Form Is Emptiness

When we say, “form is emptiness,” I think you understand that. You may understand form is emptiness, means detachment. If form is emptiness, we should not be attached to any certain form. That is true. But you have the idea of detachment, you know [laughs], so that bothers your true understanding of detachment.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-01-21-BN 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.

At That Moment

In this sutra it says, “form is emptiness and emptiness is form.” And “sensation, thought, and our active substance, our consciousness also are emptiness.” It means we have to have actual understanding of our forms and sensations, and thought, and consciousness. It means we must have true practice, and we have to find the reality in the various activities of our mind, and in our physical activity. Whatever we do, at that moment, we should realize our way.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-01-21-BN 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.

City Center Event

Book Reading of Return to Our Senses: A Path to Stability in an Unstable World

by Lee Klinger Lesser

at City Center

October 16, 2026 / 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Return to Our Senses offers a life-changing invitation to come home to what is most reliable and intimate: our direct, embodied experience. In a time marked by turbulence, speed, and chronic uncertainty, this book presents the somatic mindfulness practice of Sensory Awareness as a practical and deeply humane antidote to disconnection and overwhelm. This evening will include readings, stories, and an opportunity to practice together. This is a free public event.

https://www.sfzc.org/calendar/events/city-center/book-reading-return-our-senses-path-stability-unstable-world-cc-1016

Return to Our Senses: A Path to Stability in an Unstable World - on Amazon.

Spirit

You should have transmitted spirit from Buddha because you cannot understand your practice just by sutras or teaching. Without the spirit to continue your effort, you cannot be a Buddhist.

Marcus Hartsfield

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-01-21-BN 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.

Each of Those Experiences

How we practice zazen, how we study Zen is by finding our own practice under various circumstances. So sometimes we will have difficulties, sometimes we will have joy of practice, but each of those experiences is Zen practice.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-01-21-BN 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.

Merit

Actually, there is no need to talk about the merit of Zen practice. Talking about the merit of Zen would encourage the wrong understanding of practice. When you do it—just do it—you have enlightenment.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-01-21-BN 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.

Concentrate on Your Practice

When you do your best, there is emptiness, there is enlightenment. When you are practicing Zen, in between good and bad practice, between enlightenment and practice, that is not our practice. When you just concentrate on your practice, that is enlightenment.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-01-21-BN 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

https://cuke.com/f

A Slap

“No good” is not actually no good. “No good” is very good [laughs]. But you should not accept it in terms of good or bad. You should accept it as a real slap [mimics slap] — “No good!” Then you will realize yourself in a true sense.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-01-21-BN 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 Good

Usually, we say even though your zazen is not good, that is true zazen. “Don’t worry,” [laughs] we may say. This may give you some encouragement, but in its true sense, when the teacher says this, we are not so kind. When I want to be kind to you, I should say, “No, that’s no good!” [laughs]. That may be better to encourage you. If I say, “That is good,” then you may give up your effort. Nothing will come from your practice. But when we say, “That’s not good,” then something will come up from that “no good.” So, “no good” is very important.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-01-21-BN 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.