In Japan

In Japan, Buddhists receive precepts-- we say jukai-- and everyone says, “I will keep it.” [Laughs.] And when I was young, you know, I thought this is nonsense. [Laughs.] How can they keep precepts, you know? When they go home they have to eat eggs, meat, even they eat rice, that is living being. They are killing everything as long as they live. How is it possible to say, you know, “I will keep it. I will not kill”? But later, you know, I was struck by them when they say, “I will keep it.” [I thought], “Oh, that is the way,” you know, “to keep precepts.”               --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-04-29 - 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. Got to https://www.instagram.com/cuke_archives/ for more daily Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts - with a photo. 

Cuke's 2nd appearance in the winter Tricycle

Now this one's interesting. In addition to yesterday's Tricycle post from Instagram Cuke Archives which also automatically goes to Facebook Cuke Archives,  What We're Reading in the Winter Tricycle (go down the page some), there's a nice mention of the 2021 re-release of Zen Is Right Here (2007)  which mentions that it was re-released in 2021 with it's sequel,  Zen Is Right Now.  This link will cover both books.  

Liable

We are liable to be caught by something we see or something we experience, and we liable to compare one experience to the other and say which is difficult. Because you compare the experience of jumping off from the pole to the experience to climb up, you hesitate to jump. So how you keep precepts or how you take vows, the four vows, is to do it, you know, without being involved in some idea of vow or practice or precepts.              --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-04-29 - 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. Got to https://www.instagram.com/cuke_archives/ for more daily Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts - with a photo. 

Cuke twice in recent Tricycle Magazine

1 - Featured this post from Instagram Cuke Archives

thanks Peter Ford

That's Suzuki's master, Gyokujun So-on.

Tune in tomorrow for the 2nd one.

Instagram Cuke Archives posts and these Cuke What's New Blog posts both automatically go to Facebook Cuke Archives.

The Easy Way to Take Precepts - jumping!

If you think which is easier, to climb up to the top of the pole or to jump off from the top of the pole, which is easier? [Laughs, laughter.] Because you are thinking that way, it is difficult. When you don't think, when you trust Buddha, and when you say, “I will do it!” that is the easy way.               --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-04-29 - 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. Got to https://www.instagram.com/cuke_archives/ for more daily Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts - with a photo. 

Warning: Do not Take this Literally

The other day I told you about to climb up the top of the pole and to jump off the top of the pole. Usually we say to climb up the top of the pole is easy but it is difficult to jump off from it. I don't think this is true [laughs]. To climb up, you know, to the top of the, you know, pole is difficult, but to jump off from it is not difficult. The way is just so say, “I will do it!”                --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-04-29 - 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. Got to https://www.instagram.com/cuke_archives/ for more daily Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts - with a photo. 

In taking precents

When you say, “I will do it. At least I try to do it.” The “try to do it” will not be so good, you know. “I will DO it!” [laughs], you should say. “I will try to do it” is you are hesitating. “I will do it” is like to jump into the ocean. “I will do it!” Then there is no trouble.               --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-04-29 - 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. Got to https://www.instagram.com/cuke_archives/ for more daily Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts - with a photo. 

The Sequel to Sunseed

 

Sunseed is a film made in 1970 that featured spiritual teachers of that time. Shunryu Suzuki was one of them. Now with Sunflower Amertat Cohn will show what flowers have bloomed from those seeds. 

More on how to take precepts

When you say, “I will keep it!”-- you know, there is no arrogance. There is soft mind,               --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-04-29 - 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. Got to https://www.instagram.com/cuke_archives/ for more daily Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts - with a photo. 

More on Taking Precepts

When you say “I will not say so because I don't know whether I can do it or not,” that is maybe a kind of arrogance, which is an enemy of Buddhism.                 --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-04-29 - 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. Got to https://www.instagram.com/cuke_archives/ for more daily Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts - with a photo.