It was in the Shogen period ( 1259) that our forefather
the venerable Dai-o crossed the stormy waves of the great
ocean in order to study Zen in Sung. He interviewed
Hsu-t'ang (Kido) the great Zen master at Ching-tz'u
(Jinzu) and under him Dai-o whole-heartedly devoted
himself to the realization of Zen experience. Finally at
Ching-shan (Kinzan) he was able to master all the secrets
belonging to it. For this reason he was praised by his master
as "having once more gone over the path", and the prophecy
was also given him that his "descendants would ever be
increasing". That the rightful lineage of the Yang-ch'i
(Yogi) school was transported to this country of ours is to be
ascribed to the merit of our venerable forefather.

Daito, my old venerable teacher, followed the steps of
Dai-o who stayed in the western part of the capital; per-
sonally attending on him, he was in close contact with the
master during his residence at Manju in Kyoto and at
Kencho in Kamakura. Throughout the many years of
attendance Daito never laid himself on a bed for sleep. He
reminds us in many respects of the ancient worthies. When
finally he mastered Zen, the venerable Dai-o gave him his
testimony but ordered him to mature his experience for
twenty years in quiet retirement. Surely enough, he proved
to be a great successor truly worthy of his illustrious master,
Dai-o. He resuscitated Zen which had been in a state of
decline; he left an admonition for his followers to be ever
mindful of keeping vigorously alive the true spirit of Zen
discipline; all this is his merit.

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