Ikkyu – Self-Appraisal

Poem

Rinzai’s descendants do not know Zen.

In front of Crazy Cloud, who dares to explain Zen?

For thirty years, on my shoulders I have carried

The weight of Shogen’s Red Thread Zen.

Accompanying Calligraphy

I am teaching you the gateway to essential Zen. Zen is endlessly discussed with empty phrases and pretentious words; all that effort goes on and on missing the mark…

Former Abbot of Murasakino Daitoku Zen Temple, Jun Ikkyu, world’s number one venerable priest.

Ikkyu