Jeff Sherman: Docho Roshi, very often I feel
your compassion. I don't understand emptiness. I was wondering where
compassion is in emptiness.
SR: Compassion will be on always some phenomenal world, which causes our attachment. Originally everything
is empty. That is how our compassion arises. So compassion and somethingness and
emptiness is the same-- has the same quality. When we understand emptiness,
we become compassionate on something which exists in terms of material or
spiritual. So emptiness is not different from compassion. It is the source of
compassion.
Jeff S.: I'm not sure I understand, but I don't know-- don't know what to say
about my not understanding. I can't ask another question.
SR: Where there is something, there should be compassion. Compassion should be
always on every being [?], like everything arise from emptiness.
Jeff S.: Thank you very much. --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture - 68-11-11 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. - DC
