Obstacle

If there is some obstacle, it may be easy to take it away, but actually there is no obstacle [laughs]. The only obstacle which exists is the obstacle which does not exist…. You cannot compare enlightenment with some other stuff…. Not an obstacle, but the way to reach is not right. You are finding a fish on the tree [laughs]. That is an obstacle.

Image generated by Leonardo.ai

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-30-C 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.

No Way

In that center we exist, you know. But if you try to understand you yourself, there is no way to reach you yourself. Even though you suffer and struggle, even if you spend your whole life to reach to yourself, it is impossible. So I think someone who thinks he attained perfect enlightenment may be crazy [laughs].

Drawing by Stan White

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-30-C 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.

Holiness

The West tried for a long time to remove the idea of holiness and to establish human authority in the intellectual realm. And they thought it would disappear, but fortunately or unfortunately it didn’t [laughs]. So the idea of holiness itself is still—not a question, but they found out it is impossible to give an interpretation to it. It is like there is no way to catch it. If it is on the surface, it may be easy to pick it up. But it is so bottomless, and it is too deep to reach. But still, we know it. We should acknowledge it, but it is impossible to take it up.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-30-C 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.

No Idea

There is no idea of buddha-nature or for buddha-nature. But there are many ideas of many things. So we count, or we quantify various ideas one by one. Then something which is left [laughs] is an idea of buddha-nature.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-30-C 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.

Struggle

If you do not have the idea of buddha-nature or inmost request, you have to be concerned with some visible rules, and you have to be attached to something. That will not work so good. So the best thing is to confront your problem. That is the best way. And to suffer and to struggle [laughs] is the best way. Then you will have deeper and deeper religious experience.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-30-C 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.

Discipline

Student: What attitude can we take towards disciplining ourselves? 

Suzuki: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That’s very good question. And it is difficult to know by yourself, actually. So that is why it is better to practice with people. If there is a set of rules or an explanation, it may be easier. But unfortunately, we are not all the same. So the practice is for you, and you are practicing. So strictly speaking, there is no rule and no standard to say this is good or bad, right or wrong. That is why we emphasize buddha-nature.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-30-C 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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Here, Now

Enlightenment should not be cut off from “me,” you know. “Ten years ago, I attained enlightenment, but it doesn’t work today” [laughter]. That was enlightenment ten years ago. It is impossible to cut off the enlightenment from my life and give the enlightenment to someone else. That is impossible. Enlightenment should be here, now, in this moment.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-30-C 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 Oneness of a Human Being

The most important thing is to realize the oneness of a human being. Sometimes people do two opposite things. On one hand [laughing], they work for civil rights, and on the other hand, they are doing something opposite. This kind of mistake is pretty common. So, even though a movement is good, it should not be cut off from our everyday life. As a part of everyday life, we should participate in the movement. Then the movement will be successful. Only to join the movement on Saturday or Sunday [laughing] to make a procession—that’s not so good, I think.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-30-C 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.

Best Way

I think Buddhists should have deep concern about peace movements. Buddhists should be concerned if it is right. But we should not mix up just an organization itself and our true desire to help others. And the best way may be to allow the true spirit of a peace movement for people in its true sense. So, the most important thing is to spread Buddhism—to make people know what is Buddhism is the best way.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-30-C 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.