Buddha-nature

We say everything has buddha-nature, so we have to treat as a buddha. To say “everything has buddha-nature” is not appropriate, because if I say everything has buddha-nature, then buddha-nature and everything is dualistic. Actually, everything itself is buddha. “Buddha-nature,” we say, but this word is not so appropriate. If I say “buddha-nature,” it looks like we have many nature: human nature, buddha-nature, and nature of animal. But what we mean by buddha-nature is not some special nature in comparison to other nature, or human nature. So there is nothing but buddha-nature. -------------------------------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-12-06-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture ex/cerpts on cuke.com - from thee links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay.