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Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Don't Kill, even though you Can't

From a Q and A 

SR: When we kill-- try to kill, there is a mistake, you know, in understanding our life. Because we do not know it is impossible to kill - so we try to kill.

Student: When we die, there is the same mistake because we do not know it's impossible to die.

SR: Mm-hmm. When you think you are dying, that is the same mistake.

Student B: Same mistake.

SR: Yeah. It is impossible for us to die. We do not die actually.

Student B: Right. Right. Right.

SR: Yeah, that is just maybe the same mistake. So if everyone understands this point, no one will kill-- try to kill anybody. So not to kill is to realize our true nature. That is the interpretation of the precept not to kill.

Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-29-C as found on shunryusuzuki.com - Edited by DC