Good evening!
I heard from Japan that the plum flowers at Kairaku-en, Co-enjoying-garden,
are now in full bloom, though late due to the deep cold snow season.
Dogen loved plum flowers blooming in the chill with strong scent. He said that
we have the time to see all the peaks.
For that we must strive step by step in continuous concentrated effort, free from
all other concerns, and fully, with our total power.
Then we can see all the peaks as if sitting alone at the peak of the Great Courageous
One, the Buddha, enjoying the scent of amrita, immortality.
3/15/13
Note: A monk asked Hyakujo (Bai-zhang：百丈), “What is an unusual thing?”
Hyakujo said, “Sitting alone at the peak of the Great Courageous One (大雄）.”
Hyakujo Ekai (百丈懐海：Baizhan Huaihai) lived at the peak of Mt. Hyakujo
(hundred feet) or Mt. Great Hero/Great Courageous One (大雄), thus called
Hyakujo. He is famous for compiling the Purity Codes at Zen Monastery as
well as his words and deeds such as “A day without working; a day without eating.”
National Geographic’s wallpaper (Photograph by George Mobley)