We say, “evil desires,” [laughs], but it is another name of buddha-nature. For Buddha that is buddha-nature. There is of course, layman and priest [laughs]. Usually you understand in that way, but actually there is no particular person to be a priest, you know. Each one of you can be a priest, and I could be a layman. Just because I wear a robe I am a priest. Maybe because I behave like a priest, I am a priest. That’s all. There is no special person for priest or layman.
Tim Ford with Shunryu Suzuki at City Center Buddha Hall, maybe lay ordination ceremony 1970
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-04-20 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.
