Nature And Her Lesson
:
THE TRAINING OF THE MIND AND THE PRACTICE OF MEDITATION
Nature offers us nectar and ambrosia every day, and everywhere we go
the rose and lily await us. Spring visits us men, says
Gu-do,[FN#277] her mercy is great. Every blossom holds out the
image of Tathagata. What is the spiritual body of Buddha who is
immortal and divine? asked a man to Ta Lun (Dai-ryu), who instantly
replied: The flowers cover the mountain with golden brocade. The
waters tinge the rivulets with hea
enly blue. Universe is the
whole body of Tathagata; observed Do-gen. The worlds in ten
directions, the earth, grass, trees, walls, fences, tiles, pebbles-in
a word, all the animated and inanimate objects partake of the
Buddha-nature. Thereby, those who partake in the benefit of the Wind
and Water that rise out of them are, all of them, helped by the
mysterious influence of Buddha, and show forth Enlightenment.[FN#278]
[FN#277] One of the distinguished Zenists in the Tokugawa period,
who died in 1661.
[FN#278] Sho-bo gen-zo.
Thus you can attain to highest bliss through your conscious union
with Buddha. Nothing can disturb your peace, when you can enjoy
peace in the midst of disturbances; nothing can cause you to suffer,
when you welcome misfortunes and hardships in order to train and
strengthen your character; nothing can tempt you to commit sin, when
you are constantly ready to listen to the sermon given by everything
around you; nothing can distress you, when you make the world the
holy temple of Buddha. This is the state of Nirvana which everyone
believing in Buddha may secure.