The representative of Tozan and his sect… There are only two sects of Zen; Soto is the more ancient. And you will be happy to note that the chief of Soto Zen has recognized that I have the consciousness and awareness, that I have fulfilled the promise. He asked if I can come to their ceremony, and if I cannot come, at least I should send my robe. That is an old tradition in Zen.

I have sent one of my robes, with my message, to their ceremony. In the ceremony almost a million people are participating, and more than two hundred and fifty government officials are deputed by the government of Japan to be present in the ceremony.

I have told my sannyasins there to go with my robe and my note and message. The chief of the sect presented my robe and my message to the whole gathering with deep love and devotion. And he has informed them that he will be coming here soon to visit me and to see my people.

In fact, this is the only alive Zen assembly. In those one million people and two hundred fifty government representatives, not a single person knows exactly the space that you are feeling every day.

One anecdote about Tozan:

When Tozan was with Nansen…

another great master

…one of Baso’s disciples…

Baso is the ultimate as far as Zen is concerned

…Nansen, observed the anniversary of Baso’s death and said to the assembly, “Will Baso come back to us?”
Tozan said, “If there is company fit for him, he will!”
Nansen appreciated the answer very much.

…Because the words – Buddha or Bodhidharma or Nansen or Baso – are just names of the forms. They all represent the same space; and whenever there are people who are ready to receive, they suddenly descend there.

I have received many letters saying that in the meditations a strange feeling happens – as if something is descending, a deep silence from beyond, heavy, almost tangible. In that silence Baso is present, Buddha is present. When you are absent all the awakened ones are present to you. Then this assembly becomes an eternal phenomenon.

We have been here always and always. Once in a while you forget who you are, but it is immaterial: Sooner or later you recognize again, sooner or later you again see your crystal clear being.

Neither time matters, nor space, you are the one who never comes and never goes, the one who simply is. This!