When Chao-chou was asked by a young monk, ‘Does the dog have Buddha nature?’ he responded, “Mu” . showing the monk – and us – how to practice,  breath by breath – “muuuuuu”.  On this first full day of sesshin, I encourage you to enjoy your zazen which Aitken roshi described “as the seated practice of focussed enquiry and attunement in relation to a single matter” – being with the koan, or breath counting, or shikantaza – cutting off the mind road and showing up for life, for the good, the bad and the ugly, those infinite realms of light and dark, realising each breath moment as full and complete.   

This tesiho (case 1 of the Mumonkan) was given by Gillian Coote, roshi on day 1 of Spring sesshin 2025 at Kodoji.