These are Kôdô Sawaki's comments on the Zhengdao ge (Shôdôka), a long poem attributed to Yongjia Xuanjue (Yôka Genkaku, 665–713), whose enlightenment is said to have been confirmed by the patriarch Hui-neng. It addresses the relationship between Dharma-nature (reality) and Buddha-nature and describes the daily Zen practice that is to be preferred over sutra study. Sawaki's comments are based on talks he gave in 1946, and he often refers to the author of the Shôdôka as Yôka Daishi, the "Great Master Yôka." In his unique style, Sawaki explains line by line, making references to everyday life, his own moving biography, and historical events and figures, particularly the samurai.