Don't be attached to your attainment

Shunryu Suzuki Transcript

Friday, August 19, 1966

Sesshin Lecture: Friday Morning during Zazen, Lecture B
Sokoji Temple, San Francisco

[Tape operator: This lecture is Friday morning during zazen, and it begins “We have one more day.”]

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Don't be attached to your attainment as a result of-- as a result of past effort. Or don't be attached to the refreshed stage you attained mechanically. Open up your mind wider and more-- be more subtle, ready to accept things as it is, and practice-- continue your practice. This is the meaning of sesshin. The mind you attained is not even quite newly refreshed mind. It is nothing itself-- itself, free from all attachment.

I am very much grateful to sit with you in this way and to have more chance to sit. Let's make this sesshin more meaningful one.

Thank you very much.
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Source: Original City Center tape. Verbatim transcript by Adam Tinkham and Bill Redican (6/12/01). Reformatted by Ray Watkins, (April, 2012)
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File name: 66-08-19-B: Don't be attached to your attainment (titled by pf) (Verbatim) Audio for this is at the end of 66-mp3-16k/66-08-19 A-2-t.mp3

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