Jean Ross began studying with Shunryu Suzuki very soon after he arrived in San Francisco. In this podcast, the second of two on her, I read more from her accounts in the Wind Bell publication of the SFZC about her experience studying Zen in Japan in the early sixties - and more. The podcast concludes with a piece I wrote about her for the Wind Bell in 1997.
Each moment includes its own past and future. A moment will be extended in four directions and past and future. So, as you practice zazen, you should say, “I will,” without being involved in doubting whether you can observe it forever or not. There’s no need from the beginning [laughs] to say, “No, I cannot.” You cannot say so. When you are really seeing things as it is, there is no position for you to say, “No.” The only way is, “Yes, I will.” That’s all that you can do.
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 70-08-03 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.
No one can say in its ordinary sense, I can observe this precept forever [laughs]. You cannot say so. Even if you attain enlightenment, that is not possible. No one can be sure about anything. Moment after moment it is possible to say, “I will observe it.” At least in that moment, you should say, “Yes, I will.”
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 70-08-03 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.
If it is possible for us to arise bodhisattva mind and to receive bodhisattva precepts, then you should, even if your practice is not so good, and you are always involved in dualistic thinking mind by emotional activities. Actually, as I always repeat, our practice is not a practice which you can explain completely. Our practice is something beyond our understanding. And Dogen says, we arise bodhisattva mind by knowing the teaching that everything changes.
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 70-08-03 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.
This is why we must have Dogen as a Zen master. Sometimes what he says is quite unusual. And so unusual that you may be confused, like when he says with dualistic mind you should arise bodhisattva mind.
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 70-08-03 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.
Why you are confused in helping others and why you suffer when you reflect on your mind is because it is almost impossible to be free from dualistic thinking mind and emotional and superficial mind. But Dogen Zenji says with that mind you should arise bodhisattva mind. Yesterday I told you whatever your practice may be, that is true practice. Dogen said, whatever your mind situation may be, with that mind you can arise perfect bodhisattva mind.
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 70-08-03 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.
Dogen Zenji says, “What is mind?” There are three kinds of mind. But usually by mind we mean thinking mind. Usually, with this thinking mind, we must arise bodhisattva mind. This is very valuable, and this is a great help for us to know. You may think after you attain enlightenment, when your mind is very clear, and when you have no more dualistic thinking, you will arise bodhisattva mind [laughs]. But Dogen Zenji did not say that. He clearly said there are three kinds of mind. First of all, we have thinking mind, dualistic mind. With this dualistic mind you should arise bodhisattva mind.
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 70-08-03 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.
It is not so easy to arise bodhisattva mind. It is not so easy at all. It is difficult because you do not have the right teacher or because you do not know exactly how to arise bodhisattva mind. The answer is very simple, but I think it is good for you to suffer [laughter, laughs] on this point, or else your practice will be very superficial. Of course, you may say trying to save others is bodhisattva practice, but if some impure element is in it, you cannot have confidence in your practice. I know many students who have this kind of conflict or problem.
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 70-08-03 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.
Jean Ross began studying with Shunryu Suzuki very soon after he arrived in San Francisco. In this podcast, the first of two on her, I read from what’s in Crooked Cucumber and what she wrote about her experience studying Zen in Japan in the early sixties—at Eiheiji, Sojiji, and more. Listen to the podcast and read more about her.
To practice purely you start trying to do something to help others. But you may wonder whether you are doing something to help others or to help yourself [laughs]. It is very difficult to know which. I think you may suffer on this point a lot, as I did when I was young. Whatever I tried, continually doing something more and more, I felt I was losing my confidence…
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 70-08-03 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.