Beyond Discussion

We don’t know why we should try to improve ourselves. No one knows. There is no reason for it, or it is beyond discussion. Even though you cannot discuss it, our true nature is so big. It is out of our intellectual understanding, so it makes no sense even if you discuss it. “What are you talking about?” [Laughs.] Those who are aware of it will laugh at you if you discuss why it is so big a problem to discuss. This is why we bow to Buddha.

Drawing by Stan White

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-22 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

This Awareness

If you understand about true nature, you will find the true nature within yourself and in every existence. Flowers have this nature. Even though it is cold, they are preparing for spring. Even though they do not know it, they are making good effort to come up in the spring. So when we become aware of it, we will know that this nature we have is universal nature to every existence. But this awareness of true nature is limited to human beings. So, this awareness is very important, and this awareness is, in short, to try to do something good is our spirit.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-22 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Publishers Weekly Interview about Tassajara Stories

Cathy Grossman, the religion editor for Publishers Weekly, did a nice brief interview with me about the upcoming Tassajara Stories book. Here 'tis. The book is coming out September 23rd.

Difficulty and Pleasure

Because we are not so good we try to improve ourselves. And we are aware of having some intention to improve ourselves. This intention is limited to human beings. Flowers may come out in the spring without fail, but they do not make any effort; they automatically come out, that’s all. We try to do the right thing at the right time, but we find it very difficult. In this sense we are very stupid [laughs, laughter]. Even though we try, we cannot make it, but this is our human nature. We always try to do something and have some difficulty. But this point is very important for us. That is why we have pleasure as human beings, because it is difficult, and we are always making some effort. That effort results in our pleasure of human life. This pleasure is limited to human beings, and this is called our true nature.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-22 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Featured Cuke Archives page

Renshin Bunce began practicing with Steve Stucky in 1994. In 2013 she received dharma transmission from him. Her website is renshinbunce.com. Go there for info on her in-person and Zoom sitting groups. She's published three books on Amazon: on Steve Stucky, hospice work, and practicing at Tassajara. Her cuke.com page has links to her many photos or go to flickr.com/photos/renshin. Listen to this podcast to learn lots more.

Oneness in Duality

Another meaning of bowing is: As long as we live, we have a body here, and we have to think something. So, Buddha practiced Zen, and we practice Zen. Everyone when we practice Zen, we are called Buddha. And Buddha Mind, or Bodhisattva Mind is a spirit. To attain oneness in duality is, in short, our spirit.

Image generated by Microsoft Copilot

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-22 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Buddha Bows to Buddha

We bowed nine times this morning. Bowing to Buddha is actually a kind of practice to get rid of our self-centered ideas—to give ourselves completely to Buddha. I mean to give our physical and intellectual life to Buddha because it is based on Buddha Nature. So even when we forget all about it, still we have Buddha Nature, and Buddha bows to Buddha. That is one meaning of bowing.

Photo by Sheldon A. Brody. Courtesy ICP, NY. Image from: tricycle.org.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-22 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Zen and Precepts Is One

You have freedom. You are not enslaved by Buddha Nature, by a moral code. And a moral code is not always the same. It is not permanent. Strictly speaking, there is a moral code whatever you do. So, we say, Zen and precepts is one. In everyday life we call it precepts, and in practice of zazen we call it Zen. So, Zen and everyday life should be the self-use of our true nature. In this sense, precepts and Zen are not different. This is a very important point.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-22 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Freedom and Morality

Some may say, “Whatever we do is Buddha Nature, so it doesn’t matter what I do.” This is a misunderstanding. Morality without Buddha Nature is just a rigid moral code in which you will be enslaved. But if you become aware of Buddha Nature, innate nature, that is freedom, that is not rigid precepts. You act by your own choice, and you act according to your true nature. So, that is complete freedom. And that is also morality.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-22 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

True Freedom

So, in our everyday life, we should observe the precepts, instead of leaving Buddha responsible. We should be responsible, but at the same time we have freedom. There is no need for us to be bound by precepts. Precepts are formulated by our own choices. As long as we take activity consciously, there is freedom, and at the same time, we should be responsible for that. This is true freedom.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-22 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.