Teisho presented by Arno Hess on 19/10/2021 at the 2021 Pathway Zen Sesshin at Highfields, QLD, Australia.
Case
The Thirty-fourth Patriarch, Kôsai Daishi: He went for instruction to the assemblage of Sôkei and asked,
“What deeds do not fall down to ranks?” The patriarch said, “What have you been doing so far?” The master said, “I
haven’t practiced even the sacred truth.” The patriarch said, “Then, into what rank would you fall?” The master said,
“I haven’t done even the sacred truth; what rank could there be?” The patriarch acknowledged deeply that he was a
rare vessel.
Verse
The birds flying hither and thither leave no trace whatsoever.
How could the wonderful Way claim for ranks at all