SO TO ZEN - Shasta Abbey

The True Spirit of the Two Ancestors 69The Denk‡roku by Great Master Keizan is a skillfullywritten work which recounts the enlightenment stories of theAncestors. In it is found the famous phrase: ÒBy taking a flowerShakyamuni showed that TRUTH was, is and will be eternal andby smiling He pointed out that it was, is and will be endless,Óexplained at the end of Chapter Two. It further states, ÒThereforethe warm flesh of Shakyamuni is now and always here andthe smiling of Makakasho is now and always new.Ó [Zen isEternal Life, 1999, pp. 229Ð230.] The warmth of ShakyamuniÕsbody was correctly transmitted through the individuality of hisdisciple Makakasho; the true face of the Highest Ancestor(D‡gen) was handed down through the Greatest Ancestor(Keizan).5. The basic thought and faith of D‡gen and Keizan arein perfect agreement with each other. However, differencesin individuality, environment and time resulted in separateapproaches to the question of how to propagate their religion.D‡genÕs personality was very serious, his theory precise. TheJapanese S‡t‡ School is proud to have such a truly great man asits founder. It would be difficult to find another Zen masterwho is endowed with the same profundity of thought, seriousnessof practice and loftiness of character as D‡gen.In religion, on the one hand, we must go forward everdeepening our religious experiences, while, on the other hand,recognizing our mission to guide other people to the depths of