The term kufuũ (功夫) is applied to masters of various arts and refers to our expertise in a particular skill. Literally it means “achievement through great effort.”

Kufuũ embraces all kinds of activities, any individual accomplishment or cultivated skill obtained by long and hard work. It is our dedication to spiritual, mental, and physical improvement. The ploughing of the field is the kufuũ of the farmer, and the maintenance of cars is the kufuũ of the mechanic.

“To practice Zen in movement is superior to doing so in the stillness of meditation.” - Hakuin

It is the strengthening of the body and the mind, the learning and the perfection of our skills. In kufuũ we dress ourselves and eat our meals; in kufuũ we see, hear and know things; in kufuũ we do, dwell, sit, and lie down. In kufuũ we express our joy, anger, sorrow and pleasure.

If we live this way, we will be called men/women doing everything in kufuũ. Such kufuũ is indeed kufuũ without kufuũ, that is alertness without alertness. Those who are aware of this fact turn both memory and forgetfulness into kufuũ. Waking and sleeping should not be separate in kufuũ.

Kufuũ means a man/woman of physical work and it refers to excellence achieved through long practice in any endeavour. Therefore kufuũ alludes to the earnest way each artisan or practitioner applies himself to the art of his choice. We must be aware and alert during the practice of our art. This state of alertness is called kufuũ.

Kufuũ consists of being fully absorbed into the practice itself, at one with it.

“You should always be one with everything instead of deviating,
and must be awakened to your true self in your daily life
while walking, standing, sitting, and lying down.” - Ta-hui

It is very natural to take kufuũ in movement seriously, for Zen must be activated in the very places or fields of everyday life.