Mutual Understanding

We have mutual understanding, but the way you and I express our innermost request is not the same. Because it is not the same and cannot be the same, we can respect each other’s efforts, and at the same time we can know how difficult it is. That is mutual understanding.

—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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https://cuke.com/f

You Become You

Image generated by Leonardo.ai

When you become you [laughs]—when bamboo is bamboo, that is Zen. When a tree is a tree, that is Zen. We have to realize our inmost nature as a being, or our inmost request of ourselves. An inmost request works for every existence in the same way, but as each existence is unique, even though the inmost request is universal, the way of expression should be different.

—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.

Become Yourself

Photo by Mark Abrams

If we try to be the most famous, useful, or powerful, we will lose the true meaning of existence. So we say when you become yourself, Zen becomes Zen.

—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.

Be Yourself

Bamboo cannot be a pine tree [laughs]. Bamboo is always valuable as bamboo. A mixture of bamboo and pine will not serve for anything because bamboo is straight and a pine tree is crooked. So, bamboo and pines are valuable in their own way. There is no need for us to be famous or to be useful. First of all, each one should be themself. Then we will find our world very convenient.

Image generated by Google Gemini

—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.

To Light Up One Corner

It is not a matter of what is good or bad. It is a matter of whether you devote yourself to the truth completely. In the Lotus Sutra, Buddha said to light up just one corner—not the whole world. To make it clear just where you are. To shine on or light up one corner. This is a very important point in our practice.

—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.

Devote to the Truth

And with religion, if you compare various religions and you take good points from various religions, you will be spoiled. If you seek too much honey from various flowers, which are not necessary for you, you will be spoiled by honey. A little bit of honey is enough for us. There is no need to be greedy. If it is true, a little bit of truth, a faint idea of truth is enough. And you should devote yourself to the truth you see completely. Then you will find out the true meaning of the truth.

Image generated by Leonardo.ai

—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.

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.

Featured Cuke Archives page

https://cuke.com/f

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.