The Last Will And Testament Of Ikkyu's Mother

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The well known Zen master Ikkyu who belonged to the Ashikaga era, was the son of an emperor.
His mother had left the palace to embrace Zen in a temple. Prince Ikkyu also became a student. When she passed on, she left a letter for her son.

To Ikkyu:

I have completed the tasks of this life and now going back to eternity. I wish you to become a good student and to realize your Buddha-nature. You will come to know if I am in hell and whether I am always with you or not.

If you turn out to be a man who realize that the Buddha and his follower Bodhidharma are your followers, you may give up your studies and serve the humanity. The Buddha preached for forty one years and during the whole phase, found it not necessary to even utter a word. You ought to know why. If you don't know and wish to know, avoid thinking fruitlessly.

Your Mother,
Not born, not dead.
September first.

P.S. Buddha's teaching was to enlighten others. However if you are dependent on any of the methods, then you are nothing but an ignorant insect. There are about 80,000 books on Buddhism. If even after having read all of them and still not realize your nature, you will not understand this letter as well. This is my will and testament.