Teisho is not always a talk about some great Zen master, or Buddha Shakyamuni’s sutras, or Rinzai’s lectures. Rinzai himself says, “Don’t take my teisho” — don’t hold to my teisho. OPEN YOUR OWN EYES! Everything is a living sutra. Every day you are (Bang!). Each deed is a living sutra. Picking up a cup, drinking water — nothing else. As the Bodhisattva’s Vow says, “In any event, in any place, and in any moment” — now! — none can be other than This! This! THIS! There is no need for Buddha’s teaching, or some brilliant exposition. This is best.
~ soen nakagawa roshi
In Dr. Daitsu Suzuki’s translation, “Opening ‘The’ Dharma. ‘The’ Dharma, incomparably profound and minutely subtle, is hardly met with, even in hundreds of thousands of millions of eons. Now we can see ‘it,’ listen to ‘it,’ accept and hold ‘it.’” It, it, it. NO! So it takes us over thirty years to correct wonderful Dr. Daitsu Suzuki’s translation. Not “it.” But “this.” Now we can SEE! I can see your face. I cannot see my own face, of course. Now we can see (Bang!). Now. Now we can see This. Listen to This — all the birds are chirping; not only you can get This. Indeed, I’m not telling a lie. Everything is wonderful! So, we get these miserable, cruel karma relations changed into wonderful dharma relations, with (Bang!). Please, (Bang!) nothing else but This. I’m explaining, talking too much. Excuse me.
~ soen nakagawa roshi