Shundo David Haye – Zen Priest

‘In Buddhism the absolute beauty of human nature is called Buddha. Dogen explained that Buddha is called Bukkojo in Japanese. Butsu is Buddha. Kojo is to advance. Bukkojo means we have to advance toward Buddha forever, and also that Buddha is omnipresent, right under our step. Bukkojo doesn’t mean there is a substance called Buddha which we are to aim at. Buddha is not some stage to reach. Buddha is the huge expanse of the world showing right under your step.

Buddha’s world exists every time you walk. To taste this world, this truth, with body and mind means when you bow, just bow. When you chant, just chant, with your whole body and mind. When you do gassho, do gassho with whole body and mind. Leave nothing behind your gassho, your bow, your chanting of the sutra, your walking down the street. Just walk, with calmness, with dignified spirit.’ (from the SFZC Archive)