Everything has absolute value because it is different from others. If
everything is same, they will lose the value. Because
it is different, it is value. So to mix up everything is to kill
buddha-nature. So when one is teacher, he
should be teacher. When one is student, he should be a student. But it does not
mean student cannot be a teacher. So we rather put emphasis on validity than
universality. -------------------------------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-12-06-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC
