Writing Links for Tara Treasurefield

Shunryu Suzuki student Tara Treasurefield died a couple of days ago. Details in yesterday's post. Here are some links relating to her writing.

RIP Tara Treasurefield whom we knew as Pat Lang

 Tara died at 10:30am on February 5th. She was born on March 3rd, 1944.

Nothing Outside Mind

Usually our mind expects something from outside -- our mind is ready to accept something from outside, but that is not true understanding of our mind. According to our understanding, mind includes everything. Nothing comes from outside. Our mind has everything, and when you think something comes from outside it means your mind -- in your mind something appears. In this way you accept things. If your mind is related to some other things, that mind is small mind, limited mind.

Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-01-12 as found on shunryusuzuki.com -  - Excerpt note edited by DC  This lecture became Mind Waves in the book, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, p. 34

Just to Sit

It is almost impossible to talk about what is Buddhism.

Karmic Spinning

The Buddhist life should not be karma life. Our purpose of practice is to cut off the karmic spinning mind. So our practice should be quite different from our karmic practice. Even though you are trying to attain enlightenment, that is a part of karma. You create karma, you are driven by karma, and wasting time on black cushion.

Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-01-05 as found on shunryusuzuki.com -  - Excerpt edited by D

Harm Reduction rather than Hypocritical Brutality

They're going to firing squad some more poor saps who were too far down the controlled substance chain to matter. Why doesn't Australia whose ignorant kids got caught expose who is really making the money there and maybe mention what percentage of substance deaths is caused by illegals - last I read was 2% with tobacco, alcohol, prescription all well ahead. And why not bring up Harm Reduction, the approach aiming to reduce the harm from substances and government policies. Actual effective policies would, of course, reduce the income of many well-placed people not only here but in America and all over the world, but it would also improve their karmic dilemma.  Harm Reduction Coalition - for those who really want to reduce deaths and suffering.

Zenbook Back

Got my computer back. The Windows and files were saved but all the programs are new and so much has to be done. It was an interesting experience but would rather get back to work on this stuff than tell it. Except I'll say that the bill of 510,000 rupies ($48) for all the work he did was so low that I'm so relieved and glad I wasn't in the States - or Europe - or Japan. We both made mistakes that cost us days and he apologized for his and didn't mention mine. Got a big tip (for here). Love Bali. - DC

Cutting Down Habit Power

Student: How can we avoid creating more habits?

SR: The purpose of practice is to cut completely [laughs] down the habitual power, you know. To be completely from our habitual, you know, energy or whatever it is-- habits-- habitual power or so-called-it karma. At least we should not doubt we are intrinsically free from karma. Karma is something which we create-- we create karma, and we suffer from it. So pure religion is in the realm of-- there is no creation or no-- no -- what is opposite of “create”?


Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-29-C as found on shunryusuzuki.com -  - Excerpt edited by DC 

Right Effort

When you cannot believe in the meaning of the practice which you take in this moment, you cannot do anything. You are just wandering about -- around the goal -- with monkey mind. You are looking for something always, and without knowing what you are doing. If you want to see something you should open your eyes. Instead of opening your eyes you are trying to look at something with your eyes closed. That is what we are doing actually if we do not know the important point which Bodhidharma pointed out. We do not slight the idea of attaining enlightenment, but the most important thing is in this moment, not someday. We have to make our effort with right effort in this moment. This is the most important thing for our practice. 

Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-01-05 as found on shunryusuzuki.com -  - Excerpt edited by DC (One word changed)  This lecture became Traditional Zen Spirit in the book, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, p. 99

Arctic glacier’s galloping melt

Read about Arctic glacier’s galloping melt baffles scientists in Climate News Network

Will post this in Climate Change on cuke.com when get computer back. - dc