How Everything Exists

Our practice is based on the traditional understanding of actual being—how everything exists. This understanding was taught by Buddha, and patriarch after patriarch, we developed these precepts. And we actualize this understanding. Because of this understanding we could develop our practice. Because of our practice we could preserve this essential teaching for more than two thousand years. This teaching is based on the actual truth of how we exist here. That is why Buddhism did not die, and continuous development took place on our past wisdom.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-02-19-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.

Encouraged by Difficulty

As long as you find zazen difficult, because of the difficulties of your practice, that is not zazen. The difficulty you have will make a candle a candle. You should understand: you have to be encouraged by the difficulties.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-02-19-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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Absolutely Contradictory Self-identity

This self-identity is not just self-identity. It is absolutely contradictory self-identity. A candle has contradictory absolute existence, because in its center it has something which is not candle. An actual candle, if it is only wax, it is not a candle. So, for a candle to have cotton in the center of it is absolutely necessary to be a candle. And when you find a candle, that’s self-identity. When it catches fire, a candle becomes a candle.

Image by LA2 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-02-19-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 Study Yourself

To study Buddhism is to study yourself. To study yourself is to forget yourself. If you forget yourselves, you will be awake but with the truth that is self-identity.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-02-19-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.

This Spirit

So, Zen practice has two faces: one is power, and one is peaceful. One is limitation, and one is universality. When you find this kind of meaning in your practice, you have nothing to be afraid of. You acquire perpetual life. In this understanding and spirit, we have practiced zazen.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-02-18 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.

Big Power

We are sitting at each point with big energy. That is Zen. It is still, and it is calm, and it is completely peaceful. But that is peaceful power, and peaceful energy—this is our Zen actually. We don’t know our power, how great our power is. But when you acquire complete calmness, there is big power.

Image generated by ChatGPT

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-02-18 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.

Some Power

So, in our zazen, a big strength or power is necessary. When you are not moving, you do not see the power of Zen students. But nevertheless, the power is in each one of us who can decide what to do at each certain time. Something which is moving with great speed at each point has some power to express that great speed. And each point should be Zen [laughs].

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-02-18 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.

Thoughts

We cannot force any thoughts—whether Buddhism or Christianity or communism or capitalism—we cannot force any thoughts on people. Both Christianity and Buddhism are right; communism also has some meaning in it. When some kind of thought is forced on people, there we have big [laughs] confusion because we cannot accept it from the bottom of our heart.

By Paul Ranson - Christ_et_Buddha_by_Paul_Ranson_1880. Reproduction in "Le Monde de la Bible", M03474 No184, Public Domain, Link

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-02-18 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.