Before Hyakujo, almost all the Zen masters lived
in precepts temples and observed Indian precepts. But it is not
appropriate for Chinese people who live in China
where the climate is different and way of life different from India. Even
though teaching changed into Mahayana, precepts did not. They
didn't change precepts, which they should do. But Hyakujo did it and organized a monastic life. Since then we observe
our precepts. Of course after Hyakujo, we changed our
precepts many times. Precepts is the way of life.. ---------------------------------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-12-02 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay.
