English talk starts after 54:00 mark. Gudo Nishijima’s translation can be found here (scroll down to “[231] Great Master Gensha…” ): thezensite.com/ZenTeachings/Dogen_Teachings/Shobogenzo_2_NC.pdf Japanese original: shomonji.or.jp/soroku/genzou16b/index.html
26. To you who like hearing something inspirational about Buddhism Many say, “No matter how much Sawaki talks, his lectures don’t inspire me in the least!” Obviously. Because I myself am not “inspirational”. The buddha-dharma leads you to the place where nothing is special. ** They say, “When I hear Sawaki talk, my faith cools … Read more
22. To you who wish you could lead a happier life “Rest awhile and everything will be fine.” We simply need to take a short break. Being buddha means taking a short break from being a human. Being buddha doesn’t mean working your way up as a human. ** What makes Ryōkan so refreshing is … Read more
12. To you who is wondering if your zazen has been good for something What’s zazen good for? Absolutely nothing! This “good for nothing” has got to sink into your flesh and bones until you’re truly practicing what’s good for nothing. Until then, your zazen is really good for nothing. ** Throwing yourself completely into doing … Read more
20. To you who like to hear ghost stories People often ask me if ghosts really exist. Somebody who racks their brains over something like that is what I call a ghost. ** It’s said that the dead appear as ghosts, but that’s only true as long as you have the living. When the living … Read more
8. To you who are sobbing because somebody’s put one over on you At some point you’ve got to slap yourself in the face and seriously ask yourself: is your personal gain or loss really worth this overwhelming joy and suffering? ** Sooner or later everyone starts thinking of nothing besides themselves. You say, “That … Read more
3. To you who are totally exhausted from fighting with your spouse When you’re fighting with your husband or wife, you don’t realize that the argument is about an illusion. But in zazen, you recognize illusion as illusion. This is why it is important to look at life with the eyes of zazen. ** Equal … Read more