Monday, August 30, 2021

Buddha Nature

What does it mean when we say everybody has buddha nature? When we say buddha-nature,  you may think buddha-nature is some innate nature because we say nature. In Japanese we use same words--nature-- buddha-nature. But actually it is not nature like nature of human being, or nature of plant, or nature of cats or dogs. It is not that kind of nature. In this case nature means something which is there whatever you do. Whatever you do, there is nature. Nature is not something which is there before you do something. When you do something, at the same time, nature appears. That is what we mean by nature when we say buddha nature.                  --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture 69-04-20 - 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. Got to https://www.instagram.com/cuke_archives/ for more daily Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts - with a photo.