For instance, you know, my wife [laughs]-- every
morning, when breakfast is ready, she hits clappers. If I don't answer [laughs], she may continue to hit them [laughs, laughter] until I feel
rather angry [laughs, laughter]. Why we have that kind of problem is quite
simple. Because I don't answer, you know. If I say “Hai!”-- that's the end of it [laughs,
laughter]. Because I don't say “Hai!” she she has to
continue because she doesn't know whether I heard it or not [laughs].
Sometime she may think: “He knows but he doesn't answer.” Eeiiiiii! [Laughs, laughter.] That is what will
happen. When I don't answer, I am, you know, on the top of the pole
[laughs]. When I say “Hai!” I jump off. Because I stay at the top of the pole, she starts to get angry. That is how we create problem.
So the secret is just to say “Hai!” you know, and jump up from here. Then there
is no problem. It means that, to be yourself-- always be yourself, without
sticking to old self. When you say “Hai!” you know, you forget all about
yourself and are refreshed into some new self. And before the new self becomes old
self, you should say another “Hai!” or you should walk to the kitchen. So the
point is on each moment to forget the point and to extend our practice,
forgetting ourselves. --------------------------- 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.
