Monday, January 18, 2021

Following from Yesterday's post

And so my teacher or my master always told us: “You stinky boys, wash your underwear!” Not just underwear. And so my teacher-- my master, his way of training his students was-- disciples was pretty different from usual master. He did not allow me to stay at Eiheiji so long time. “Two years is enough! You will become stinky Eiheiji student! That's enough, you should go to Sojiji.”

And when I stayed at Sojiji more than one year, one day he appeared and after talking with me ten minutes. “Maybe it is time for you to leave Sojiji.” And he always put emphasis on Dogen Zenji's beginner's mind.     --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 68-12-29 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. -

DC Comment" Suzuki wanted to stay at Eiheiji and then at Sojiji. Finally he was emmeshed in monastic practice. So he was greatly disappointed both times when his master Gyokujun So-on told him that's enough.