Pretty Good

After trying to polish ourselves until we think our practice is good, we will be recognized by our patriarchs, by Buddha, and by our teacher. Then you are pretty good—not perfect, but pretty good.

—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.

Imperfect

We are not talking about something very difficult. If we are quite sincere with ourselves, and if we are conscientious—not conscientious, but if we are aware of our idle practice and ashamed of it, that’s the way. Even though we are not perfect, if we are aware of our imperfection, that is good, very good.

(Image edited 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.

Confidence

Before you have full confidence in yourself, you will not be certified by anyone. Even though someone says you are good, it doesn’t mean anything. So, your confidence is first. There is no other way than to be confident in yourself.

—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.

Full Activity

The Fifth Patriarch in Japan was rather proud of his deep understanding of Buddhism. So Keizan Zenji did not accept him [laughs] because naturally he could not see the double moon. When you forget yourself, you have full strength. But it does not mean to be lazy or to become wood or stone. You are alive, and your mind is not working. You are in full activity, but your activity is not relying on anything. That is, you know, zazen.

Fifth Chan Patriarch

—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.

Proud

Drawing by Stan White

As long as you are proud of your practice, it means you are still relying on something or someone. When you rely on others—rely on your reputation—you are proud of yourself [laughs]. If you are quite independent, you are not proud of yourself or anything.

—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.

Your Own Effort

This kind of strength can be acquired by your own effort, not by any other’s effort. Even if I explain it one thousand times, it will not help you unless you yourself make an effort to be sure about yourself. Before you believe in yourself you cannot see the double moon. Actually, double or single doesn’t matter [laughs]. That is double moon.

Priest ordinations - January 11, 1975

—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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Sure With Yourself

If someone says, “It is double,” I may say, “No, it is single.” [Laughter.] It doesn’t matter to me whether it is a double or single moon because I am quite sure about my eyes. When you are quite sure with yourself, when you own your eyes as your sense organ, then you can see the double moon. But as long as you are enslaved by your eyes, you cannot trust your eyes [laughs]. So, if someone says that is a double or single moon, you will wonder if you cannot trust your eyes.

—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.

Through Your Practice

If you want to see the double moon, you must build up your character and you must have the power to observe the double moon. In other words, through your practice you obtain the power to see the double moon. As long as you are just trying to figure out if this way of observing is right or wrong, you cannot see it. When you are quite sure about observing, you can see the double moon.

Watercolor by Damian Maynard

—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.

Invisible Effort

We say, “a white bird in snow.” You cannot see a white bird in the snow, but still the bird exists. When we devote ourselves to true practice, our practice is not visible. But this invisible effort will build your character, and you will obtain the power to be a master of the surroundings. As long as you are chasing after only visible things, you will never understand the meaning of our life. This is how we devote ourselves to our way.

Image generated by ChatGPT

—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.