As a young man, these were Dogen’s questions:

Since we all already are ‘Buddha-nature’ , why do we need to practice?

How are we ‘originally enlightened’ if we don’t feel so?

Tazunuru ni sore, dô moto enzû, ikadeka shushô o karan,

Now, when we pursue the truth, the truth originally is all around: why rely upon practice and experience? (NISHIJIMA)

The Way is originally perfect and all-pervading. How could it be contingent on practice and realization? (SZTP)

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