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Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Student JJ: Docho Roshi, how is a person with no self-perception aware of himself as being a person with no self-perception?

SR: No self-perception? Perception means the idea. No self-perception means no idea of self.

Student JJ: Then who is aware of being a person with no self-perception?

SR: Oh. Here again, “no” does not mean, you know, opposite of -- it is not just negation. It is strong affirmation: No. Usually “no” is opposite of “yes.” Affirmation. But in this case, “no” means like here [raps his stick once on a table or the floor]. Like this [raps] is “no.” When you say-- when you are making dispute “yes” [raps] or “no” [raps] -- someone who knows what it is actually-- NO! [raps loudly]. This kind of “no.” Both are not true. This is it [raps]. 
 -------------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture - 68-04-23-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC