Buddha Is There

Even in our dualistic thinking mind, bodhisattva mind will reflect like the moon on water. That is, you may say, inspiration for the future. Even in your confused mind, Buddha is there. Even in muddy, wavy water, the moon will be there.

Image generated by Google Gemini

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 70-08-03 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.

Continues Forever

Someone may say, “Sentient beings are innumerable, I vow to save them. If they are innumerable [laughs], how is it possible to save them?” But the bodhisattva way continues forever. So, a bodhisattva will go with bodhisattva mind forever. This kind of mind is not, of course, our thinking mind. It is beyond our thinking mind.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 70-08-03 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.

Buddha or Bodhisattva

Because you want to be a perfect Buddha instead of a bodhisattva, you have problems [laughs, laughter].

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 70-08-03 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.

May Go to Hell

When you work in your garden, there may be various insects. What will you do? If you understand what you are doing is bodhisattva activity, then sometimes you will kill. By killing insects, you will go to hell [laughs, laughter]. But it doesn’t matter. You will go to hell with insects [laughter, laughs]. You will have many friends. You are stealing our vegetables, so I have to kill you. But because of killing you I may go to hell. Because of stealing our vegetables, you may go to hell. Let’s go to hell [laughs, laughter]! That is bodhisattva precepts.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 70-08-03 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.

Even Our Confused Mind

To understand the evanescence of life will be at the same time how to arise bodhisattva mind. Bodhisattva mind is not dualistic thinking mind. This point is also Dogen Zenji’s point. Dualistic, confused mind is not bodhisattva mind, but even our confused mind is good enough to receive inspiration from the truth, from the Buddha toward you. So, when your dualistic mind receives that inspiration, at that time you are Buddha.

Drawing by Stan White

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 70-08-03 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.

Engaging the Heart of Wisdom

Live, Online & Free:  

An Invitation to the Dharma Academy Opening Event 
https://courses.dharmaacademy.com/launch-event

Pathways for Meeting Uncertainty

May 23–25 (all times in MST / Mountain Standard Time)

“Leaving self-centeredness behind, the world awakens — and calls us into a sense of shared aliveness. This calling is where wisdom begins, unfolds, and returns to its source: in stillness.” -Tatsudo Baden Roshi

Join us for this weekend of inspiration, exploration, and exchange.

Featured Cuke Archives page

Jean Ross began studying with Shunryu Suzuki very soon after he arrived in San Francisco. In this podcast, the second of two on her, I read more from her accounts in the Wind Bell publication of the SFZC about her experience studying Zen in Japan in the early sixties - and more. The podcast concludes with a piece I wrote about her for the Wind Bell in 1997 - DC.

Yes, I Will

Each moment includes its own past and future. A moment will be extended in four directions and past and future. So, as you practice zazen, you should say, “I will,” without being involved in doubting whether you can observe it forever or not. There’s no need from the beginning [laughs] to say, “No, I cannot.” You cannot say so. When you are really seeing things as it is, there is no position for you to say, “No.” The only way is, “Yes, I will.” That’s all that you can do.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 70-08-03 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.

Moment After Moment

No one can say in its ordinary sense, I can observe this precept forever [laughs]. You cannot say so. Even if you attain enlightenment, that is not possible. No one can be sure about anything. Moment after moment it is possible to say, “I will observe it.” At least in that moment, you should say, “Yes, I will.”

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 70-08-03 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.

Everything Changes

If it is possible for us to arise bodhisattva mind and to receive bodhisattva precepts, then you should, even if your practice is not so good, and you are always involved in dualistic thinking mind by emotional activities. Actually, as I always repeat, our practice is not a practice which you can explain completely. Our practice is something beyond our understanding. And Dogen says, we arise bodhisattva mind by knowing the teaching that everything changes.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 70-08-03 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.