Be Independent

The moment you meet a teacher, you should leave the teacher, and you should be independent. So that you can be independent, you have a teacher to study yourself. You have teachers for yourselves, not for the teacher.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-09-09 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Through Teaching

By teaching we will understand what we are ourselves. But teaching is not ourselves; it is some explanation of ourselves. So, if you attach to the teaching, or to the teacher, that is a big mistake. The purpose of studying teaching is to know yourselves; through teaching you should know yourselves. That is why we do not attach to even teaching or a teacher.

Image modified by Google Gemini

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-09-09 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Some Teaching

The purpose of studying Buddhism is not to study Buddhism, but to study ourselves. It is impossible to study ourselves without some teaching. Because it is impossible to know what water is, we want science, and scientists want a laboratory, so they may study water. It is possible to know what elements water has, and when wind comes what kind of form water takes, and how it always comes down, but it is impossible to know water itself. It is same thing with ourselves. It is impossible to know what “I” is. That is why we have teaching.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-09-09 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

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Whatever You Do

When you understand in this way, whatever you do is an expression of true nature. Scientific research, philosophical study, or artistic work—all our culture is an expression of our true nature. But if you understand our practice as a means of attaining enlightenment, you cannot apply our practice before you attain enlightenment [laughs]. But if you have right understanding of practice, whatever you do, that is an expression of buddha-nature.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Practice Is Enlightenment

If you think that if you practice hard, you will attain enlightenment sooner [laughs], and if you are lazy in your practice, you will attain enlightenment later, this kind of understanding is the usual understanding of practice. But actual practice is when you practice zazen, the practice itself is enlightenment. Practice is not separated from enlightenment.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Our Practice

To polish a tile. That is our practice. Even though you polish it, a tile is a tile [laughs]. But to polish is our practice. It doesn’t matter whether it will make a mirror or not. To polish it is our practice, and that is the goal—that is enlightenment. The effort to polish is based on our true nature. Our true nature makes us polish it. That is the point.

Drawing by Stan White

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Polish a Tile

When Baso was practicing zazen: Nangaku said, “Why do you practice? What is the purpose of your practice?” “I want to be a buddha,” he said. And Nangaku, the teacher, picked up a tile and started to polish it. Disciple Baso asked the teacher, “Why do you polish a tile? Is it possible to make a tile into a mirror?” The teacher said, “No, it is impossible.” [Laughs.]

Image generated by ChatGPT

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Pairs of Opposites

The Sixth Patriarch emphasized pairs of opposites. He pointed out thirty-six pairs of opposites: heaven and earth, good and bad, something like these. I think Nangaku’s understanding of the teaching is also based on pairs of duality. According to him, something good is at the same time something which is bad. Good and bad is one—two sides of one coin.

Image generated by Google Search

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Two Meanings

The question which do you hit, the cart or the horse was a question given to Baso. His famous statement was, “Although you speak quite well or to the point, it will not be right.” It is a double-edged sword. It means even though you say so, you will not understand it. That is one meaning. Another meaning is whatever you say, that is right.

Photo modified by Google Gemini

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

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Ornaments of Life

When you accept the problem, you accept your true nature, which is working on it. When you accept your true nature, fundamentally there is no problem. As long as we live, moment after moment we have to work on something. So, dualistic problems will give you the meaning of your life. They are ornaments of your life.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Accept Dualistic Activity

To accept the dualistic activity is to find the oneness. When you do not accept it, that is duality. No way to solve it—it will be just delusion which will cause a lot of trouble. But when you accept it, there is oneness. And the problem is actually solved when you accept it.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

No Big Mind Without Small Mind

When you want to decide, “This is good or this is bad. This is small mind, this is big mind,” you have duality already. But actually, there is no big mind without small mind. Big mind is the mind which is working on small mind. If there is no small mind, there is no big mind.

Drawing by Robert "Skip" Melcher

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Seems To Be

[Responding to a student] “Seems to be.” Not exactly so but seems to be. That’s very good [laughter]. It seems to be small mind, you know. It seems to be big mind. But actually, it is both big mind and small mind. But when you think, “This is big mind, and this is small mind,” there is duality—a gap.

Photo by Robert S. Boni

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Big and Small

Sculpture by Robert Gove

To accept small mind too, knowing that it is small mind: big mind watching small mind [laughs]. Then small mind will work. If you know that is small mind, if you know the nature of your tool, you can use the tool. If it is small, you can use it when you cut small things. When you help a small-minded person, you should use small mind [laughter], knowing that that is small—very small.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Big Self

When we can accept ourselves, we can accept anything else. There is no self in our minds. What we have is big mind, big self. We can treat our bodies as we treat others'. We will treat our own things as we treat others'. This is the Buddhist way of life.

Photo by Jim Marshall

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

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Appreciate the Beauty

Whether we become a great person or not is not the point. When we can accept ourselves, we are already one with all existence. When spring comes, we can enjoy spring flowers. When the summer comes, we can enjoy the cool moonlight. When autumn comes, we can appreciate the beauty of the foliage. In winter we will appreciate snow.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Accept Ourselves

When I went to university, the president of the university told us something like this: You have to be satisfied with yourself [laughs]. Even though you study hard, a foolish one is foolish, an intelligent one is intelligent. He always would say that. But it was pretty hard to accept because all of us wanted to be some great teacher [laughing]. But he said it was impossible. So, the purpose of practice is to accept ourselves.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Stupid

But a stupid person should be stupid. If one is stupid, one is youthful. But even though one is stupid, it is their nature to make an effort to be better. That is their own nature. And actually, they are trying to be satisfied with themselves. It looks like they want to be something else. But actually, they want to be satisfied with themselves. That is true understanding.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Not Different

But sometimes you think the practice and the cart are different, enlightenment is a different thing, that practice is a means to attain enlightenment. If you think this way, then enlightenment is something different from you. So, you want to be something else because we are so stupid. [Laughter]

Photo by Tim Buckley

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Cart or Horse

Someone asked his disciple, “When the cart does not go [laughs], which do you whip the cart or the horse?” This is a very tricky question. Of course, he may whip the horse. To whip the horse is to whip the cart because the cart and horse are not different. Practice and enlightenment are not different.

Image generated by ChatGPT

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Satisfied

Our practice is not like intoxicating liquor. Many people will mix up way-seeking mind and a gaining idea. We do not rely even on teaching. We want to be ourselves. And we want to be satisfied ourselves. How to be satisfied ourselves is why we should practice.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

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Escape

Without practicing for the sake of Buddhism—without being satisfied with ourselves, to try to be something else. Sometimes we try to escape from our life and to go somewhere else or to live somewhere else. That is [laughs] not Buddhism. It is quite different.

Drawing by Stan White

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

For the Sake of Buddhism

We say a gaining idea is not good [laughs]. It is also a gaining idea, maybe, but a gaining idea to be good is not wrong. It is so-called way-seeking mind. “Practicing Buddhism for the sake of Buddhism.” That is true practice. Practicing Buddhism for the sake of something else; that is a gaining idea.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Improve

Student: Our inmost request, then, is a request for perfection?

SR: Perfection [laughs] is not so good a word—but to improve ourselves, knowing that our effort is not strong enough or we are not sincere enough. That is why we want some good examples. A good example will encourage our practice, and it will help whether our practice is good or bad.

Image modified by Google Gemini

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Imperfect Practice

When you are critical of your practice, usually it’s because you have some other purpose or aim. You become critical not by inmost request, but because of some gaining idea. In this case, to be critical of your practice is not good. But, if we accept our imperfect practice, trying to be perfect is our inmost request. If so, not to be perfect itself, but to be aware of our imperfect practice is an expression of our inmost request. If you understand in this way, that is right understanding.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Critical

Our inmost request itself may be critical of our practice. But usually when we become critical of our practice, we have some other purpose in our practice, like because we think our practice is not good enough to attain enlightenment [laughs].

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

One Existence

“Outflow,” that is opposite to our way. Your energy comes out from whatever it is, body or mind. You should be one existence when you sit. There is no outside and no inside when you sit. It is not even to see inward. It is just to sit. No inside and no outside. Just one existence.

Image modified by Google Gemini

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

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Pretty Good

After trying to polish ourselves until we think our practice is good, we will be recognized by our patriarchs, by Buddha, and by our teacher. Then you are pretty good—not perfect, but pretty good.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Imperfect

We are not talking about something very difficult. If we are quite sincere with ourselves, and if we are conscientious—not conscientious, but if we are aware of our idle practice and ashamed of it, that’s the way. Even though we are not perfect, if we are aware of our imperfection, that is good, very good.

(Image edited by Google Gemini)

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Confidence

Before you have full confidence in yourself, you will not be certified by anyone. Even though someone says you are good, it doesn’t mean anything. So, your confidence is first. There is no other way than to be confident in yourself.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Full Activity

The Fifth Patriarch in Japan was rather proud of his deep understanding of Buddhism. So Keizan Zenji did not accept him [laughs] because naturally he could not see the double moon. When you forget yourself, you have full strength. But it does not mean to be lazy or to become wood or stone. You are alive, and your mind is not working. You are in full activity, but your activity is not relying on anything. That is, you know, zazen.

Fifth Chan Patriarch

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Proud

Drawing by Stan White

As long as you are proud of your practice, it means you are still relying on something or someone. When you rely on others—rely on your reputation—you are proud of yourself [laughs]. If you are quite independent, you are not proud of yourself or anything.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Your Own Effort

This kind of strength can be acquired by your own effort, not by any other’s effort. Even if I explain it one thousand times, it will not help you unless you yourself make an effort to be sure about yourself. Before you believe in yourself you cannot see the double moon. Actually, double or single doesn’t matter [laughs]. That is double moon.

Priest ordinations - January 11, 1975

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

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Sure With Yourself

If someone says, “It is double,” I may say, “No, it is single.” [Laughter.] It doesn’t matter to me whether it is a double or single moon because I am quite sure about my eyes. When you are quite sure with yourself, when you own your eyes as your sense organ, then you can see the double moon. But as long as you are enslaved by your eyes, you cannot trust your eyes [laughs]. So, if someone says that is a double or single moon, you will wonder if you cannot trust your eyes.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Through Your Practice

If you want to see the double moon, you must build up your character and you must have the power to observe the double moon. In other words, through your practice you obtain the power to see the double moon. As long as you are just trying to figure out if this way of observing is right or wrong, you cannot see it. When you are quite sure about observing, you can see the double moon.

Watercolor by Damian Maynard

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Invisible Effort

We say, “a white bird in snow.” You cannot see a white bird in the snow, but still the bird exists. When we devote ourselves to true practice, our practice is not visible. But this invisible effort will build your character, and you will obtain the power to be a master of the surroundings. As long as you are chasing after only visible things, you will never understand the meaning of our life. This is how we devote ourselves to our way.

Image generated by ChatGPT

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

A Painted Moon

As long as you are caught by a single moon which is always the same for everybody, you cannot see the true moon. You will be seeing a painted moon which never changes [laughs]. There is no meaning to it.

Image generated by ChatGPT

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Double Moon

Mutual understanding is the double moon; not the single moon, not the same moon. And the moon they see in Japan is the same moon—it is the same. But it is not the same, it is double [laughs]. I don’t know how many moons we see, but the feeling of observing the moon is the same. Even though sometimes we see the moon with sadness and sometimes with joy, the moon is the same. Here, we see the double moon. It should be double, but the moon is the same.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Mutual Understanding

We have mutual understanding, but the way you and I express our innermost request is not the same. Because it is not the same and cannot be the same, we can respect each other’s efforts, and at the same time we can know how difficult it is. That is mutual understanding.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

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You Become You

Image generated by Leonardo.ai

When you become you [laughs]—when bamboo is bamboo, that is Zen. When a tree is a tree, that is Zen. We have to realize our inmost nature as a being, or our inmost request of ourselves. An inmost request works for every existence in the same way, but as each existence is unique, even though the inmost request is universal, the way of expression should be different.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Become Yourself

Photo by Mark Abrams

If we try to be the most famous, useful, or powerful, we will lose the true meaning of existence. So we say when you become yourself, Zen becomes Zen.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Be Yourself

Bamboo cannot be a pine tree [laughs]. Bamboo is always valuable as bamboo. A mixture of bamboo and pine will not serve for anything because bamboo is straight and a pine tree is crooked. So, bamboo and pines are valuable in their own way. There is no need for us to be famous or to be useful. First of all, each one should be themself. Then we will find our world very convenient.

Image generated by Google Gemini

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

To Light Up One Corner

It is not a matter of what is good or bad. It is a matter of whether you devote yourself to the truth completely. In the Lotus Sutra, Buddha said to light up just one corner—not the whole world. To make it clear just where you are. To shine on or light up one corner. This is a very important point in our practice.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.