Monday, November 15, 2021

A Need for our own Headquarters

Roshi: up to now we had a Bishop who was taking care of such things. Now we are thinking of having a [an American] headquarters here--for keeping records. Head will have more freedom. Better that way--because it is very difficult for Japanese headquarters to understand American problems.                 --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture 69-05-07-bn - 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. Go to https://www.instagram.com/cuke_archives/ for more daily Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts - with a photo. 

DC comment: This is an excerpt from a 1969 ZC board meeting  Here Shunryu Suzuki is talking about the need to continue running our own show as it had been from the first. But there were formalities with the Bishop in LA. We always had good relations with them. It wasn't a problem. He's just making it clear to stay independent, not try to be part of Japanese Soto Zen. I'm sure it was fine with them too. - DC