Spiritually and Physically

If you help people when they ask you, they will feel very helped at that moment. But even this kind of help is rather superficial and casual. Actually, to help people, you have to devote yourself to some particular thing and you have to help with full confidence in your work. Then you can help people spiritually and physically.

—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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Limited

Image generated by ChatGPT

Just as the pieces of wood which make up a barrel will not work as a container unless they are held together by a hoop, so a human being should have a ring around his head—a limitation—if he is not to lose the meaning of his existence. If you are very clever and capable, you can do anything you like, and people will ask you to do many things. But if you try to accomplish many things you will accomplish nothing and only be a tool of people. If you can really help others completely in that way, it may be all right. But if you really want to help others it is better to devote yourself in a limited way.

—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.

For Future Generations

Even though we compete for merit in the realm of the visible world, our work will be neglected even before we die. So, we have to work for our descendants, for future generations. And we must be proud of doing things which people usually do not realize the value of. When you work, devote yourself to this kind of work. You have eternal life. But if you are occupied by only near-sighted ideas, you will lose your value, and you will not find your true composure.

—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.

Far-reaching Eyes

To set up a foundation is the most valuable work, and if you want to devote yourself, choose some fundamental work rather than visible conspicuous work. We have to work with a far-reaching plan or far-reaching eyes. In Japanese we say kenshiki. This is a very important word in Japanese. Kenshiki is to have a far-reaching idea, not temporal work.

—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.

Unknown Virtue

In Japanese we have the word “shibui” which means just common, not conspicuous, not colorful. It expresses a deep sense of taste. These ideas may have originated in Zen practice. This sense is important if you want to maintain a tradition or culture. To develop this sense in Zen is called accumulating unknown virtue or unknown merit. It is to do something which nobody notices. It is to do something fundamental, to devote ourselves to fundamental work.

Photo by Don Farber in Tricycle magazine

—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.

The Silent Firefly

Confucius said the most visible is something invisible. There are many Oriental proverbs like this. The same kind in Japanese: “A silent firefly burns its body with enthusiasm, unlike the noisy cicada.” This has the same meaning. The silent firefly, unlike the noisy cicada, glows with light [laughs].

—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.

Enjoy Your Everyday Life

Zen master Dogen says, “You should obtain enlightenment before you attain enlightenment.” Which is important: to attain enlightenment, or to obtain enlightenment before you attain enlightenment? Which is important: to make an effort to save a million dollars, or to enjoy your life in your efforts, little by little, even if it is impossible for you to save a million dollars [laughs] but can you enjoy your everyday life? Which is important for us: to be successful, or to find some meaning in our effort to be successful? If you do not realize this point, you cannot even practice zazen. But if you have this point, you will have the true pleasure of life.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-26 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

Composure

“When we are in defilement, we should attain composure,” Dogen says. Composure will be experienced only in our defilement. This point is very, very important. By continuing this kind of effort, you can improve yourself. Even though it is little by little, you can improve yourself. But if you only try to attain something, or to make some contrivance to acquire something, you cannot work on it properly because you have no art of technique [laughs]. You lose yourself in your effort. That is why you cannot achieve anything, and you just suffer in your difficulties. But if you find out, if you do it in an appropriate way, based on your inmost nature, whatever you do, even if it is not perfect, you can achieve it little by little. You can make some progress.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-26 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.