One of the most famous Zen tales is the story of how an illiterate woodcutter came to inherit the robe and bowl of the 5th Patriarch. After delivering his load of firewood one day, he heard a customer reciting the Diamond Sutra.

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Many times we have read or heard the stories of Buddha's life and enlightenment. Returning to his first teaching upon awakening, we come in contact with the ground and source of Buddhism. The root from which the many branches developed over the years that followed. 

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He is not talking about a philosophy of license, anything goes in the name of the ego; when he refers to a lack of faith in ourselves, it would be easy to misunderstand. Those of us who have grown up around the “century of the self” as the West has fallen prey to thanks to marketing, have to pause and wonder, really, what is he talking about?

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 For many of us living life “autonomously,” not listening to what others say can feel a bit ungrounded until one has practiced enough to have gained some life experience of cause and effect. Life experience itself is a great teacher, and Nature a more subtle teacher.

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Many of us were introduced to meditating by breath counting at first, then moved into simply watching the breath, and then, at some point, even that fell away. There are many techniques used to focus and settle the mind and body. As “introductory” as breath counting seems, it is a very powerful way to enter the present moment.

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Like the tiny green shoots bursting upward seeking the light of Spring, we too stretch to take in the light of the Dharma. If we “understand” too quickly, we can almost assuredly know our understanding is tepid, superficial, and not worthy of being called “understanding.”

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Taking refuge and making vows are not subjects we speak about in casual conversation, even with ourselves! Traditionally, we think of a formal ceremony where a teacher is initiating a group of students into the commitment of embracing Buddhism as their path.

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This collection of exchanges between Yuanwu and students, teachers, lay people, men, and women offers a truly fine look and feel into an exceptional teacher’s skill in finding a way to meet each person on a common ground to help them break through barriers.

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Nowhere else have I seen this particular piece on the Buddha’s last sermon. Many of us have read the admonition to “be a lamp unto yourself” as his last words, but whether the piece above was spoken before he died doesn’t impact the fact that it really was Dogen’s last piece written before his own death.

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For many of us who have not encountered that wonderful Good Friend who can help us see into our own nature, it looks like it is up to us. And there have been many people who have tried to find just that relationship, however, it is rare to find someone who has not been changed by their position of influence over others.

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