If you understand the purpose of observing the precepts is to arise buddha-mind, then when you say, “I will not kill,” at that moment you have buddha-mind. There is no need to think, “I have to observe precepts or vows forever.” Actually, we don’t know what we will do in the next moment [laughs]. It is very difficult to know, to be sure about our future. But if “I will not kill!” is so right now, that is enough to arise buddha-mind.
Memorial gathering at Nanjing massacre memorial site
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-04-29 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.