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 bases his pedagogy on precedent by saying “there is no teaching that has never been taught,” suggesting that he is drawing from established wisdom and clarifying that his new approach is meant to provide guidance. Dōgen thus justifies the new teaching to his monks as a historically informed and practical doctrine, although he recognizes the abruptness with which he introduced his ideas, apologizing to the assembly for “discussing cause and effect without evidence” and ending his talk with a nostalgic poem.