Everything We Do Is Religion

Dogen Zenji says, “In our ordinary worldly life there is no Buddha’s way.” People understand that or not, I don’t know [laughs], but he says, “It is impossible to know what religion is in a worldly way.” But from the viewpoint of religion, there is no worldly life. Everything that we do is religion.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-26-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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Science, Philosophy and Religion

There is a way to study philosophy. There is a particular way to study science. There is a particular way to study religion. Religion should be studied in a religious way, not by science. A scientist cannot criticize religion unless he becomes religious [laughs]. To find the meaning of science is religion. To find the meaning of philosophy is religion. But in science and philosophy, there is no religion. This relationship is very important.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-26-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.

In Its Own Place

In short, the Soto way is to use everything in its right purpose and to put everything in its own place. What should be put in a high place should be put in a high place, and what should be put on the floor should be on the floor. In America you put scriptures on the floor where you walk [laughs]. We don’t, you know. But I don’t know how to treat those scriptures in your way of life. So, until I find out, I won’t say, “Don’t put scriptures on the floor.” But this is not supposed to be treated as rubbish. This is not rubbish. Scriptures should be put on a table, or altar, or in your hands. Those small things are very important.

Image generated by Microsoft Copilot

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-26-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.

Intellectual Study

When we study Buddhism intellectually, we should be concentrated on this as well as our practice. Just practice alone is not so good, because you may practice zazen for the sake of something. You will abuse your Zen practice if you mix pure practice with various fancy or wrong practices.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-26-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.

One Cover

When all of us are concentrated on this point [see yesterday’s post], there will not be any religious sectarianism. Because we start from some particular philosophy of religion, we have various sectarianisms. When we have just one lid which covers various pans and bowls [laughs], there will be no problem. Our cover, our philosophy, is not the same philosophy as usual philosophers provide for us.

Drawing by Leonardo.AI

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-26-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.

Fundamental Desire

And our true nature is very primitive, of course. And at the same time, it could be very, very refined and deep, a lofty desire. In this primitive, fundamental desire there are true strengths and various possibilities. But if you start from a fancy idea of religion, you will be more confused. So, to realize why we study religion is to find out the meaning of our fundamental desire—how important it is, and how miraculous it is, and how much possibility it has.

Drawing by Stan White

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-26-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.

No Gaining Ideas

We say don’t study religion with a gaining idea. Gaining ideas are not based on your true nature. That’s a very superficial desire—not so deep as hunger. When we give up various gaining ideas, we will find out our true nature.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-26-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.

Fancy Religion

According to Buddha, or our patriarchs, or founders of various religions, you should not have too fancy an idea about religion. A religion should be understood by the most foolish man [laughs], not only by learned wise men. A wise man’s religion is very complicated and very fancy. If he is too great, you will be attached to his religion. We should not attach to some particular religion.

Drawing by Stan White

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-26-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.

Universal Religion

If you are caught by some fancy idea of religion, and you don’t know what religion is yours [laughs]—Buddhism, Christianity, an Indian religion, or some native folk religion—you don’t know what to choose. Sometimes every religion looks the same. Sometimes they don’t look the same. But when religion is studied in the simplest way, the most universal way, for instance, want of sleep, or hunger, or pain, we will reach the universal religion, universal religion even to animals. Here we have a common playground. Everyone will play in this common playground.

Image generated by Microsoft Copilot

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-26-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.