Civil Rights etc and Practice

Student I: What relationship does anyone who has studied Buddhism have to organizations that work against killing such as peace organizations or civil rights organizations?

SR: Oh. Peace organization or--

Student I: Civil rights organizations. Should one who is studying Buddhism have a relation to the world?

SR: I think Buddhist should have deep concern about those movements. Buddhists should be concerned if it is, you know, right. But we should not be mixed up about the organization and our true desire to help others. And the best way may be to allow the true spirit of a peace movement for people.

So the most important thing is to spread Buddhism-- to let them known what is Buddhism is the best way. This is a very delicate question, I think. ... But the most important thing is to realize the oneness of the human being. This problem should not be cut off from other problems. Sometime, you know, people do two opposite things. On the one hand [laughing], they work for civil rights, and on the other hand, they are doing something opposite. This kind of mistake is pretty common. So even something good should not be cut off from our life as a whole. 

Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-30-C as found on shunryusuzuki.com - Edited by DC