Activity

In Japan we had a clinic for the insane, and in that clinic the patients worked all day long. Even though they had nothing to do, they should pick up dust, [laughter] or clean the floor, or repair shoji. They had to find something to do as long as they stayed in the clinic. That way helps patients very much. When you lie in bed thinking, “What is it?” or “What should I do? Why I am so bleak?” in this way, there is no time. There is no hope of recovering. You should set your true nature in activity, set your machine in motion. That is the only way.

Image generated by Leonardo.ai

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-28-D 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.

Not So Good

Image generated by ChatGPT

You have at least one eye to see yourself. And one eye will tell you, you are not so good [laughter]. That is a big enlightenment. When you think that you are not so good, your true nature starts to work.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-28-D 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 Hundred Thousand Downloads!

On behalf of the entire Podbean Team, we want to congratulate you on reaching 100,000 downloads of your podcast “Cuke Audio Podcast”!

Cuke Podcasts Page

Right Here

Most people are attached to some result from their practice. That is why they do not attain enlightenment. Enlightenment is right here in your practice, but people think by practicing something will result. But actually, enlightenment is right here.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-28-D 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.

Good Enough

Image generated by ChatGPT

For someone who has mental suffering, practicing just to sit is maybe enough. When they can sit, they are pretty good already. When they think, “I am all right, there is no need for me to practice any religious way” –if they say so, that’s the worst. When you think it is necessary for you to practice zazen, that is a big improvement. Just to try to sit is good enough.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-28-D 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.

Helping

If one person has a clear understanding of suffering and what is our true nature, many people will be enlightened. But without enlightenment, to help people means nothing. We say, “A blind man leading blind men.” [Laughter.] Even if they have a lantern, it doesn’t work because the leader is blind. If you are enlightened, everyone will help you. If you are not enlightened [laughs], even though everyone helps, you will not be helped. If you are enlightened, actually everyone, whether or not they are enlightened, will help you.

The Blind Leading the Blind - Bruegel

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-28-D 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.

Chris Miller's impressive new book

Rilke, the Buddha, and Orpheus: New Translations of Selected Poems

by Christopher Lennox which is a pen name for early Zen Center student Chris Miller. It's the latest Cuke Press book

Amazon link -  https://amzn.to/4pyo7oR

Cuke Press

Chris Miller cuke page

Clear Understanding

The people who say, “I am right,” or “I am not doing anything wrong.” Those are the worst people. Those people will create various problems in this world. They are creating problems without knowing they are creating them. So, there is no way to persuade them. That is why we have to have a clear understanding of our life. When we work with people like that, we have to have a clear understanding of what is suffering and what is our true nature.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-28-D 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.

Why We Have a Teacher

Religious mind is so strong. If it is necessary, one will burn their physical body. If your true nature tells you to burn up your body, that’s all right [laughs]. It is so strong, much stronger than emotions. You cannot do that by emotions; just your true nature can do it. But when I say this, you will have some misunderstanding. That is why we have “cover.” That is why we have the Shobogenzo. What is true religion? Just to jump into a fire is not religion. Sometimes a crazy person will do that. So, right understanding of our inmost nature is very important. That is why we have a teacher, and why we have Shobogenzo.

The Venerable Thich Quảng Đức Monument

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-28-D 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.

RIP Mary Watson

Mary Watson lived next door to and was involved with Zen Center for many years. It was always good to see her and, until he died, her husband Jack Weller.

Jack Weller's cuke page

Mitsu Suzuki memories page with Mary's memories of her

She died maybe Thursday the 20th night (judging from the message I got) in her apartment at 340 Page. She apparently had a cold that couldn’t be resolved. Her son Daniel is with her now and the CC community is sitting with her body today - so maybe that was Friday the 21st. If you have background info on Mary you can share for her obituary, Her health had declined over the past year.