Rules Are the Expression of the Relationship

Within our relationships between man and man, or man and woman, or man and nature, there are rules based on the intimate relationships. However, in observing rules, there is no trace of a rule. Even though there are rules, there is no need to be caught by them because they are the expression of the intimate relationship. It is not necessary to set up something because of some unharmonious relationship. Rules are the expression of the relationship.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-01-21-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.

Some Rules

Even though husband and wife are intimate, there must be some rules between them. That is our way. You may say if it is an intimate relationship, there is no need to have any rules [laughs]. That is wrong understanding. Because the relationship between them is so intimate, it is necessary to set up some rules. So, our rules are based on intimate relationships, not to make harmony between us, but to make our lives more meaningful, we set up some rules.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-01-21-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.