When Seppo was living in his hermitage, two monks came to pay their respects. As Seppo saw them coming he pushed open the gate and, presenting himself before them, said, “What is this?”
The monks also said, “What is this?”
Seppo lowered his head and returned to his cottage.

Later, the monks came to Ganto, who said, “Where are you from?”
The monks answered, “We have come from south of the Nanrei mountains.”
Ganto said, “Have you ever been to see Seppo?”
The monks said, “Yes, we have been to him.”
Ganto said, “What did he say to you?”
The monks related the whole story.
Ganto said, “Alas! I regret that I did not tell him the last word when I was with him. If I had done so, no one in the whole world could have pretended to outdo him.”

At the end of the summer session, the monks repeated the story and asked Ganto for his instruction.
Ganto said, “Why didn’t you ask earlier?”
The monks said, “We have had a hard time struggling with this topic.”
Ganto said, “Seppo came to life in the same way that I did, but he does not die in the same way that I do. If you want to know the last word, I'll tell you simply: This! This!”

Maneesha, I am immensely grateful that you have reminded me of Seppo. I have always wanted to bring Seppo to you because he is one of the most precious buddhas who has walked on the earth.

He was unique in his own way; in his teaching, words were not important but only thisness, the utter silence of existence. The chattering of the birds are the only holy scriptures in the world. And the commentaries of the bamboos are really honest, sincere and to the point.

Seppo would have loved this assembly, this moment…of a silent waiting. He was not as fortunate as I am; he had few disciples. But that is very unjust of existence. Seppo should have the whole world as his disciples because what he is giving is the ultimate essence.

[The chirping of birds runs through the silence of Buddha Hall.]

This was Seppo. They have all gathered here. This story makes Seppo’s method of teaching clear:

When Seppo was living in his hermitage, two monks came to pay their respects. As Seppo saw them coming he pushed open the gate and, presenting himself before them, said, “What is this?”

The monks must have been at a loss. In fact, Seppo’s opening the gate, standing before them, was a question to be asked by them. But before they had said anything Seppo himself without being questioned, answered, “What is this?”

In utter confusion those two monks said to Seppo, “What is this? We have not even asked, we have not even entered the gate, we have not even said hello to you and you open the gate, and standing before us irrationally ask, “What is this?” In fact, we ask you about your behavior,