Shundo David Haye – Zen Priest

‘Ejo asked, “When I read the collections of old masters’ sayings or koans, I can understand on thing out of a hundred or a thousand words, yet I have no such experience in zazen.  Should we still prefer to practice zazen?”

Dogen replied, “Even if you may seem to have some understanding while you read koans, such studies will lead you astray from the Way of the buddhas and patriarchs.  To spend your time sitting upright with nothing to be gained and nothing to be realized is the Way of the patriarchs.’ (Shobogenzo Zuimonki)