You may say it is not possible to be ordinary and holy [laughs]. When you think so, your understanding is, we say, heretic understanding or one-sided understanding. We should understand everything, not just from one standpoint.
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-30 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.
When you sit, you are ordinary man, and you are buddha. So, you are not just ordinary man. Before you sit you stick to the idea of “you” or idea of self. That is ordinary man. But when you sit, you are both ordinary man and buddha. So, when you sit, you are not the same being as before you sit. Do [laughs] you understand? Because, when you sit, you are ordinary man and buddha.
At Los Altos Haiku Zendo, c. 1966
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-30 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.
When you sit, you are independent from various beings, and you are related to various beings. And when you have perfect composure in your practice, it means that you include everything. You are not just you. You are the whole world or the whole cosmos, and you are a buddha.
Bruce Fortin with Globe
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-30 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.
I am one tree, and each one of you is a tree of itself. And by itself, you should stand up. And when one tree stands up by itself, we call that tree a buddha. In other words, when you practice zazen in its true sense, you are really buddha. So, buddha and tree is one in that sense. It may be sometimes we call it a tree; sometimes we call it a buddha. “Buddha” or “tree” or “you” are many names of one buddha. |
Prajna Paramita root ball statue created |
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—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-30 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version. |
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I’m just trying to help you with support of your practice. So, if you stick to the support, it means that you stick to the support, not the tree itself. You know, a tree, when it is strong enough, may want some support. But the most important one is the tree itself, not the support. |
Kelly Chadwick - pruning |
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—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-30 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version. |
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The point of my talk is just to give you some help in your practice. So, it is just help, you know. As I always say, there is no need for you to remember what I said as something definite.
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-30 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.
Jane and Peter Schneider are the founding teachers of the Beginner's Mind Zen Center in Northridge, Los Angeles. They were students of Shunryu Suzuki. In our podcast we focus on Jane's way-seeking mind story and then branch out to other reminiscences. Listen to our podcast and read more about them - https://cuke.com/f.
If our understanding is deep enough there is not much time difference or space difference. Whatever it is which is true with us was true with our ancestors and maybe will be for our descendants, too.
Gyakushitsu Sojun gave transmission to Shunryu's father
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-16 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.
When you can accept completely the things which people may accept, the truth which is truth for us was the truth for even Shakyamuni Buddha. There is no difference.
Prajna Paramita root ball statue created by Elizabeth Sawyer and Barton Stone
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-16 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.
Religion is, after all, for ourselves—each one of ourselves. If so, it is necessary to observe our way as a personal practice and independent effort. And when you get through the superficial activity, you will find some universal things within yourselves. That is a kind of mystery.
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-16 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.
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When you know that whatever we do in terms of good or bad, right or wrong, that it’s not perfect, then tentatively you can choose some way. That is, in other words, selflessness. You do not [taps stick twice] force anything. Tentatively: “Let’s do this way,” that’s all. |
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—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-16 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version. |
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Discussion is necessary—if you understand the fundamental attitude or fundamental practice of selflessness, discussion is very useful. But usually because you are caught by some idea, some way to solve a problem, you cannot solve the problem. Because no way can be perfect. It will create some other problem, whatever you do.
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-16 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.
If you become too fussy about things, you will lose your practice. So, I don’t like to discuss something too much [laughs]. You will be lost in your discussion. It will take night after night, day by day, and you will not have any conclusion.
Bob Halpern talking to Chogyam Trungpa
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-16 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.
Stephan Bodian runs an annual school for awakening. In our podcast he talks about his spiritual path, his teachers including Shunryu Suzuki, Kobun Chino, Taizan Maezumi, Sogyal, and Jean Klein. Listen to our podcast and read more about him - https://cuke.com/f.
In our monastic life, you should be able to do whatever it is. Whoever it is, your teacher is your teacher. That is the only way to get rid of your selfish practice. You should forget all about why or how, even [laughs]. You should do it, whether it is creative activity or imitation. It doesn’t matter.
Mel Weitsman, Claude Dalenberg, Shunryu Suzuki, Kobun Chino, Dainin Katagiri - 1969
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-16 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.
In your zazen, every sound comes, but you do not think about it. You do not discriminate it. You just hear it.
Raven-Himself by Cathy Smith
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-16 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.
In short, the best way is to get up, when people get up; to eat whatever it is when your friends eat; to sleep where our friends sleep; to behave like other students behave, without any reason [laughs.] That is, in short, the best way. That is shikantaza in everyday life. If you are not able to do that, you don’t know what zazen is.
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-16 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.
When you have selfish practice, you stick to things which you can see, which you can understand. And when you stick to something which you can understand, you will forget all about what is supporting the understanding, the color or the beautiful shape it has. So instead of being one with a flower, your friend, or your teacher, you will be caught by your teacher, the flower you see, the friend you have, without having a direct intimate relationship. You will make a barrier between you, and what you will see is a dead flower or a wooden teacher. |
 Wood sculpture of Suzuki Roshi by Peter Schneider |
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—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-16 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version. |
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Instead of being attached to some verbal thing or something which you can hear or see, you must feel impulses from inside which support everything, every phenomenal world. And to be grateful for the life energy from inside, which supports everything. That is buddha-nature. And maybe that is Amida Buddha’s mercy. |
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—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-16 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version. |
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We say “conscience,” but that conscience is mostly based on selfish ideas. Real conscience is more than a verbal thing. More than you can think about, or you can feel. Only when you are very strict with yourself will real conscience appear. In other words, as long as you are seeking for something, for some truth, or some understanding from outside, you will not find out what it is. Only when you are strict with yourself will you find out what is needed for you.
Photo by Rowena Pattee (Kryder)
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-16 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.
Frank Kilmer first meditated with Chogyam Trungpa then Dainin Katagiri then Richard Baker and studied with many teachers. He lives in Santa Fe where he managed Upaya's plant for some years. He has a lot of juicy tidbits to share from all these years of Buddhist study and practice. Check him out in this podcast - https://cuke.com/f.
Before you have a kind of struggle, you may wonder why we say you have to sit without any gaining idea. After you try various ways to be free from selfish ideas, then I think you will find yourself in the position where you can sit—just sit.
Drawing by Robert "Skip" Melcher
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-16 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.
Because selflessness is difficult, you want some guidance or a teacher. Maybe when you are practicing with a good teacher, you will naturally not be so selfish. Why our teacher is so hard on us is because of our selfish attitude. Whenever he sees our selfish attitude, he may point it out--or he may be angry with it.
Gyokujun So-on Suzuki
--cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-16 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.
Our practice should be based on the idea of selflessness. This selflessness is very difficult to understand. If you try to be selfless, that is already a selfish idea [laughs]. We don’t know what to do, how to cope with this. Perhaps you have tried various ways, but selflessness is not something which you can try. It should be there when you do not try anything. Selflessness is not something which you can be aware of. But for us, it is necessary to know how difficult it is.
Photo by Judith Keenan
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-16 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.
Student: But if, for instance, there’s a feeling of a strong weight on the head, then that’s unpleasant. And one doesn't know what to do. |
 From a drawing by Stan White |
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—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-15 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version. |
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Student: In zazen, if the cushion before your eyes begins to glow, or you see the bodhisattvas blinking their eyes...
SR: What is happening? Maybe that is a good experience. But sometimes it is because of bad breathing exercise. If it is a healthy good experience for you, of course that is very good. But sometimes it is just some created idea because of your unhealthy practice. I mean it is not always good, you know.
From Columbia U oral history Be-In page
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-15 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.
It is necessary to understand that much [not to get stuck or caught by some particular idea]. Without understanding it, if you push one side always, that will be awful. So, at least we should know both sides. Then the rules we have will help us. But if we don’t know the other side, rules will make us worse.
From Buddhadharma Fall 2013, Illustration by Stacy Innerst
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-15 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.
Frazer Bradshaw was a student at Tassajara in the summers for years, starting off when he was still a student at the SF Art Institute. At Tassajara he made his first documentary, Tassajara: a Meditative Portrait. Check out his many other films at frazerbradshaw.com, peculiarpelicula.com, or on IMDB. Hear what Frazer has to say about Zen practice, film, Tassajara and more in our podcast - https://cuke.com/f.
If you don’t know the nature of suffering, you will suffer more. But if you know why you suffer, then you think, “I expect too much. There is no ice cream here,” [laughs] so I shouldn’t think about ice cream. Thinking that there is no ice cream is already not so good. But if you want [laughs, laughter] to have it, you make yourself worse. So, by knowing, you will be relieved from a lot of suffering.
Drawing by Stan White
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-15 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.
When you expect something, you already have suffering because actually things don’t go as you expect. So, there is suffering already. Even when you are ill, for instance, if you do not try too much to get well, it is pretty good. It is not so bad. But if you try to get well too much, that is suffering. So, when you are ill, you should accept it. “Oh, I am not so well [laughs]. Maybe someday I shall be all right.” Then you don’t have much suffering.
Shunryu Suzuki at last public event. L to R: Ed Brown, Shunryu Suzuki, Hoitsu Suzuki.
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-15 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.
Sometimes it may be better to sit even though you are ill. But sometimes you cannot. Sometimes it may be better not to take a formal posture. But you can practice our way whatever the situation is. Even though you are lying in bed, you can practice zazen—not zazen—but we can practice our way.
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-15 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.