Gutei's One-Finger Zen, Part 3

One day Zen Master Dogen instructed,

An ancient has said, “Associating with a good person is like walking through mist and dew; though you will not become drenched, gradually your robes will become damp.”  This means that if you become familiar with a good person, you will become good yourself without being aware of it. 

In ancient times a boy who attended Mater Gutei, without noticing when he was learning or when he was practicing, realized the Way because he had served as a personal attendant to the master who had been practicing for a long time. 

Similarly if you practice zazen for a long time you will suddenly clarify the Great Matter and will know that zazen is the true gate to the buddha-dharma (Shobogenzo Zuimonki, Book 4, Chapter 4).  

Gutei's One-Finger Zen, Part 1

Ponder the fact that someone realized the Way by hearing the sound of bamboo; that another clarified the Mind at the sight of peach blossoms. How could it be possible to differentiate smart bamboo trees from dull ones, or deluded ones from enlightened ones? How could there be shallow or deep, wise or stupid among flowers? The flowers bloom every year yet not everyone attains enlightenment by viewing them. Stones often strike bamboo yet not everyone who hears the sound clarifies the Way. Only through the virtue of long study and continuous practice, with the assistance of diligent effort in the Way, does one realize the Way or clarify the Mind. This did not occur because the sound of the bamboo was especially wonderful, nor because the color of the peach blossoms was particularly profound. Although the sound of bamboo is marvelous, it does not sound of itself; it cries out with the help of a piece of tile. Although the color of peach blossoms is beautiful, they do not bloom of themselves; they open with the help of the spring breeze. - Shobogenzo Zuimonki, Book 4, Chapter 5.