Translation of Unknown Text
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August 1971
San Francisco
The talk focuses on the symbolic and spiritual significance of the shaved head in Zen practice, highlighting its superior merit compared to the construction of a jewel-adorned stupa. The discourse accentuates that the act of shaving one's head is a profound expression of renunciation and represents the highest form of virtue and liberation. It asserts that, even without achieving full enlightenment, individuals who embrace this practice surpass common existence, embodying the most valuable state of being across the three worlds, thus aligning closely with the Buddha's path.
- Referenced Text Fragment: The translated text emphasizes the unparalleled merit and spiritual liberation associated with the practice of shaving the head in Zen Buddhism. It suggests that this practice is an embodiment of renunciation, elevating practitioners beyond worldly attachments and comparisons, and aligning them closer to the Buddha's teachings.
AI Suggested Title: Zen's Path: Shaved Head Wisdom
Additional text: 1/4 in. x 2500 ft. RN, 6,35mm x 762,0m, Made in U.S.A., 3M, 908, Audio Mastering Tape, #191, 20.15
@AI-Vision_v003
Translation of Unknown Text
Shunryu Suzuki Transcript
August 1971
San Francisco
File name: 71-08-00: Translation of Unknown Text (Verbatim) w yvonne - but cut her/his early few words
[I believe the text may be Dogen, Shukke Kudoku. JRB]
; #approximate-date
Assistant: -- to make it record [verb].
SR: Mm-hmm.
[Gap, scattered fragments of words and sentences.]
Assistant: -- like that.
[Gap, scattered fragments of words and sentences.]
Assistant: -- push it hard enough so the buttons stay down.
SR: Mm-hmm.
[Long silent gap in tape.]
Suzuki dictating as he translates a text:
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“Therefore, no buddha attained enlightenment without the form of shaving head-- not in the form of a shaved head. No patriarch-- no patriarch-- is in the-- no patriarch is not in the form of shaved head. So the most virtuous things is the virtue of shaved head.
Even though you built a stupa, which-- stupa adorned by seven jewels to reach the thirty-- the thirty-third heaven, the virtue is great, but in comparison to the merit of shaved head, it is not so good as even one hundredth. And any [1 word unclear] cannot be-- cannot describe. Stupa could be destroyed, and once it destroyed, it-- the shape cannot be-- the form cannot be seen. But merit of shaved head will increase more and more until it reach to the Buddha foot. And its merit will not be lost.
Therefore, without changing our body we are beyond the commoner. Even though we do not attain buddhahood, we are already a son of Buddha. We are the most valuable being-- being in the three world, and our life is best of the life-- lives in the six conditions of life.
Think carefully now. You change your karmic body and mind, attain enlightenment, and will born in Buddha land. The beginningless karma-- beginningless karmic attachment instantaneously stopped, and innate virtue will result. Therefore, after you shave your head, heaven and earth cannot cover you. You cannot be mixed with the rest of being in the six worlds.
A shaved head has nothing to cover, and square-sleeved robe is a symbol of-- symbol of emancipation. People who see it will have great at- -- great encouragement, and your close relative will have good affinity. Your being is the highest in the three world, and your virtue is highest in ten direction-- in the world in ten directions.
Kings are not higher than you. Your parents is not-- respectable than you. If they are not your teachers you shouldn't bow to them; if they are not your patriarchs-- if you-- if they are not patriarchs-- buddha and patriarchs-- patriarchs, there is no one to bow to. Therefore we say the karmic life of three worlds.
It is impossible to cut-- cut off love and affection of the family-- to cut off. When we go beyond family relationship of love and passion, that is a way to return the benevolence of-- benevolence-- the benevolence you receive from them. Thinking about how great it is-- how great the benevolence you received from your parents, with sincerity you should refuse it. Thinking about how great it is-- the benevolence of the water and the earth-- we should return the benevolence by-- through real way of returning it. This is real practice of renunciation and the most-- the highest way-- the most lofty and highest way to live.”