Bankei (1622–1693)

Wise and amusing. While insisting that he has only one message, which he will repeat unrelentingly and without digression, he actually roams widely over many subjects with dozens of marvellous stories and observations. His message? Not a single person is unenlightened., As you read these words right now, you are reading them as Buddha. The proof? While you are looking at this computer screen, "if a sparrow chirps behind you, you don't mistake it for a crow; you don't mistake the sound of a show more bell for that of a drum." This is proof that the Buddha-mind is unborn and wonderfully illuminating. QED. show less

not much to write down

The eccentric Bankei has long been an underground hero in the world of Zen. At a time when Zen was becoming overly formalized in Japan, he stressed its relevance to everyday life, insisting on the importance of naturalness and spontaneity.