Water is Life: The Way of the Buddhas and Ancestors

Water is a profound dharma teacher. Are we paying attention? Paying attention to the teachings of water, we understand the dharma as our lived experience and the truth of everything. This understanding naturally leads to care for the world around us. Dogen Zenji’s Mountains and Waters Sutra explores the profound teachings of water. Different beings perceive water uniquely, from fish and dragons who see it as their home, to hungry ghosts perceiving it as blood or pus. By embracing the truth of the flow and the truth of the stillness of water, we connect with infinite understanding, becoming one with the teachings of the Buddhas and ancestors. "Wherever the buddhas and ancestors are, water is always there; wherever water is, there the buddhas and ancestors always appear." -Dogen Zenji The Mountains and Waters Sutra: A Practitioner’s Guide to Dogen’s ‘Sansuikyo,’ Shohaku Okumura.