When I was in Japan, I also had some Zen students. Some of them are very rich, and some of them are very influential people. And some of them just, you know, students. Some of them were carpenters, and some of them were other workers. In Japan, still we have some not class, but still, we treat someone, mayor or teachers, in some different way. We have some special way of addressing them and we have some special way to talk with him. And we have also special manner to them. As you say, “Yes, sir.” [Laughs.] That is a kind of thing you have. But nowadays I don't think you have this kind of difference in your way of communication. But I always told them, “If you are Zen students, you should forget all about your position, or work, or title, and you should be just Zen students, or else we cannot practice zazen in its true sense.” --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture - 69-03-09 - 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.
