Invisible Effort

We say, “a white bird in snow.” You cannot see a white bird in the snow, but still the bird exists. When we devote ourselves to true practice, our practice is not visible. But this invisible effort will build your character, and you will obtain the power to be a master of the surroundings. As long as you are chasing after only visible things, you will never understand the meaning of our life. This is how we devote ourselves to our way.

Image generated by ChatGPT

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-A 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.

A Painted Moon

As long as you are caught by a single moon which is always the same for everybody, you cannot see the true moon. You will be seeing a painted moon which never changes [laughs]. There is no meaning to it.

Image generated by ChatGPT

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-A 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.

Double Moon

Mutual understanding is the double moon; not the single moon, not the same moon. And the moon they see in Japan is the same moon—it is the same. But it is not the same, it is double [laughs]. I don’t know how many moons we see, but the feeling of observing the moon is the same. Even though sometimes we see the moon with sadness and sometimes with joy, the moon is the same. Here, we see the double moon. It should be double, but the moon is the same.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-A 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.

Mutual Understanding

We have mutual understanding, but the way you and I express our innermost request is not the same. Because it is not the same and cannot be the same, we can respect each other’s efforts, and at the same time we can know how difficult it is. That is mutual understanding.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-A 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.

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You Become You

Image generated by Leonardo.ai

When you become you [laughs]—when bamboo is bamboo, that is Zen. When a tree is a tree, that is Zen. We have to realize our inmost nature as a being, or our inmost request of ourselves. An inmost request works for every existence in the same way, but as each existence is unique, even though the inmost request is universal, the way of expression should be different.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-A 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.

Become Yourself

Photo by Mark Abrams

If we try to be the most famous, useful, or powerful, we will lose the true meaning of existence. So we say when you become yourself, Zen becomes Zen.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-A 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.

Be Yourself

Bamboo cannot be a pine tree [laughs]. Bamboo is always valuable as bamboo. A mixture of bamboo and pine will not serve for anything because bamboo is straight and a pine tree is crooked. So, bamboo and pines are valuable in their own way. There is no need for us to be famous or to be useful. First of all, each one should be themself. Then we will find our world very convenient.

Image generated by Google Gemini

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-A 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.

To Light Up One Corner

It is not a matter of what is good or bad. It is a matter of whether you devote yourself to the truth completely. In the Lotus Sutra, Buddha said to light up just one corner—not the whole world. To make it clear just where you are. To shine on or light up one corner. This is a very important point in our practice.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-A 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.

Devote to the Truth

And with religion, if you compare various religions and you take good points from various religions, you will be spoiled. If you seek too much honey from various flowers, which are not necessary for you, you will be spoiled by honey. A little bit of honey is enough for us. There is no need to be greedy. If it is true, a little bit of truth, a faint idea of truth is enough. And you should devote yourself to the truth you see completely. Then you will find out the true meaning of the truth.

Image generated by Leonardo.ai

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-A 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.

Spiritually and Physically

If you help people when they ask you, they will feel very helped at that moment. But even this kind of help is rather superficial and casual. Actually, to help people, you have to devote yourself to some particular thing and you have to help with full confidence in your work. Then you can help people spiritually and physically.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-A 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.

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Limited

Image generated by ChatGPT

Just as the pieces of wood which make up a barrel will not work as a container unless they are held together by a hoop, so a human being should have a ring around his head—a limitation—if he is not to lose the meaning of his existence. If you are very clever and capable, you can do anything you like, and people will ask you to do many things. But if you try to accomplish many things you will accomplish nothing and only be a tool of people. If you can really help others completely in that way, it may be all right. But if you really want to help others it is better to devote yourself in a limited way.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-A 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.

For Future Generations

Even though we compete for merit in the realm of the visible world, our work will be neglected even before we die. So, we have to work for our descendants, for future generations. And we must be proud of doing things which people usually do not realize the value of. When you work, devote yourself to this kind of work. You have eternal life. But if you are occupied by only near-sighted ideas, you will lose your value, and you will not find your true composure.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-A 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.

Far-reaching Eyes

To set up a foundation is the most valuable work, and if you want to devote yourself, choose some fundamental work rather than visible conspicuous work. We have to work with a far-reaching plan or far-reaching eyes. In Japanese we say kenshiki. This is a very important word in Japanese. Kenshiki is to have a far-reaching idea, not temporal work.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-A 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.

Unknown Virtue

In Japanese we have the word “shibui” which means just common, not conspicuous, not colorful. It expresses a deep sense of taste. These ideas may have originated in Zen practice. This sense is important if you want to maintain a tradition or culture. To develop this sense in Zen is called accumulating unknown virtue or unknown merit. It is to do something which nobody notices. It is to do something fundamental, to devote ourselves to fundamental work.

Photo by Don Farber in Tricycle magazine

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-A 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.

The Silent Firefly

Confucius said the most visible is something invisible. There are many Oriental proverbs like this. The same kind in Japanese: “A silent firefly burns its body with enthusiasm, unlike the noisy cicada.” This has the same meaning. The silent firefly, unlike the noisy cicada, glows with light [laughs].

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-28-A 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.

Enjoy Your Everyday Life

Zen master Dogen says, “You should obtain enlightenment before you attain enlightenment.” Which is important: to attain enlightenment, or to obtain enlightenment before you attain enlightenment? Which is important: to make an effort to save a million dollars, or to enjoy your life in your efforts, little by little, even if it is impossible for you to save a million dollars [laughs] but can you enjoy your everyday life? Which is important for us: to be successful, or to find some meaning in our effort to be successful? If you do not realize this point, you cannot even practice zazen. But if you have this point, you will have the true pleasure of life.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-26 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.

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Composure

“When we are in defilement, we should attain composure,” Dogen says. Composure will be experienced only in our defilement. This point is very, very important. By continuing this kind of effort, you can improve yourself. Even though it is little by little, you can improve yourself. But if you only try to attain something, or to make some contrivance to acquire something, you cannot work on it properly because you have no art of technique [laughs]. You lose yourself in your effort. That is why you cannot achieve anything, and you just suffer in your difficulties. But if you find out, if you do it in an appropriate way, based on your inmost nature, whatever you do, even if it is not perfect, you can achieve it little by little. You can make some progress.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-26 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.

Before

Dogen says, “We should obtain enlightenment before we attain enlightenment.” When we are trying to do something, that is enlightenment. It is an expression of our true nature. It is not after attaining enlightenment that we find the true meaning of enlightenment. When we are in difficulty, there we have enlightenment. When we are in distress, there we have enlightenment. So, he says, “Before we attain enlightenment, we should obtain enlightenment.”

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-08-26 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.