Verbatim transcripts of lectures by Shogaku Shunryu Suzuki, Roshi, 1962-1971
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1962 (1)
- December (1)
- March (5)
- April (4)
- May (1)
- June (3)
- July (10)
- August (8)
- September (8)
- October (1)
- November (8)
- December (6)
Wednesday, June 01, 1966
Soko-ji Temple, San Francisco
Buddhism has many annual layers like a big tree. It is our tradition to respect those efforts which our patriarchs have made for more than 2000 years. There has been a great effort, we have made a great effort to develop Buddha's way. This is a very important point for Buddhism as a religion. Without appreciation for the efforts of our patriarchs it is difficult to have a religious feeling in Buddhism.
This temple was founded in 1934. At that time there were not many priests in America and the founder made a great effort to MORE ...
Afternoon Lecture, Summer 1966
Most of you are beginners, so it may be rather difficult for you to understand why we practice zazen or meditation in this way. We always say "just to sit." And if you do, you will find out that Zen practice-just to sit-is not easy. Just to sit may be the most difficult thing. To work on something is not difficult; how to not work on anything is rather difficult. When we have the idea of "self," we want some reason why we work on something. But if you do not have the idea of self, you can remain silent and calm whether or not you work on something. You will not lose your composure. So to remain silent and calm is a kind of test we receive. If you can do it, it means you have no idea of self. If your life is based on MORE ...
Sunday, June 19, 1966
Soko-ji Temple, San Francisco
Suzuki-roshi: Someone has my-my paper.[1]
Student: [4-6 words unclear.] Wednesday night-[6-8 words]-Wednesday night.
Suzuki-roshi: Wednesday?
Student: Yeah. Finish the whole thing.
Suzuki-roshi: Hmm?
Student: Wednesday night we finish the whole thing.
MORE ...
Soko-ji Temple, San Francisco[1]
[Now it is specifically taught in Buddhism that life does not become death.] [2] For this reason, life [is] called "no-life." It is specifically taught in Buddhism that death does not become life. Therefore, death is called "no-death."
Life is a period of itself; death is a period of itself. They are like winter and spring. We do not call winter the MORE ...
Soko-ji Temple, San Francisco[1]
Last time I explained the ten prohibitory precepts:
Do not kill.
Do not steal.
Do not be immoral.
Do not lie.
Do not sell intoxicating liquor.
Do not speak of other's shortcomings.
Do not praise yourself or blame others.
Do not grudge giving to charities material or spiritual.
MORE ...
Soko-ji Temple, San Francisco[1]
When the truth-
-the last paragraph in Page 2.[2]
When the truth does not fill our body and mind, we think that-we think that we have enough. When the truth fill our body and mind, we know that something is missing. For an example, when we view the world from a boat on the ocean, it looks circular and nothing else. But the ocean is neither round nor square, and its MORE ...