More Human

And artistic expression of the teaching also is not perfect. But in art, too, that which was painted may be more real than actual existence [laughs]. It is the same thing with our teaching. Our teaching may seem more human than actual human nature.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-12-11-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.

Intellectual Study

Intellectual study of Buddhism is of course necessary, but you should not stay at the edge of Buddhism. Intellectually, Patriarchs made a great effort. Even though they were often treated as heretics, they studied from a pure intellectual point of view and tried not to ignore the smallest illogical point of Buddhism. Historically there is some doubt about our lineage especially before Bodhidharma. Today everyone knows that the names and connections are not historically perfect, but we also know that Buddhism has been transmitted from warm hand to warm hand from Buddha’s time until our own day. The fact and spirit of the teaching have been transmitted. Historical or scientific studies are not perfect. There is a limit to scientific truth.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-12-11-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.

As Your Own

It is necessary to have some aim in our life. The supreme aim as a Buddhist is to be a successor of our ancestors, to be a successor of the patriarchs. That is the most important point. Otherwise, you are studying Buddhism from the outside. You are always an outsider. For outsiders Buddhism is nothing. When you accept it as your own and when you try to develop it as your own, then Buddhism has tremendous meaning for us.

Image modified by Google Gemini

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-12-11-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.

Featured Cuke Archives page

https://cuke.com/f → https://www.cuke.com/pdf-2013/wind-bell/70-01-pages2-12.pdf or https://www.cuke.com/people/dixon-trudy.htm

Two Arrows Zen - Trudy Dixon (1938–1969)

Trudy Dixon (1938–1969): The Quiet Editor Who Helped Give American Zen Its Voice
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1c9WCLGJeW/
-thanks to Andrew Main for sending the link

Effort

Japanese members year after year, they paid the bank for this building. Even when they were in [World War II internment] camps at wartime, they collected the money in the camps and paid the mortgage. They were very proud of the effort which they made in the camps. But if you compare their effort to our ancestors’ efforts in India, China, and Japan, and our patriarchs’ devotion to this teaching, it is nothing. So, we should not forget this point, and we should continue this effort forever, generation after generation.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-12-11-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.

Appreciation

Buddhism has many annual year layers like big trees. And traditionally we respect those efforts which our patriarchs have made for more than two thousand years. We have made a great effort to develop Buddha’s way. And this point is very, very important for Buddhism as a religion. Without appreciation of the efforts of our patriarchs, it is difficult to have religious feeling in Buddhism.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-12-11-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.

The True Activity of Big Existence

It is necessary to study Buddhism. But the purpose of studying Buddhism is to study ourselves, and to forget ourselves. When you forget yourselves, you resume or you will actually take the true activity of big existence or reality. When we realize this fact, there is no problem whatsoever in this world. And you can enjoy your life without having any trouble or difficulties. This is how we study Buddhism, and the purpose of this meeting or practice is to be aware of this fact.

—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.

This Is It?

Dogen Zenji says, “To study Buddhism is to study ourselves. To study ourselves is to forget ourselves” [laughs]. When you forget temporal expression of big, true nature, then it is necessary to talk about it, or else you will think this is it. But this is not it [laughs]. This is it, but this is not it [laughs]. For a while this is it, for a very small particle of time it is it [laughs]. It is not always so. It is not it.

—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.

No Mistake

So, there will not be any need to talk about ourselves. So that we may realize this fact, there is teaching about ourselves, but actually there is no need to talk about that. We ourselves already are talking about the big existence, including ourselves. So, to talk about ourselves is to correct our misunderstanding, that’s all, because we attach to the temporal form or color of the big activity. So, it is necessary to talk about what our body is, what our activity is, so that we do not make any mistake about it. So, to talk about something is to forget about ourselves.

—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.

Sometimes We Talk About

Rinzai has four ways of practice. The perfect one is not to give a student any interpretation of themself or any stimulation to themself. If oneself is my body, the teaching is maybe our clothes. Sometimes we talk about our clothing. Sometimes we talk about our body. But a body or clothing is not actually we ourselves. We ourselves are big activity. We are just taking a very small particle of big activity, that’s all.

—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.

Featured Cuke Archives page

+

https://cuke.com/f

True Food

When we become discouraged, we want some medicine. When we are in good spirits, we do not want any medicine. You should not take medicine for true food. Sometimes medicine is necessary, but medicine should not be our food.

—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.

Sangha Live 2026

Richard Baker Rōshi - Sunday Sangha
July 12, 2026

11 am PDT (LA) / 2 pm EDT (NY) / 7 pm BST (London) / 8 pm CEST (Paris).

90-minute live session.

https://sangha.live/free_live/sunday-sangha-12th-july-2026/

Just Medicine

Buddhism is the same thing as having breakfast and going to bed. This is Buddhism. Of course, some encouragement is necessary for us, but that encouragement is just encouragement. It is not the purpose or true purpose of practice. That is just medicine.

—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.

Doing What We Should Do

So, to hear, or to know what Buddhism is, or to feel something about Buddhism is not the main point. Whether Buddhism is good or bad [laughs] is not the question. We don’t mind whatever this is [laughs]. Buddhism is not good or bad. We are doing what we should do. That is Buddhism.

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.

Something Unusual

Image from: wikimedia.org

When we hear the sound of a pine tree on a windy day, perhaps the wind is just blowing, and pine tree is just standing in the wind. That’s all they are doing [laughs]. But people who hear it will make a poem or will feel something unusual. That is, I think, the way everything goes.

—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.

Deep Feeling

At Eiheiji for us monastic life was usual life, and people who came from the city were unusual people [laughs]. We felt, “Oh, some unusual people came” [laughs]. We thought we were quite usual. But once you go out from Eiheiji and come back to Eiheiji, and hear the various sounds of practice, or hear them reciting sutras, you will feel deep feeling. Tears will flow out of your mouth and eyes and nose [laughter]. It is people who are outside of the monastery who feel something about it. Those who are practicing actually do not feel anything [laughs].

—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.

That’s All

When I was at Eiheiji, everyone was just doing what they should do. That’s all. It is the same thing as having breakfast in the morning [laughs]. That’s how we did everything in Eiheiji monastery. When we had to sit, we sat. That’s all. When we should bow to Buddha, we bowed to Buddha. That’s all. And when we were practicing there, we did not feel anything special. We did not even feel we were having monastic life.

Photo from Way of Eiheiji record set

—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.

Memorial Service

Ten Year Memorial for Former Abbess Zenkei Blanche Hartman

City Center
July 11, 2026, 7:10am - 7:45am

https://www.sfzc.org/calendar/events/city-center/ten-year-memorial-former-abbess-zenkei-blanche-hartman-cc-711

Featured Cuke Archives page

https://cuke.com/f

Practice and Everyday Activity

The study you make here is a part of your everyday life, a part of your incessant activity. In this sense there is no difference between the practice here, and the everyday activity you have in everyday life. So, to find out the meaning of your life here is to find out the meaning of your everyday activity. To be aware of the meaning of your life, you practice zazen here.

—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.

To Study

Sometimes without teaching, when you do not hear anything and just sit, you have everything. And teaching is not sufficient, and awareness of yourself is not sufficient. So, the purpose of practice in this place is to study ourselves. To be independent, we study. But you need a teacher because it is impossible to study you by yourself; by some means you have to study. But you should not make a mistake. You should not take what you have learned here for yourselves. It is a part of your activity, everyday activity.

—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.

Four Ways

Image from Wikipedia

Rinzai analyzed how to teach his disciples in four ways. Sometimes he talks about disciples; sometimes he talks about teaching itself; sometimes he gives an interpretation of both teaching and himself; sometimes he does not give any instruction about the students or teaching because even though he does not speak about anything, a student is a student. Strictly speaking there is no need to teach because each is Buddha, whether or not they are aware of it. Even though one is aware of their true nature, if they attach to the awareness, that is already wrong. When one is not aware of it, they have everything, but when they become aware of it, they think what they are aware of is themself. So that’s a big mistake.

—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.

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.

Featured Cuke Archives page

https://cuke.com/f

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.

Featured Cuke Archives page

https://cuke.com/f

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.

Featured Cuke Archives page

https://cuke.com/f

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.