Dogen’s Treasury of the True Dharma Eye edited by Kaz Tanahashi: Treeness
Zahozhou was asked by a monk, “Does the cypress tree have buddha nature?”
Zhazhou answered, “It does.”
The monk said, “When does it become buddha?”
Zhazhou said, “When the sky falls to the ground.”
The monk said, “When does that happen?”
Zhazhou said: “When the cypress tree becomes buddha.”
This gives me a new appreciation of feeling like the sky is falling. And since I know the sky falls constantly, it must mean there is buddha nature constantly manifesting even in my fear-drenched world. However, I don’t think that’s the real connection between the sky falling and the cypress tree becoming a buddha.
The resolution is in synchronous nature of Zhaozhou’s words: “When the sky falls to the ground” and “When the cypress tree become buddha.”
108zenbooks 
Well, the sky certainly falls constantly here in Seattle, home of non-stop rain.
I’d trade a few days of non-Buddha-Nature for a little sunshine.
I can relate to that – up here we say ‘What follows two days of rain in Vancouver?’ Answer: Monday.
Trading non-Buddha-Nature for sunshine – isn’t that like selling your soul to the devil or something? 🙂
Yes but it’s a skillful means to become a subversive in the hell realms.
That’s right – I remember you alluding to something about bodhisattvic espionage. Of course I won’t ask you about it because if you told me, you might have to ….
…confess that the bodhisattva hazing involved eating a slice of bacon pizza?