category; (from The Shodoka)
	[39] Right here it is eternally full and serene, (from The Shodoka)
	[40] It speaks in silence, (from The Shodoka)
	[41] People say it is positive; (from The Shodoka)
	[42] I raise the Dharma-banner and set forth our teaching; (from The Shodoka)
	[43] The truth is not set forth; (from The Shodoka)
	[44] Mind is the base, phenomena are dust; (from The Shodoka)
	[45] Ah, the degenerate materialistic world! (from The Shodoka)
	[46] People hear the Buddha's doctrine of immediacy, (from The Shodoka)
	[47] Your mind is the source of action; (from The Shodoka)
	[48] In the sandalwood forest, there is no other tree. (from The Shodoka)
	[49] Just baby lions follow the parent, (from The Shodoka)
	[50] The Buddha's doctrine of directness (from The Shodoka)
	[51] Being is not being; non-being is not non-being; (from The Shodoka)
	[52] From my youth I piled studies upon studies, (from The Shodoka)
	[53] If the seed-nature is wrong, misunderstandings arise, (from The Shodoka)
	[54] Stupid ones, childish ones, (from The Shodoka)
	[55] Not supposing something is the Tathagata. (from The Shodoka)
	[56] The hungry are served a king's repast, (from The Shodoka)
	[57] Pradhanashura broke the gravest precepts; (from The Shodoka)
	[58] The incomparable lion roar of the doctrine! (from The Shodoka)
	[59] Two monks were guilty of murder and carnality. (from The Shodoka)
	[60] The remarkable power of emancipation (from The Shodoka)
	[61] The King of the Dharma deserves our highest respect. (from The Shodoka)
	[62] When we see truly, there is nothing at all. (from The Shodoka)
	[63] However the burning iron ring revolves around my head, (from The Shodoka)
	[64] The great elephant does not loiter on the rabbit's path. (from The Shodoka)

Recommended Books

Buddhism and Zen, by Nyogen Senzaki / Ruth Strout McCandless

Amazon.com

Related Links:

	Buddha Gate Monastery - Master YongJia: Overnight Awakening http://www.buddhagate.org/GreatZenMasterLecSeriesIII.htm A traditional story of the great Chan/Zen master Yongji Xuanjue.
	Cheng Tao Ko http://www.buddhistinformation.com/cheng_tao_ko.htm Another translation of the Cheng Tao Ko/Shodoka, with introductory notes.
	Sacred Texts: Shodoka http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/zen/shodoka.txt The Aitken translation of the Shodoka, with notes about the Yongjia Xuanjue.

Please support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as the authors and publishers of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the recommended books through the links on this site. Thank you!

Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Yoka Genkaku (Yongjia Xuanjue)

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Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World