8th January

Tsing-ping asked master T'sui-wei, " What is the fundamental principle of Buddhism?" "I will tell you later when there is no one else around," said the master. Later, when they were alone, Tsing-ping again asked his question. The master led his student out into the bamboo grove, but he still said nothing. Tsing-ping pressed him for an answer. T'sui-wei whispered, " Look how high these bamboos are ! And how short those over there!"

Here is an illustration of a concept that will be repeated over and over again in these teachings. The master here was showing the student that the essence off Buddha nature is that everything is as it is. Everything is perfect just as it is. It is our conscious mind which is constantly trying to evaluate and re-evaluate what is before us according to our judgements and attachments which causes us to drop out of our own Buddha nature. To recognize that we are walking through a world of perfection is to achieve Buddha-hood.