Oh my!

If you don’t know what to do, you may take a risk. That’s our usual way and very easy. Or we think this is the most scientific and intellectual way. “If I have LSD, there will be no need to practice zazen” [laughter]. Oh my! It is very difficult to make them realize what they are doing. When they think they are right, it is very difficult to let them know why it is wrong. They may find out what they were doing, but when it is too late.

—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.

A Book Is A Book

Buddha told us the four noble truths to destroy our easy way of scientific understanding or philosophical understanding. Those ways are easy. Without any effort you can read books even when you are lying down [laughter]. Very easy, but it actually will not help you. If you realize it will help you to do something, then that is right understanding. But when you read some interesting philosophy, when you are interested in something unusual, you may feel as if you are doing the right thing [laughs]. We are not doing the right thing. A book is a book, and your life is your life.

Image generated by Google Gemini

—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.

WISDOM OF HAPPINESS—A-HEART--TO-HEART WITH THE DALAI LAMA

Bay Area: tickets going fast for this week's screenings of WISDOM OF HAPPINESS—A-HEART--TO-HEART WITH THE DALAI LAMA... Berkeley's Elmwood is sold out for Nov. 6, and additional screenings have been added for Nov. 7-9 (check theater for times). Frank Ostaseski joins Nina Wise for a conversation after the screening at the Rafael on Nov. 9, and don't miss actor/author/activist/Zen priest Peter Coyote in person and the Dalai Lama on the big screen in Sebastopol on Nov. 10! Tix and info for that one: https://rialtocinemas.com/coming.../wisdom-of-happiness-seb/

Thanks Gaetano Maida of the Buddhist Film Foundation for doing this.

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Four Noble Truths

So first of all, we should understand the Four Noble Truths. The Four Noble Truths explain why we suffer, and this intelligent world is full of suffering. The world we seek is full of suffering. And nirvana—when you find out those worlds which are full of suffering are not real, then you have nirvana. And following the way is how to attain nirvana.

—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.

Suffering in Duality

Buddha says, “Every constituent existence is doomed to suffer.” Everything which we see, which we feel, which we can understand is full of suffering because it is not true because it is dualistic. When there is duality, there is suffering. In this sense, everything appears in the form of suffering. And when you understand that is not true existence, there is no more suffering. If you find out that it is just a dream you created [laughs], there is no suffering.

Drawing by Stan White

—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.

Big Mind Recites Sutras

That is why we say you should not recite sutras. Your true nature should recite sutras. Big mind recites, not small mind—small self should not recite sutras. The self which is universal to everyone should recite sutras with people. When I talk like this, there is already some duality. Small self or big self. But actually, small self does not exist. That which exists is big self only. We just create small self, and we say it is right [laughs]. But it is not right. So first of all, we should be emancipated from the idea of small self.

Photo montage by Donn Deangelo

—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.

Featured Cuke Archives page

Taiyo Lipscomb | Podcast - Taiyo Lipscomb came to the Zen Center in the mid seventies and was there for 23 years, becoming one of the folks who run the place. His story is unique as is he. Listen to the podcast and you’ll see.

Not So Simple

Almost all people ignore our true existence and have some superficial understanding of what self is. What do they mean by self? They ignore true self. “I’m not doing Zen,” they say. “I’m not doing anything wrong. I am always doing something right.” [Laughs.] That is what they will say. But if you listen to your inmost voice or voice of conscience, it is not so simple.

Drawing by Stan White

—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 Margaret Crowley

 Margaret Ann Crowley, Anand Shakti 

Just learned that Margaret Crowley died last April 21st in Lafayette, Colorado. She was born in Maryland in 1946. 

Margaret came to Zen Center in 1968 as I recall. She practiced in the city and at Tassajara. She and my first wife Daya (back then Dianne) Goldshlag were best friends. 

I see she has a page at The Natural Funeral.

Will seek photos and more on Margaret.

Gya te gya te - dc

Unconditional Requests

[About inmost request.] Something—someone, I don’t know who it is, but someone tells us to do so. We hear that voice always, so I cannot help doing so because someone is telling me to do so or someone is telling me “please help me.” We cannot help doing so, not because “this is Buddhism” or “this is big patience,” not because of what Buddha said. It is an unconditional request for us. We have this kind of nature. If it is supreme teaching, absolute teaching, it is impossible to achieve. It is impossible to understand it. This is big patience, and this is not even a matter of big or small. It may be very small—sometimes it may be the smallest patience.

—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.