Mastery and creative brilliance emerge not through forced effort, but when the self-critical mind finally falls silent. When we release the burden of external evaluation, our inherent wisdom flows freely and without resistance. Silencing the inner critic reveals the flawless grace that exists beyond self-consciousness.
“When one goes to Obaku temple in Kyoto, one can see carved over the gate the words “The First Principle.”
The letters are unusually large, and those who appreciate calligraphy always admire them as being a masterpiece. They were drawn by master Kosen two hundred years ago.
When the master drew them, he did so on paper from which workmen made the larger carving in wood. As Kosen sketched the letters, a bold pupil was with him who had made several gallons of ink for the calligraphy and who never failed to criticise his master’s work.
“That is not good,” he told Kosen after the first effort.
“How is this one?”
“Poor. Worse than before,” pronounced the pupil.
Kosen patiently wrote one sheet after another until eighty-four First Principles had been accumulated, still without the approval of the pupil.
Then, when the young man stepped outside for a few moments, Kosen thought: “Now is my chance to escape his keen eye,” and he wrote hurriedly, with a mind free from distraction, “The First Principle.”
“A masterpiece,” pronounced the pupil on returning.”
Source: https://buddhagroove.com (Visit for “a curated collection of jewelry, home decor, and meditation tools that radiate good vibes.”)
– Imakita Kōsen (1816 -1892) was a Japanese Rinzai Zen master.
Note: In Zen, The First Principle does not refer to a rule or doctrine but to the ultimate truth that lies beyond words and concepts. The story reminds us that we often become captivated by the symbol—the beautiful calligraphy, the teacher or the teaching—while overlooking the reality it points to. Like a finger pointing to the moon, the words “The First Principle” are only a pointer; true understanding comes not from admiring the sign, but from directly experiencing what it reveals.
Image: Postage stamp of Japan (1953) on the Great Buddha of Kamakura. Courtesy https://www.buddhiststamp.com/