Student A: We read about
certain masters who, upon attaining complete enlightenment, are able to direct
their future rebirths, in other words, to return to help all sentient beings,
coming back through a vow rather than through karma. Would a master, say in
this century, who could do that, be a Nirmanakaya buddha?
SR: Do you mean someone who actually knows his former and future lives? Since I
don't know my former and future lives, I cannot say for sure that he is or is
not. If I really knew, then I could say yes. When my self doesn't know, how is
it possible to say, “Yes, he is”? But according to our more traditional
teaching, I think I can say he is a real master. --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture - 68-10-00-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. - DC
