On 'Verse of the Snow Mountain'

sessen ge — Verse of the Snow Mountain.

On the origin

A four-line verse from the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra (Nirvana Sutra, northern recension), fascicle 14, “Chapter on Holy Practice” (聖行品): “All things are impermanent; this is the law of arising and ceasing. When arising and ceasing themselves cease, that stillness is bliss.” It is called the Snow Mountain Verse for the legend of the Buddha’s former life as the Snow Mountain Boy, who offered his body to hear the second half — recited by Indra, who had taken the form of a demon to test him.

On the reading

All that is made arises and passes; this is the shape of things. When even arising and passing fall still, what remains is called peace. Not a lament for impermanence, but a verse set down on the far side of seeing it.

On the garment

The seal for this phrase was hand-carved in Tokyo by the artist Satake Hōsen. The front carries this phrase’s seal; the back and inside label carry the Hōsen seal (寳千), printed in vermilion.

The garment is Bella + Canvas 3001 (short sleeve) or Gildan 2400 (long sleeve). A vessel for the word, not the subject itself.

― hosen, tokyo