When you fell into the idea of more usual, secular understanding of precepts, you will say, “I will not kill without reason” [laughs]. It means that if there is some reason, we can kill. By saying so we are making some excuse to kill. But why we have to make this kind of excuse is because you think the purpose of keeping precepts or taking vow is to attain enlightenment. And if you do not observe precepts, or do not take vow, you think you will not be a Buddhist or you will not attain enlightenment. --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture - 69-04-29 - 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.
