[Third Lotus Sutra Series]1
Monday Evening, October 20, 1969
Zen Mountain Center
As many of you are students who joined our training—this training period, and
perhaps many of you didn't join the last training period—so I think I must tell
you about the spirit of the Lotus Sutra because it is rather difficult for
someone who wants to read it as you read the Bible or Confucianism. The Lotus
Sutra is not like a chronicle of a great sage—a chronicle of sayings or actions
of a great sage like Christ or Confucius. It is something like The Divine
Comedy. I don't know how you call it: Divine Comedy of Dante. Or, it is
something like great music. It is actually something to feel when you read it.
So, in Japan, whether or not they understand it, they repeat the Lotus Sutra
over and over again, until they get the feeling of the sutra. If you think it
is great music, maybe, you will appreciate this sutra. So, if you read it
chapter by chapter, it doesn't mean anything. It is like to see a big building,
part by part. Sometimes you will see just the strange foundation of the big
building. Although it is something big, it is not so interesting. It may be a
big, big stone or concrete, but if you
see the building from a distance, it may be a beautiful building. So, until you
read it over and over again and appreciate the whole structure of the building,
it is not so interesting a sutra. It looks like a kind of mess which is written
in great scale.
This is the difference between Hinayana—I shouldn't say “Hinayana”—maybe
original Buddhism and more developed Buddhism from original so-called Hinayana
Buddhism. For instance: You are very much interested in Zen. But, Zen is maybe largely
mysticism in one way. When we put emphasis on enlightenment, and when we talk
about enlightenment [laughs], it is something beyond actually what we are
saying. You will feel the spirit of it by a koan or by a story or by Shobogenzo. You will feel some burning—something
very hot inside. It is like a blue flame—it is very hot. And very direct. That
is the characteristic of Zen.
So, we say it is something beyond words. After Mahayana Buddhists expressed
their spirit in a big, big scale, Zen started to express Buddhist spirit in a
more direct and completely different way. But, it is very difficult to
understand anyway what it means actually. What kind of spirit is hidden in it
is difficult. That is why koan study is difficult.
The same thing is true with Mahayana scriptures. Unless you feel the hidden
spirit in it, it is rather difficult to appreciate it. And, it may take a pretty
long time to understand it, because it is a pretty voluminous scripture. And
for Zen students it takes a pretty long time. We say, “sudden enlightenment”
[laughs], but actually after practicing very hard with intensity and with firm
conviction, you will understand the hidden spirit.
Zen is very practical. We say it is—it is so. But, how it's practical is quite
different. It is not like to keep a bank account. To keep a bank account is
very practical work. But [laughs] when we say Zen is very practical, it is
closely related to our everyday life, we say. But, Zen is not something like a way
of living or a moral code. If you think:
if you follow Zen teaching, you will have some advantage. If you understand in
that way, that will be a great misunderstanding. The real purpose of zazen or
reading of scriptures is to understand the lofty idea of Buddhism and to be
encouraged by the Buddhist spirit. You can enjoy your life in—that is what we
mean when we say stress Zen in our everyday life. If you do not—if you haven’t
attained this kind of spirit by yourself, you should practice our way with some
teacher who has that kind of spirit.
The same thing is true in studying the Lotus Sutra. My mother,2 always
recited this sutra. When I was young—when she was taking care of me, she sometimes
recited the Lotus Sutra, so I know very well how to recite it. And [laughs]
when I became 12 or 13, I thought this is very—I couldn't understand it. I
could understand what she was saying, “even if you are tossed off a cliff of
some high mountain, you will be safe.” Or, “Even if you jump into a fire, you
will not be burned.” Or, “If you drift in a black stormy sea, you will be
saved.” Something like that. “If someone wants to kill you with a sword, the sword
will break in pieces.” Something like that. I [laughs]—when I could understand
what she was saying, I doubted it, you know. I thought my mother was a very
superstitious person. I didn't like to hear mother reciting.
But, I cannot forget [laughs] her attitude—her way of reciting the sutra. And,
it is a kind of encouragement for me always, when I think of my mother reciting
the Lotus Sutra.
In monastery also we recite this sutra at some certain periods, over and over
again.
When I went to the East Coast this time, I was almost all the time in Vermont.
And, I went to Vermont first and then Rochester. And, I stayed in New York just
two days and came back. I saw beautiful mountains and beautiful old deserted
stone walls in Vermont. And, I felt as if I were some old, old country. And I
was dreaming about many things. Sometimes I felt as if we have a big, big
monastery [laughs] deep in the mountains. My trip was a kind of a dreamy trip
[laughs]. And, I met many people, but I think I was not so practical [laughs].
Maybe I am talking about some dream of Zen Center or something like that. But,
I didn't feel I was talking about my dream. To me it was very practical and
very realistic to have a beautiful zendo in Tassajara or to have a beautiful
building in the center of San Francisco. It was not a dream any more, after I
saw many mountains.
And, I saw the owner of the property, and most of them who I met wanted us to
build a zendo in Vermont or on the East Coast. So, I thought if we fix our
mind, they may give us some property [laughs], but maybe that is my dream, but
it was very realistic to me at that time.
If someone says, “He is a daydreamer,” maybe I am a daydreamer. But, if you
have some confidence in realizing your ideal, I don't think that is a dream.
Even though you have a small, monastery,
it will be a big, big monastery if you have Buddhist spirit. It is not actually
a matter of big or small. If we express our spirit in a big scale, it may be a
Lotus Sutra. If we express our spirit in one word or very simple words, it may
be toilet paper [laughs] or three pounds of hemp or a grain of rice. If you say
when you are asked—what is our spirit? —“three pounds of hemp,” that is Zen. If
you recite the Lotus Sutra, that is Mahayana teaching. So, it is necessary for
you to have some spirit to appreciate the hidden spirit of Mahayana teaching
when you study the Lotus Sutra.
This scripture was written—no one knows exactly when, but we don't think that
the scripture was written by some particular person. Maybe while they were reciting
something which was written by someone, I think this scripture became more and
more popular, and expression of it became more and more refined. And, maybe between
200 B.C. and 100 B.C., this scripture supposedly became this style. And, if you
want to know how Buddha's teaching developed into Mahayana teaching, I want you
to read the Wind Bell.3 I
think you will understand what kind of historical background this sutra has,
and how Buddhism developed into Mahayana Buddhism.
Buddhist scholars say Hinayana or Theravada teaching put emphasis on the form
of expression, because Theravada teaching is more rigid and literal—more like
chronicles of sayings or activities of sages. So you can understand it literally.
So, even if you read just one sentence, you will be encouraged, and you will
understand it. But Mahayana scriptures put emphasis on the nature of the
teaching or the spirit of teaching, many scholars say.
So, Mahayana Buddhists do not understand things literally. For instance, we
have precepts like “Don't kill.” For Theravada or Hinayana Buddhists to kill
some bugs is a violation of the scripture—the precepts—because they stick to
the moral code. But, for a Mahayana Buddhist, if he sticks to the word—if he
understands precepts literally and sticks to them, it would be a violation of the Fifth Precept: “Don't be
intoxicated by sake.” Sake also is not just wine. Even though it's the teaching—if
you stick to it, and if you are intoxicated by it, that is wine also. [Laughs.]
So, the way of observing precepts is also very different.
The same thing is true in understanding of those scriptures. For instance, the
Fourth Precept is not to tell a lie. But in the Lotus Sutra,4
Buddha, when he was a bodhisattva, he told a lie to his family. And, he said “I
am going to die.” Oh, no no—he said, “I want to go—I want to make a trip.
Perhaps I may not come back.” So some of the children who were not spoiled
completely by their father thought, “Oh, now my father is not here, and he will
not come again. So, we must study hard.” And, some of them started to study
hard. But, some of them who were completely spoiled by their father did not
study hard. But, when they learned their father was no more, then they were awakened.
And, the scripture says, “Who criticizes this father who told a lie to his
children?” It is because he told a lie to make them awake and to study hard.
That was why he told a lie. This kind of story is everywhere.
So, the true way must have both sides. We must sometimes understand scripture
literally and follow scripture literally like Theravada Buddhists—sometimes.
But, sometimes we should not follow, or we should not quote the teaching
literally. So, we say, especially—Dogen Zenji's way is to understand Buddhism
with Mahayana spirit by Hinayana practice. That is actually Dogen Zenji's way.
So, why this sutra is important is this scripture expresses both ways.
According to this scripture, even one
leaf of grass is Buddha. Everything is Buddha. Whatever you do, that is the
expression of Buddha's way. So this scripture puts emphasis on each being or
our everyday activity. Whatever we do, we should make our best in what we do,
day by day.
And, on the other hand, things we do or things we see in everyday life should
be understood with a great spirit. So, this scripture puts emphasis on a big
spirit in the smallest things: something near-at-hand. This scripture includes
both sides. That is why this scripture is called the “King of All Scriptures.”
I think that is why Dogen Zenji liked this scripture, and he referred to this
scripture so many times in Shobogenzo.
So, I want you, whether you understand it or not—it may be a good practice to
repeat it. Then, naturally you will have some spirit which is hidden in this
scripture.
Do you have some questions? I think we have some more time. Hai.
Student A: Will all of your lectures during this practice period be on the
Lotus Sutra?
SR: Ahh. I don't know. I want to explain maybe some important chapters. So I
don't think it will take so long. If I have more time, I will start something
else. Do you have some questions? Hai.
Student B: While we're studying the Lotus Sutra, how do we apply mental effort?
SR: Oh.
Student B: You said that we should just maybe repeat it over and over again.
SR: Mm-hmm. That's all, you know. It is rather difficult to apply this sutra
directly to everyday life. To have a big spirit, we read this sutra.
Student B: How should we try to penetrate it while we're reading it?
SR: Mm-hmm. How?
Student B: Yeah.
SR: Just read it. You know, if you [laughs]—it may be tedious sometimes. It
will make you sleepy sometimes [laughs]—I think so. But if you read it over and
over again, then you will have this kind of Mahayana spirit. It doesn't work
directly. I think you study something, so that you can apply the teaching
directly to your everyday life. It doesn't work in that way.
Maybe we can recite a part of it in the morning chant or evening chant, instead
of Hannya shingyo5 sometimes.
Do you have some more questions?
[Sentence finished. Tape turned over.]
I will start from the chapter of “Good Means”—Chapter II. So it may be better
if you have the book—better to read it. It is rather difficult for me to
explain it. But I will try, and if you read it before in study time, it will
help.
Some more questions? No?
Student C: I have a question.
SR: Hai.
Student C: It sounded like your mother had faith in the Lotus Sutra.
SR: Uh-huh.
Student C: Could you speak about faith and Zen?
SR: Faith and Zen. Oh. You know, it's not “faith.” I think it was a kind of
prayer, maybe, for her. She felt maybe very much encouraged when having some
problem in her mind. Because she had some difficulty—not “some difficulty”—actually
she had a lot of difficulty as a wife of a priest at that time. So, I think she
couldn't help, reciting a sutra like this.
Most—all the Buddhist priests had a very, very difficult time at that time.
That was the second part of the Meiji Period.6 The policy of the Meiji
government penetrated all over Japan. And so, Buddhist temples almost—Buddhism was
almost dying at that time. And, priests had a very difficult time. And, people were
very much interested in Western civilization. And, the policy of the Meiji
government was to encourage Shintoism, and to make Japan's army stronger, and
believing in Shintoism, and to have hard study of Western culture to catch up
with advanced countries, and to make the country stronger. That was the policy
of the Meiji government.
So, Buddhists had a very difficult time at that time. When [laughs] it rained,
my parents used an umbrella inside [laughs] and boiled tea. The roof was
leaking badly [laughs, laughter]. And the temple—financially they had a very
difficult time. So, they had to sell the property, little by little. But during
my father's time there was no property at all at that time, because the priest
who was in that temple before my father had sold almost all the property. They had
no money. The people didn't support the temple. So, there was no way to mend the
roof or building. The tatami7 was almost broken. I remember exactly.
So, when I went to school, I was a small hippy [laughs, laughter]. My head was always
shaved by him [laughs]. When we had ceremonies at school, they wore hakama,8 usually. But, I had
no hakama [laughs]. I didn't like to
attend festivals or ceremonies at all because I couldn't dress up as my friends
did. I didn't mind so much as my mother did. I can imagine how she felt. She
had always that kind of feeling or problem. So she was just reciting the sutra
[laughs]. Ahh.
But, I criticized her when I could understand what she was reciting. I think
maybe for her that was a kind of prayer. She was reciting Chapter 25 always,9
where it repeats some miraculous powers of saving people—the power of
Avalokitesvara in saving people.
My teacher Kishizawa Roshi10 had hard skin here.11 He was
bowing always—I don't know how many times he bowed to Buddha. I think that was
a kind of prayer. He wanted to be a good Zen master—Zen priest. But, he had too
strong an ego [laughs]. He was too stubborn. And, he called himself “one-legged
priest,” or—what do you call it if you cannot walk without a stick? When he wrote
some calligraphy, his signature was “one-legged priest.”
Student D: “Peg-legged.”
SR: Hmm?
Student D: If you have a wooden leg, it's called “peg-legged.”
Student E: “Lame”?
SR: [Laughs.] “Lame,” maybe. “Crippled priest.” So, to conquer his ego he bowed
to Buddha until he had [laughs] a callous here. Because of that he was scolded
by his teacher12 always. I think that was a kind of prayer.
[Laughs.] Even though you know what is right, your mind doesn't [laughs] follow
sometimes. There is no other way than to make prayer.
I think if you want to practice hard, I think prayer will follow. If you say,
“That's all right. Everyone has ego—not only me. Everyone has ego, so it is all
right for me to have some ego.” If you say or if you understand in that way,
you will not conquer your ego. You say “egolessness” quite easily, but it is
not so easy.
So, I think not to gain something, not to recover from illness—if you
appreciate or if you understand the Buddhist spirit, I think you cannot help
praying for your teachers or for the patriarchs—successive patriarchs who have
been making the same effort.
Thank you very much.
[Tape recording was stopped and then restarted. Then Suzuki started reading
from: Saddharma Pundarika or The Lotus of the True Law, translated by
H. Kern, New York: Dover, 1963 (an unaltered reprint of the 1884 edition of
“The Sacred Books of the East,”
Vol. XXI), p. 30.]
Chapter II: “Skillfulness”
The Lord then arose with recollection and consciousness from his meditation, and forthwith addressed the venerable Shariputra:
“The buddha-knowledge, Shariputra, is profound, difficult to understand, difficult to comprehend. It is difficult for all disciples and pratyekabuddhas to fathom the knowledge arrived at by tathagatas, and that, Shariputra, because the tathagata have worshipped many hundred thousand millions [myriads] of kotis of buddhas; because they have fulfilled their course for supreme, complete enlightenment, during many hundred thousand million—myriads of kotis of aeons; because they have wandered far, displaying energy and possessed of won-
[tape ends].
_______________
1 The first series of seven lectures was given starting in February
1968; it was edited for the Spring 1969 edition of Wind Bell. The second series of at least 13 lectures was given
starting in October 1968. This third series of six or seven lectures was given
from October 20 to November 7, 1969.
2 Yone Shima (d. April 1938). She married Suzuki-rōshi's father,
Butsumon Sogaku Suzuki, circa 1901.
3 Suzuki may be referring to the Spring 1968 issue of Wind Bell, which printed a summary of
six lectures on the Lotus Sutra delivered by Suzuki starting in February of
1968 at Tassajara (SR-68-02-00-A/G).
4 Suzuki-rōshi may be referring to the parable in Chapter 15 (Kern
edition): "Duration of Life of the Tathāgatha."
5 Heart Sutra.
6 Meiji Period: 1868–1912.
7 Rigid floor mats of woven straw.
8 Traditional pleated trousers.
9 In the Kern edition of the Lotus Sūtra it is Chapter 24.
10 Kishizawa Minpo Ian-zenji (1865-1955): a leading interpreter of
Dōgen's Shōbōgenzō. He received
dharma transmission from Nishiari Bokusan. Suzuki-rōshi attended him at
Eihei-ji monastery. After Kishizawa-zenji left Eihei-ji, he founded and moved
to Kyokuden-in, Shizuoka, a temple close to Suzuki-rōshi's own Rinso-in.
Suzuki-rōshi continued to study with Kishizawazenji from 1932 until Kishizawa's
death in 1955.
11 Kishizawa Suzuki had a callus on his forehead from bowing so
often.
12 Possibly Nishiari Bokusan or Oka Sōtan.
Source: City Center original tape. Verbatim transcript by
Bill Redican (7/3/01). Lightly edited for readability by Peter Ford (9/2020).
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