"Butsu Do Mu Jo Sei Gan Jo", the last of the Four Great Vows we chant, has been translated as, "However endless Buddha's path, we vow to follow it."  The profound meaning of this is not just to follow in Buddha's footsteps, but to BECOME BUDDHA STEPPING.  Likewise, as students of Zen, rather than hearing about Buddha , we must become Buddha hearing.  Rather than speaking about Buddha, we must become Buddha speaking.  This may sound radical to some, but each of us is much, much more than the egocentric little "me".  Shakamuni Buddha's great discovery was that everyone already is enlightened, Buddha Nature is manifesting through everyone.  The function of Zen practice is to recognize this reality.  The only barrier is that of cherishing the idea of a separate, independent self.

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