“Right and wrong are temporal, but time is neither right nor wrong. Right and wrong are the Dharma, but the Dharma is neither right nor wrong. In the balance of the Dharma, wrong is balanced. In the balance of the Dharma, right is balanced.
And so, in learning of complete and utter Awakening, in hearing the Teachings, doing the training, and realizing the effect, this is profound, vast, and wonderful. Some hear of unsurpassed Awakening from good friends, and some hear of it from the sutras. What one hears first is, "Not doing wrong action." If one does not hear “not doing wrong action,” one is not hearing the Buddhas' true Dharma but demonic talk. Know that hearing “not doing wrong action” is hearing the Buddhas' true Dharma.”

—  Dogen

"Shoaku makusa : Not Doing Wrong Action" as translated by Anzan Hoshin roshi and Yasuda Joshu Dainen roshi (2007)

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "Right and wrong are temporal, but time is neither right nor wrong. Right and wrong are the Dharma, but the Dharma is ne…" by Dogen?
Dogen photo
Dogen 34
Japanese Zen buddhist teacher 1200–1253

Related quotes

Robert Frost photo

“One luminary clock against the sky
Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right.”

Robert Frost (1874–1963) American poet

" Acquainted with the Night http://www.ketzle.com/frost/acquainted.htm" (1928)
General sources
Context: One luminary clock against the sky
Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right.
I have been one acquainted with the night.

Benjamin Graham photo

“You are neither right nor wrong because people agree with you.”

Benjamin Graham (1894–1976) American investor

As quoted by Warren Buffett, in an interview in Forbes magazine (1 November 1974)

Roman Dmowski photo

“In relations with other nations, there is neither right nor wrong; there is only strength and weakness.”

Roman Dmowski (1864–1939) Polish politician

Myśli nowoczesnego Polaka, 7th ed., 1953, p. 14.

Ron Kaufman photo

“Hearing what you've done right is valuable. Hearing what you've done wrong can be priceless.”

Ron Kaufman (1956) American author and consultant

Lift Me UP! Service With A Smile (2005)

Wonhyo photo
Fulton J. Sheen photo

“Right is right if nobody is right, and wrong is wrong if everybody is wrong.”

Fulton J. Sheen (1895–1979) Catholic bishop and television presenter

Program 19
Life Is Worth Living (1951–1957)

John Diefenbaker photo

“Freedom is the right to be wrong, not the right to do wrong.”

John Diefenbaker (1895–1979) 13th Prime Minister of Canada

March 11, 1958.

Martin Luther King, Jr. photo

“But I'm here to say to you this morning that some things are right and some things are wrong. Eternally so, absolutely so. It's wrong to hate. It always has been wrong and it always will be wrong. It's wrong in America, it's wrong in Germany, it's wrong in Russia, it's wrong in China. It was wrong in 2000 B.C., and it's wrong in 1954 A.D. It always has been wrong, and it always will be wrong. It's wrong to throw our lives away in riotous living. No matter if everybody in Detroit is doing it, it's wrong. It always will be wrong, and it always has been wrong. It's wrong in every age and it's wrong in every nation. Some things are right and some things are wrong, no matter if everybody is doing the contrary. Some things in this universe are absolute. The God of the universe has made it so. And so long as we adopt this relative attitude toward right and wrong, we're revolting against the very laws of God himself.”

Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–1968) American clergyman, activist, and leader in the American Civil Rights Movement

Rediscovering Lost Values http://mlk-kpp01.stanford.edu/index.php/kingpapers/article/rediscovering_lost_values/, Sermon delivered at Detroit's Second Baptist Church (28 February 1954)
1950s
Context: We have adopted in the modern world a sort of a relativistic ethic... Most people can't stand up for their convictions, because the majority of people might not be doing it. See, everybody's not doing it, so it must be wrong. And since everybody is doing it, it must be right. So a sort of numerical interpretation of what's right. But I'm here to say to you this morning that some things are right and some things are wrong. Eternally so, absolutely so. It's wrong to hate. It always has been wrong and it always will be wrong. It's wrong in America, it's wrong in Germany, it's wrong in Russia, it's wrong in China. It was wrong in 2000 B. C., and it's wrong in 1954 A. D. It always has been wrong, and it always will be wrong. It's wrong to throw our lives away in riotous living. No matter if everybody in Detroit is doing it, it's wrong. It always will be wrong, and it always has been wrong. It's wrong in every age and it's wrong in every nation. Some things are right and some things are wrong, no matter if everybody is doing the contrary. Some things in this universe are absolute. The God of the universe has made it so. And so long as we adopt this relative attitude toward right and wrong, we're revolting against the very laws of God himself. [... ] That attitude is destroying the soul of our culture! It's destroying our nation! The thing that we need in the world today is a group of men and women who will stand up for right and to be opposed to wrong, wherever it is. A group of people who have come to see that some things are wrong, whether they're never caught up with. And some things are right, whether nobody sees you doing them or not.

Shreya Ghoshal photo

“You do not want to hear your voice in every song, as it gets monotonous. So, it’s important to have the right kind of balance.”

Shreya Ghoshal (1984) Indian playback singer

About playback offers http://www.hindustantimes.com/music/there-is-lack-of-sincerity-in-music-today-shreya-ghosal/story-D0mtDV6Ljsvg1S67bHcctJ.html

Related topics