Student: You said
that during practice, a student can do ... must be careful not to do too little
or too much.
SR: [Laughs].
Student: As an example of too little, you said he might fall asleep. But what do you mean by too much? How is it possible to do too much or try too much?
SR: Too hard, you know, too hard.
Student: What would be an example...
SR: To get up, you know, too early, you know, before other students in bed, you know. To get up early and to sit – that is not good practice! -------------------------------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki question and answer- 68-00-00-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC [DC note: This was a lesson Suzuki learned when he was a young monk as told in Crooked Cucumber.]
SR: [Laughs].
Student: As an example of too little, you said he might fall asleep. But what do you mean by too much? How is it possible to do too much or try too much?
SR: Too hard, you know, too hard.
Student: What would be an example...
SR: To get up, you know, too early, you know, before other students in bed, you know. To get up early and to sit – that is not good practice! -------------------------------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki question and answer- 68-00-00-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC [DC note: This was a lesson Suzuki learned when he was a young monk as told in Crooked Cucumber.]