To attain buddhatā (the state of awakening by which one becomes “Buddha”) the Zen adept must strive to see their self-nature (svabhāva). This is really the Buddha—not some old guy in yellow robes holding a begging bowl.
Without this accomplishment, no matter how much one does zazen, recites mantras, studies koans or studies the 12 sections of the discourses and follows the precepts, they will always be far away from buddhatā — they will never be awakened.
But you must meet the Buddha (i.e., attain buddhatā ), face to face, to be called a real master of Zen. Only the Buddha can recognize and validate your enlightenment which really means that buddhatā is self-validating—not some old Zen master who pours out fox spittle to his dull witted bald headed students who are thinking about their next meal.
Make no mistake, buddhatā is a real experience. Without insight into self-nature, which is most fundamental, the Buddha does not appear. You will not be anointed. As long as the Zen adept clings to outward appearances pretending to be a Buddha (which he or she is not) not only will they delude others but they will delude themselves.
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