resting-place on the road for a traveller, while the Mahayana
doctrine with his destination. All the denominations of Buddhism,
with a single exception of Zen, are based on the authority of some
particular sacred writings. The Ten Dai Sect, for instance, is based
on Saddharma-pundarika-sutra; the Jo Do Sect on Larger
Sukhavati-vyuha, Smaller Sukhavati-vyuha, and Amitayus-dhyana-sutra;
the Ke Gon Sect on Avatamsaka-sutra; the Hosso Sect on
Samdhi-nirmocana-sutra.


Zen is based on the highest spiritual plane attained by Shakya Muni
himself. It can only be realized by one who has attained the same
plane. To describe it in full by means of words is beyond the power
even of Gotama himself. It is for this reason that the author of
Lankavatara-sutra insists that Shakya Muni spoke no word through his
long career of forty-nine years as a religious teacher, and that of
Mahaprajnyaparamita-sutra[FN#108] also express the same opinion. The
Scripture is no more nor less than the finger pointing to the moon of
Buddhahood. When we recognize the moon and enjoy its benign beauty,
the finger is of no use. As the finger has no brightness whatever,
so the Scripture has no holiness whatever. The Scripture is
religious currency representing spiritual wealth. It does not matter
whether money be gold, or sea-shells, or cows. It is a mere
substitute. What it stands for is of paramount importance. Away
with your stone-knife! Do not watch the stake against which a
running hare once struck its head and died. Do not wait for another
hare. Another may not come for ever. Do not cut the side of the
boat out of which you dropped your sword to mark where it sunk. The
boat is ever moving on. The Canon is the window through which we
observe the grand scenery of spiritual nature. To hold communion