Busso (Buddha Ancestors)

Actualizing Buddha ancestors means to uphold and see them in veneration. It is not limited to buddhas of the past, present, and future, but it is going beyond buddhas who are going beyond themselves. It is taking up those who have maintained the face and eye of buddha ancestors, formally bowing and encountering them. They have manifested the power of the buddha ancestors, dwelt in it, and actualized it in the body.

The buddha ancestors:

Vipashin (Boundless Discourse) Buddha, Honored One
Shikhin (Fire) Buddha, Honored One
Vishvabhu (Universal Compassion) Buddha, Honored One
Krakucchanda (Gold Wizard) Buddha, Honored One
Kanakamuni (Golden Sage) Buddha, Honored One
Kashyapa (Drinking Light) Buddha, Honored One
Shakyamuni (Patient Silence) Buddha, Honored One
Mahakashyapa, Honored One
Ananda, Honored One
Shanavasin, Honored One
Upagupta, Honored One
Dhritaka, Honored One
Micchaka, Honored One
Vasumitra, Honored One
Buddhanandi, Honored One
Buddhamitra, Honored One
Parshva, Honored One
Punyayashas, Honored One
Ashvaghosha, Honored One
Kapimala, Honored One
Nagarjuna, Honored One
KJanadeva, Honored One
Rahulata, Honored One
Sanghanandi, Honored One
Gayashata, Honored One
Kumarata, Honored One
Jayata, Honored One
Vasubandhu, Honored One
Manorhita, Honored One
Haklenayashas, Honored One
Simhabhikshu, Honored One
Basiasita, Honored One
Punyamitra, Honored One
Prajnatara, Honored One

Bodhidharma, Honored One
Huike, Honored One
Sengcan, Honored One
Daoxin, Honored One
Hongren, Honored One
Huineng, Honored One
Xingsi, Honored One
Xiqian, Honored One
Weiyan, Honored One
Tansheng, Honored One
Liangjie, Honored One
Daoying, Honored One
Daopi, Honored One
Guanzhi, Honored One
Yuanguan, Honored One
Jingxuan, Honored One
Yiqing, Honored One
Daokai, Honored One
Zichun, Honored One
Qingliao, Honored One
Zhongque, Honored One
Zhijian, Honored One
Rujing, Honored One

I saw Rujing, my late master, Old Buddha Tiantong, at the time of summer practice period in the first year of the Baoqing Era [1227] of Great Song, and with a formal bow completed receiving these buddha ancestors.

This can only occur between a buddha nad a buddha.

Written and presented at Kannondori Kosho Horin Monastery, Uji County, Yamashiro Province, Japan, on the third day, the first month, the second year of Ninji Era [1241].

---Zen Master Dogen's Shobo Genzo, edited by Kazuaki Tanahashi---