Shundo David Haye – Zen Priest

‘When Nangaku was practicing zazen– Baso was practicing zazen: Nangaku said, “Why do you practice? What is the purpose of your practice?” He said, “I want to be a buddha,” he said.

Is it– and Nangaku, the teacher, picked up a tile and started to polish [laughs]. Disciple Nangaku– Baso asked the teacher, “Why do you polish a tile? Is it possi- — is it possible to make a tile– to make a tile a mirror?” he said.

The teacher said, “No, it is impossible.” [Laughs.]

This is very famous story. To polish a tile. That is our practice. Even though you polish a tile, tile is tile [laughs]. But to polish is our practice, whether– it doesn’t matter whether it will be– it will make a mirror or not. To polish it– to polish it, it is our practice, and that is the goal– that is the enlightenment. The effort to polish is based on our true nature. Our true nature makes us polish it. So whether it– it will be– it will make a mirror or not is not the point.’ (from the Suzuki Roshi Archive)