Others

Why we say “bodhisattva precepts” is that they are based on bodhisattva mind. As you know, bodhisattva mind is to save others, all sentient beings, before, you know, you save yourself. That is bodhisattva mind. To save others is first, and to save ourselves is next. Or we say, bodhisattva mind is spirit to devote ourselves in saving others.        --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 70-08-03 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com, from one of the newly discovered (2021) or recently significantly added to or changed lecture tapes. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. Go to https://www.instagram.com/cuke_archives/ for more daily Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts - with a photo

Bodhisattva Precepts

Right practice is the foundation of our precepts. When you do not have right practice, you will hesitate to accept precepts, but if you have right practice you can accept precepts. Whatever the precepts may be, you can accept it. So, precepts for the people who have right practice are called “bodhisattva precepts,” in comparison to some other so-called “Hinayana practice precepts,” which is quite different. The way of observing is quite different. Last night I talked a little bit about it. I said if you do something good, you have no time to do something bad. That is how you keep precepts.       --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 70-08-03 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com, from one of the newly discovered (2021) or recently significantly added to or changed lecture tapes. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. Go to https://www.instagram.com/cuke_archives/ for more daily Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts - with a photo

Yin Mountain

 

Peter Levitt's new book

Yin Mountain: The Immortal Poetry of Three Daoist Women

Read his message with an offer for a discount on it at the bottom of his cuke page.

and see the cover larger

Right Practice

There are many ways of Zen practice. There are many practice, zazen practice, meditation practice, but our practice cannot be compared to other practices. I don't say which is important or which is better, but anyway without foundation, various practices do not work. So, if you practice some particular practice which has no foundation, you will be eventually fall into a pit hole [laughs]. You will be caught by it, and you will lose your freedom. But if you have the foundation to your various practices, the various practices will work and will help you. By the right practice, we mean that kind of foundation of practice. It is more than practice. So, when you have a foundation to your practice, even though your practice is not perfect, it will help you. That is right practice. And if you want to know actually what is right practice, as I told you, it is necessary to practice with right teacher who understand what is right practice.      --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 70-08-03 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com, from one of the newly discovered (2021) or recently significantly added to or changed lecture tapes. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. Go to https://www.instagram.com/cuke_archives/ for more daily Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts - with a photo

Foundation

Right practice is the foundation of all Buddhist activity. It cannot be compared to various practices or training.     --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 70-08-03 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com, from one of the newly discovered (2021) or recently significantly added to or changed lecture tapes. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. Go to https://www.instagram.com/cuke_archives/ for more daily Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts - with a photo

Right Practice

By right practice we mean fundamental practice from which you can start—with which various teachings will come out. So, from right practice, if you have right practice, you have already right teaching there.    --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 70-08-03 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com, from one of the newly discovered (2021) or recently significantly added to or changed lecture tapes. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. Go to https://www.instagram.com/cuke_archives/ for more daily Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts - with a photo

Thank You and OK! now on Audible

 

Just got word from Shambhala that the audiobook for Thank You and OK!: an American Zen Failure in Japan is now on Audible. Check it out here.

It's on Amazon, Apple and iTunes also

Two

In our practice two important practices are zazen practice and to listen to your teacher, or right teaching. These are just like two wheels of a vehicle, you know. Without practice you cannot understand teaching, you cannot listen to your teacher. And without listening to your teacher, your practice cannot be right practice.   --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 70-08-03 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com, from one of the newly discovered (2021) or recently significantly added to or changed lecture tapes. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. Go to https://www.instagram.com/cuke_archives/ for more daily Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts - with a photo

Constantly

So idealistic practice will cover that something with your own self-centered idea. That doesn't work. This is not our way. This is why you practice zazen, and why this sesshin constantly...this way...this place.            --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 66-01-22N - as found on shunryusuzuki.com, from one of the newly discovered (2021) or recently significantly added to or changed lecture tapes. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. Go to https://www.instagram.com/cuke_archives/ for more daily Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts - with a photo

This is a difficult audio with lots of words and phrases that can't be understood. I'll go through it and see what I can pick from it. - DC

Ignited

Whenever you have some difficulties, you have to watch yourself to see whether you are covered with the idea of self. If the center of the candle is covered by wax, the wick doesn't work, you have to get rid of wax on the center. So, you shouldn't cover yourself with the idea of self. You should be always pure inside your own plan. Then, when you are really established in this realm the action and actual activity is like a candle and something is ignited. Something without conflict             --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 66-01-22N - as found on shunryusuzuki.com, from one of the newly discovered (2021) or recently significantly added to or changed lecture tapes. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. Go to https://www.instagram.com/cuke_archives/ for more daily Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts - with a photo

This is a difficult audio with lots of words and phrases that can't be understood. I'll go through it and see what I can pick from it. - DC