"Because the Buddha Mind is present in each one of you, there is no question of my giving you the Buddha Mind. Listening closely to this sermon, realize the Buddha Mind that each of you has right within himself, and from today on you're abiding in the Unborn Buddha Mind. Once you've affirmed the Buddha Mind that everyone has innately, you can all do just as you please: if you want to read the sutras, read the sutras; if you feel like doing zazen, do zazen; if you want to keep the precepts, take the precepts; even if it's chanting the nembutsu or the daimoku, or simply performing your allotted tasks - whether as a samurai, a farmer, an artisan or a merchant - that becomes your samadhi. All I'm telling you is: "Realize the Buddha Mind that each of you has from your parents innately! What's essential is to realize the Buddha Mind each of you has, and simply abide in it with faith..."
This is quoted from "Bankei Zen" translated by Peter Haskel. Mr. Haskel was a student of Prof. Yoshito Hakeda during his tenure at Columbia University. Prof. Hakeda was the author of both "Kukai: Major Works" and "Awakening of Faith" as well as a personal friend of Ajari Tanaka. Professor Hakeda assisted Mr. Haskel and is named the Editor of this book. It is a really wonderful read and continually echos Kukai's teaching on achieving buddhahood in this very body...
(Bankei Zen, translated by Peter Haskel, edited by Yoshito Hakeda, Grove Weidenfeld, 1984, p.49)
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