home page
pagina iniziale |
by |
|
The Last Will and Testament
Ikkyua famous Zen teacher of the Ashikaga erawas the son of the emperor. When he was very younghis mother left the palace and went to study Zen in a temple. In this way Prince Ikkyu also became a student. When this mother passed onshe left him a letter. It read:
To Ikkyu:
I have finished my work in this life and am now returning into Eternity. I wish you to become a good student and to realize your Buddha-nature. You will know if I am in hell and whether I am always with you or not.
If you become a man who realizes that the Buddha and his follower Bodhidharma are your own servantsyou may leave off studying and work for humanity. The Buddha preached for forty-nine years and in all that time found it not necessary to speak one word. You ought to know why. But if you don't and yet wish toavoid thinking fruitlessly.
Your Mother
Not bornnot dead.
September first.
P.S. The teaching of Buddha was mainly for the purpose of enlightening others. If you are dependent on any of its methodsyou are naught but an ignorant insect. There are 80000 books on Buddhism and if you should read all of them and still not see your own natureyou will not understand even this letter. This is my will and testament.