A person getting enlightened is like the moon reflecting in the water. The moon does not get wet, the water is not disturbed. Though it is a great expanse of light, it reflects in a little bit of water; the whole moon and the whole sky reflect even in the dew on the grass; they reflect even in a single drop of water. Enlightenment not disturbing the person is like the moon not piercing the water. A person not obstructing enlightenment is like the dewdrop not obstructing the heavens.
-Dogen, "Flowers Fall"
"The moon" represents the person who is spiritually awakened, who is on the path to enlightenment.
"Reflecting" represents the art of active meditation, where the spiritually awakened contemplates reality as bright and clean.
"The expanse of light" refers to the sky, and is a metaphor for the light of compassion, Amitayus.
"Water, "the dew in the grass", "the dewdrop" and "the single drop of water" refers to the transient nature of being. It also refers to the material essence of life.
"The heavens" refers to the spiritual essence of life.
"Enlightenment" refers the spiritual state of mind where the Pure Land practitioner is freed of the bonds of existence by accepting the material and spiritual essence of life as one.
Thus "getting enlightened" means letting go of attachment to the Saha world, this world of birth-life-death called samsara.
Namu Amida Butsu.
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