One day Anabotei was speaking about the OCEAN OF BUDDHA NATURE, saying, “Mountains, rivers and the great earth all arise in accordance with IT; the three forms of clarity and the six spiritual powers manifest themselves by proceeding from IT.” Kabimora, upon hearing this, awoke to the TRUTH. Kabimora (S. Kapimala, ‘He Who Is as… Continue reading 13. Kabimora
Anabotei asked Funayasha, “I want to know Buddha but what precisely is Buddha?” Funayasha said, “So you want to know what BUDDHA is; THAT which does not know is BUDDHA.” Anabotei asked, “Since Buddha does not know, what knows what Buddha is?” Funayasha responded, “Since you do not know BUDDHA, what knows that it does… Continue reading 12. Anabotei
Whilst Funayasha stood in gasshá before Barishiba, the latter asked, “Where do you come from?” Funayasha answered, “My mind travels nowhere.” Barishiba then asked, “Where do you reside?” Funayasha replied, “My mind resides nowhere.” Barishiba asked, “Then things are not settled for you?” Funayasha said, “It is just as it was for all the Buddhas.”… Continue reading 11. Funayasha
Barishiba faithfully attended on Fudamitta for three years without ever resting. One day Fudamitta was reciting a Scripture and lecturing on the UNBORN; upon hearing this, Barishiba realized enlightenment. Barishiba (S. Parsva, ‘He Whose Ribs Remain Upright’) was from Central India; his name was originally Nanshá (S. Durjata, ‘He Whose Birth Was Difficult’); just before… Continue reading 10. Barishiba
Fudamitta heard Butsudanandai say in verse,“When your speech is congenial with the LORD of your heart,Even the tender affection of parents cannot begin to compare with it;When your actions are in accord with the WAY,The hearts and minds of all the Buddhas will be so also.Should you seek outside yourself for some flesh-and-blood Buddha,He will… Continue reading 9. Fudamitta
Upon meeting Bashumitsu, Butsudanandai said, “My reason for coming here today is to debate with you as to what ‘Truth’ is.” Bashumitsu responded, “Good sir, when there is a debate, then there is no TRUTH; when there is TRUTH, then there is nothing to debate. If you propose to debate as to what TRUTH is,… Continue reading 8. Butsudanandai
Bashumitsu placed his wine cup before Mishaka, prostrated himself and then arose where upon Mishaka asked him, “Is this VESSEL yours or mine?” Whilst Bashumitsu was reflecting on this, Mishaka said, “If you consider the cup to be mine, it is your Original Nature; if, on the other hand, the vessel is yours, it is… Continue reading 7. Bashumitsu
One day, Daitaka said, “The Buddha said, ‘When one pursues the supernormal powers of a rishi or devotes himself to the study of the Lesser Vehicle, he becomes like someone entangled in, and dragged along by, a rope.’ Know for yourself that, when you leave such rivulets behind, you immediately arrive at the GREAT OCEAN;… Continue reading 6. Mishaka
Daitaka said, “The one who leaves home to become a monk has no attachment to a self or to a world of selves; his Original Nature is not born nor does It perish, this is the way things are in truth. All the Buddhas are also just like this; Their Original Nature has no form… Continue reading 5. Daitaka
Ubakikuta attended Shōnawashu for three years before he shaved his head and became a mendicant monk. One day, Shōnawashu asked him, “Did you leave home to become a monk in body or in mind?” Ubakikuta answered, “I truly left home to become a monk in body.” Shōnawashu said, “What does the wondrous LAW of the… Continue reading 4. Ubakikuta
When Shōnawashu asked Ananda, “What kind of thing is the fundamental UNBORN NATUREof all things?” Ananda pointed to the corner of Shōnawashu’s kesa. Then, when he again asked, “What kind of thing is the fundamental NATURE OF THE ENLIGHTENED WISDOM of all the Buddhas?” Ananda took hold of the corner of Shōnawashu’s kesa and gave it a pull.… Continue reading 3. Shōnawashu
Ananda asked Makakashō, “My elder brother in the Dharma, when the World-honoured One Transmitted the kesa of gold brocade to you did He pass on anything else?” Makakashō called out, “Ananda!” When Ananda acknowledged the call, Makakashō said, “Chop down the flag pole in front of your temple gate!” and Ananda awakened to his TRUE… Continue reading 2. Ananda
One day, the World-honoured One offered up a flower with a twinkle in His eye; Makakashō’s face broke out in a smile. The World-honoured One said, “I have the EYE AND TREASURY OF THE TRUE LAW, the wondrous HEART of nirvana, which I Transmit to Makakashō.” Makakashō (Mahakasyapa) belonged to the Brahman caste; his Indian… Continue reading 1. Mahakasyapa
Upon seeing the morning star, Gautama became Shakyamuni Buddha when He was, is and will be awakened to His TRUE SELF and said, says and will say, “I was, am and will be enlightened, together with the whole of the great earth and all its sentient beings, simultaneously.” Listen Gautama belonged to the Indian Nisshu… Continue reading Shakyamuni Buddha
