Shundo David Haye – Zen Priest

‘Our study, our effort or practice, should be firmly supported by Buddhi’s wisdom. You may come to realize how true Buddha’s teaching is to the circumstances under which we suffer. When you realize how this teaching is true to us, you will begin your practice. But when you are jumping from one place to another, it is difficult to teach you how to practice Buddhism. Anyway, for the beginner, it is difficult to sit. However, if you continue your practice, you will discover your own posture, good or bad. Then you can say it may be better to put some more strength in your abdomen, make your posture straighter; or you may find that you are leaning forward or backward. That you have some posture, your own posture, is at the same time to have some bad habits. Without bad habits you cannot improve your posture! It is good for us to have bad habits! But you ask me what is right posture. That is also a mistake. Whatever you do is right. Nothing is wrong with what you do. But some Improvement is necessary. Something should be done with what you have attained. Even though you attain enlightenment like Buddha, something should be done with it. That is his enlightenment. So the point is not whether your posture is right or wrong. The point is constant effort or way-seeking mind.

I think I shouldn’t talk too much. The more you practice zazen, the more you find out the true, deeper meaning of our practice. Anyway, we should be more friendly and frank and straightforward, and we should be more free, and we should accept the instruction. This is our way.’ (from the Suzuki Roshi Archive)

This is the end of the talk I excerpted from last week, and another gem.