What is the way as it is?

First of all, if we want to have composure of life, we have to change our view, our way of observing things. To observe things as it is, we say. But to observe things as it is in the usual sense and to observe things as it is in our way are not the same. This point is not truly realized by even a Buddhist. What is the way as it is? Usually things as it is means to observe things as if something exists in that way, constantly, forever. You say, “Here is an incense bowl.” But this is already mistaken. There is no such thing that exists. This is always changing.

Meg Gawler offering incense, 1970

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 68-12-21 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Everything Changes

Buddha taught us Four Noble Truths, and first of all he taught us this world is a world of suffering. When we seek for happiness, to say this world is a world of suffering, you may be very much disappointed with this teaching. He continues: Why we suffer is this world is a world of transiency, everything changes. But we want everything to be permanent. Especially when we have something good or when we see something beautiful, we want it to be always in that way. But actually, everything changes. So, that is why we suffer.

Kitchen Altar for Grahame Petchey

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 68-12-21 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Possible

Buddha, after his luxurious life in a castle, he at last forsook this kind of life. So, we say he started his religious trip because he felt the evanescence of life. That is why he started the study of Buddhism. I think we have to think about this point more. I think everyone seeks for happiness. That is all right, but how to seek for happiness is the point. Whether the happiness we seek for—is it something which is possible to have?

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 68-12-21 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Happiness

Everyone seeks for true happiness maybe, but our happiness cannot be true happiness if it is not followed by perfect composure. Usually our happiness does not stay long. Happiness lasts mostly just a very short time and will be lost in the next moment. So, sometimes we will think we’d rather not have it because happiness is usually followed by sorrow. I think everyone experiences this in our everyday life.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 68-12-21 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Featured Cuke Archives page

Zesho Susan O'Connell was ordained and given transmission by Reb Anderson. She was VP and president of the San Francisco Zen Center for ten years. She came up with the idea of the Enso Village retirement community and made it a reality. Listen to our podcast and learn more about her - http://cuke.com/f

Shosan Ceremony Closing Comments, Part 2

We should understand ourselves in two ways: as a person and as something which has no name or body or mind. To understand ourselves in this way is liberation from self. And true understanding of ourselves when we say “things as it is,” means to understand ourselves from the viewpoint of being and non-being. That is how we understand ourselves. That is how we should exist as a human being in this world, or else we will be lost. Most people live as someone who is known to each other, but we lose the other point. That is why this world is so busy and noisy. When we understand our world in this way, with calmness of mind, we will have compassionate mind for people who are just involved in a one-sided view. Our practice should be concentrated on this point by doing trivial, near-at-hand practice.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 68-11-11 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Jerry Brown's Political and Spiritual Journey

Join Jerry Brown in a discussion with John Tarrant, Jon Joseph, and David Weinstein in the next Zen Luminaries podcast in which they talk about his public life and Zen practice. 

Saving the Earth, Helping the People: a Political and Spiritual Journey

Monday, April 29th - 6pm - 7:30pm 

Learn more and sign up here. 

Shosan Ceremony Closing Comments, Part 1

Bodhidharma said, “I don't know.” [Repeated from yesterday's post] 

Bodhidharma in his answer appeared to be someone who is just sitting without thinking, without doing anything, being with everything—without form, without color. He revealed himself in that way for the emperor. But the emperor wanted to know someone who was wise, who was powerful, who was learned, who was very helpful. So this question and answer was not so successful.

Sumi painting by Michael Hofmann

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 68-11-11 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

I Don't Know

Butei, the Emperor of Liang, asked Bodhidharma, “What is the first principle?” 

Buddha [Bodhidharma] said, “Who is it in front of you? There is no holy person or common person.” 

And the Emperor said, “Who are you in front of me?” 

Bodhidharma said, “I don’t know.”

Sumi painting by Michael Hofmann

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 68-11-11 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

silence

Tim Buckley: [Silence.]

SR: [Silence.]

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 68-11-11 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.