People have a misunderstanding. They think we human beings can attain some goal. But for human beings and for all the rest of existence there is no limit to achieving things. Things will go on and on and on. We don’t know when it will end. It should go on and on and on.
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-08-17N as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.
You have some purpose, some goal, and you have some way to attain that goal. If it is true, it is actually a dynamic changing life. When we follow that dynamic change of every being, our goal will be attained. But if we ignore that dynamic change of the universe, even though we have a plan in mind, it will not work. So, if your plan is right, to have some goal in your life means to follow the dynamic change of the world. In this way, our life will go on and on and on endlessly. This is right understanding.
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-08-17N as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.
Time is, as I always say, time is continuous and discontinuous. Time is not always continuous. Time is discontinuous. Time stops, you know. If it is going, you cannot say, "this is six o’clock or eight o’clock." When you say eight o'clock, it is eight o'clock; it is not a future nine o'clock. It is eight o'clock. So, when you say “eight o'clock,” time stops, tentatively. But actually, it is going on—we have to know that actually time is going on and on, but we have to say, tentatively “it is nine o'clock” or “seven o'clock.” From this understanding, time is some point on a straight line from past to future. But actually, time is going and going on and on, so there is no point to point at. It is going on; the only way you have it is to follow a clock or sunshine. That is the only way we form the idea of time. So, when you have an idea of time, it means you have an idea of continuity and discontinuity.
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-08-17N as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.
Those who believe in a teleological understanding of life sacrifice this present for the future. Actually, what we should have is happiness in this moment. To sacrifice this moment for the sake of the future is upside-down. If you understand our life, on the one hand our life should be absolutely free from past and future. At the same time, we have to have some purpose, some goal to achieve. How this contradictory way of thinking goes together is our philosophy.
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-08-17N as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.
Dor Ben-Amotz is a science professor who, in this podcast, talks about his experience teaching a course in Buddhism and Meditation at Bennington College in Vermont. He also speaks about how he got into Buddhism and meditation, his time at Green Gulch Farm, and more. Links to the podcast and course syllabus are at - cuke.com/f.
In Buddhism, we do not ignore freedom. At least, at a certain moment, we have freedom. But in the next moment, we have to change our way, literally. And next we have to change more. In this way, everything will—our life, will go on and on. This is a Buddhist understanding of our life.
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-08-17N as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.
If the earth says, I don’t want the sun [laughs], what will happen to it? There is no other way. Because of this unthinkable thinking we exist, we can think, we can live. Without this unthinkable thinking, it would change into delusion. If you insist on avoiding it, it means you are involved in dark deep delusion.
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-12-04-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.
You should not neglect our zazen because you think something else is more important. Why something is important for you is because of this practice. So, if you forget all about practice, you lose your life. Whatever you do, it doesn’t work.
Drawing by Stan White
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-12-04-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.
AFTERMATH OF ELECTION and anticipating the inauguration of the new regime - Nov. 14, 2024
It's not a political piece. He compares how he felt with a day back in 1971 at Zen Center and transcends it all. - dc