Nyoho: the dharma of thusness

We need to look first at the larget context of nyoho, the dharma of thusness
- many of us first encounter nyoho when we sew rakusus
- we are taught about the nyoho of tai (material), shiki (color) and ryo (size). 
- our robes are made from cast-off material to which no one has any attachment
- color is a blended shade that’s not exciting
- size is just right for the particular wearer—neither so large that fabric is wasted nor too small to cover the body.

But nyoho describes more than just the robe—it covers our entire lives
- as human beings, we need three things--
-- clothing (our rakusu or okesa)
-- shelter (the sodo or zendo in which we live and practice)
-- food (our oryoki bowls and the food we eat from them)
-- all be according to nyoho, or representations of the Buddha’s teaching

Zendo is simple and clean, made without elaborate decoration or made of fancy building materials, 
- but sturdy and containing all the things we need to function there. 
- oryoki are not made of brightly colored porcelain or exotic wood, 
- but neither are they rough or cracked or too small to hold enough to nourish our bodies.