On 'Seated in the Water-Moon Hall'

za suigetsu dōjō — Seated in the Water-Moon Hall.

On the origin

The couplet “坐水月道場、修空華万行,” collected in Zen phrase anthologies. Its source is the recorded sayings of Hongzhi Zhengjue, the Hongzhi Chanshi Guanglu (fascicle 5), where the original line reads “所以修習空花萬行、宴坐水月道場.” It is also gathered in later phrase collections such as the Zenrin Kushū.

On the reading

The hall is the moon on water — present, yet without substance to grasp. As one moon rests in every pool alike, this ordinary world is itself the place of practice. To sit here is to settle on what cannot be held, and to act while leaving no trace of acting. Not a seat one occupies, but a way of being present without taking up room.

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