The topic is about causality. We believe in causality, but our way of believing in cause and effect—theory of cause and effect—is not the same as ordinary people believe in it. --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture - 66-08-17N - as found on shunryusuzuki.com, from one of the newly discovered (2021) lecture tapes. 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. Go to https://www.instagram.com/cuke_archives/ for more daily Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts - with a photo.
DC Comment: This is unfortunate wording. It's not really what he means. He does not mean to imply some special group is superior to "ordinary" people - like Buddhists, Zen Buddhists, Soto Zen Buddhists, enlightened people. To me, what he means is that "a true understanding of cause and effect is different from the ordinary understanding." Comes across quite different huh? And this isn't the only time he fell into this sort of usage. See some of Stuart Lach's comments here. I have no problem with anything Stuart says there but my interpretation of what Suzuki was saying is totally different.