By Nature, Having Nothing

The Zen phrase honrai muichimotsu is attributed to Rokuso Eno (aka Hui-neng) and reminds us that everything comes from nothing and that we come into the world with nothing - no attachments, no possessions, no preconceived ideas nor prejudices. The phrase is composed of 本来 (read honrai) meaning "naturally; by nature; in (and of) itself" and 無一物 (read muichimotsu) meaning "having nothing" or "not a single thing". This also translates as "Actually, there is nothing" and in a Buddhist context may be thought of as "The Buddha nature is free of possessions".