He also roots his teaching in tradition with the statement “there is no dharma that has never been expounded,” suggesting that he is drawing upon precedent and clarifying that his new teaching is meant only “to guide people.” Dōgen thus justifies the new teaching to his monks as a historically grounded and practical doctrine, although he recognizes the suddenness which he has introduced his ideas, apologizing to the assembly for “speak[ing] of cause and effect with no reason” and finishing his talk with a nostalgic poem.
He also grounds his instruction in custom by stating “there is no dharma that has never been expressed,” implying that he is drawing upon precedent and clarifying that his new teaching is intended solely to serve as a guide. Dōgen thus justifies the new teaching to his monks as a historically grounded and practical philosophy, although he acknowledges the suddenness with which he introduced his ideas, apologizing to the assembly for “speaking of cause and effect without basis” and concluding his talk with a nostalgic poem.