Docho Roshi, you have taught us that everything changes, and that we can rely on nothing. From one day to the next, then, we cannot be sure of a place to practice or a teacher. If this is so, how can we continue our practice forever?
Wherever you go, you will find your teacher, as long as you have your eyes, as long as you have ears to listen. Dogen Zenji says the color of the mountains and sound of the rivers are Shakyamuni Buddha’s sermons. But you should be grateful for your teacher because he opens up your eyes and ears to see and to listen. Then your teacher is always with you. And you can continue your practice forever.
—Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture - 68-04-23-B - as found on
shunryusuzuki.com
edited by PF. Go to
instagram.com/cuke_archives or cuke.com/ig
for links to the full Shunryu Suzuki lecture and the source of the photo.
Gyokujun So-on who gave transmission to Shunryu Suzuki