So, it is not only enlightenment that is valuable. Failing with true spirit is also valuable. It has the same meaning. That is why even when your zazen is not perfect, it has the same meaning if you have way-seeking mind. If you do not have way-seeking mind, even when you attain enlightenment, that is so-called “dry enlightenment” [laughter]. Dry enlightenment. No meaning in it.
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-27-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.