Shundo David Haye – Zen Priest

‘Our way is to practice zazen as our way transmitted from Buddha. Here we want absolute surrender. Before this absolute surrender comes to you, it is not possible to practice zazen in its true sense. We do not ask why. We do not wonder the result of the practice. Whether we have the result or not is not the question. But, the most obvious thing–the ultimate part is that you are here as a follower of Buddhism. So, as a follower of Buddhism, you should practice the [taps twice, possibly on the tan to indicate zazen]–that’s all. There is no reason.

If you are not a Buddhist, maybe there will be no need for you [laughs] to practice zazen. Because you are here you have to do it, that’s all [laughs]. Quite simple. Even though you are very tired, you are right here. So as long as you are here, you should listen to me. “Oh, you should practice zazen. That’s all.”

So if tea comes, you should drink tea. If you have cake, you should eat cake. [Laughs.] That’s all. That is exactly how we exist in this world. This is how everything exists here. This is zazen. So even if you do not enjoy the experience of Zen, Zen is Zen. So, to practice zazen is also the goal of practice, whether it is joyous or not joyous. It is the goal of practice. There is no other goal.

So, our goal is not somewhere, within reach or beyond our reach. Our goal does not exist in our practice. You think you sit because you will have some joy in your practice. That is why you sit, you may say. And actually, because you have some joy, you sit [laughs]. But even if you do not feel any joy, you have to sit [laughs]. That is what he [Dogen] is saying. So there is no problem [laughs, laughter]. This is how to cut off the root of the problem.

You may say, then, whatever you do, that may be Zen [laughing]. So, there will be no need for you to sit. Even if you do not sit, to have breakfast, to sleep, to go to bed is also zazen. If so, there will be no need for you to sit in cross-legged position all day long. [Laughs, laughter.] “It may be a waste of time”–you may say so. But actually, fortunately or unfortunately, you are here. It is too late [laughs, laughter] to say so.

And if you sit and–our practice is not– moreover, our practice is not just to sit. Whatever you do, that is zazen. Why? Because you know what is the true meaning of Zen. So for you, whatever you do, that is zazen [laughs]. But for people who do not know what is zazen, even if it is actually zazen, but for the people who do not know what is zazen, that is not Zen for him only. But for us, whatever they do, that is zazen. We understand that, as you understand– whatever you do that is zazen. So whatever others do, that is also zazen. This is our understanding of zazen.’ (from the Suzuki Roshi Archive)