Translate calligraphy on Sengai's drawing of a sitting frog

thomas said:

「坐禅して人か佛になるならハ」

Zazen shite hito ka hotoke ni narunaraba.

Please wait for our experts, but I'd translate this roughly to: "Through zazen, you could become either a person or a Buddha." Meaning you can't reach enlightenment by only focusing on the outer form of zazen and neglecting the spiritual aspects of seeking the right path.

坐禅蛙画賛｜収蔵品の紹介「出光コレクション」｜出光美術館

idemitsu-museum.or.jp

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Majestic said:

Embedded in this image and the accompanying phrase, is the idea that if zazen was all that was required, then even a frog could become human (because the frog is basically sitting in a zazen-like position all day). So it is a mild admonishment against just following the basic postures of zen.

In other words, what Thomas said above.

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