Senses and Reality

We think whatever we see is reality, but it is not so. And what we feel is reality, but it is not so. The reality and something which is observed by our six senses is one, you know. So just what we see is not true without background of the reality. ---------------------------------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-12-04-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay.

Gap

In Zazengi, Dogen says, “If there is slightest gap between the perfect enlightenment and practice, the difference will be heaven and earth.” Because there should not be any gap between practice and enlightenment, or reality and seeming. ---------------------------------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-12-04-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay.

Explain

The more we study our way, the more it is difficult to explain it.  ---------------------------------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-12-04-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay.

Pain

And if you have some pain or some difficulty, it is good chance to, you know, to practice it because if your pain is this much, this much controlling power will appear. But if you know the other side of the pain, which is keeping balance in your practice, you will appreciate the feeling of the pain. Because pain is this much you have power of training this much [laughs]. If you have no pain, maybe it is rather difficult for beginner to appreciate the power of Zen.  ---------------------------------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-12-02 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay.

Instruction

So this practice should be followed by various instruction of sitting: mudra, or breathing, or like keeping your back straight. ---------------------------------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-12-02 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay.

Power

In this sesshin, our practice is concentrated to put more power in your tummy, but that does not mean, to put special power in it. It means to put some power quite naturally without trying too much to put strength in your tummy. ---------------------------------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-12-02 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay.

Continuing on Concentration

So this kind of concentration cannot be studied by usual everyday practice, everyday activity. Just Zen can do it. Through Zen you can have this kind of training. ---------------------------------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-12-02 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay.

Concentration

Our concentration is not the usual concentration, you know. At the same time, we should have freedom. So this kind of concentration is deeper and more natural, you know. If you are trying to be concentrated on something, your effort is directed to one way only. So it is difficult to change it. If your concentration is quite natural, you can change any time. And you will be ready to change your direction of effort. ---------------------------------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-12-02 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay.

RIP John Bermel

Just got a Facebook post from Judith Keenan that dear friend John Bermel has died.

From Judith's Facebook post:

This photo is of John Bermel in the shop at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center. He went to the work periods at Tassajara starting in the 1980's, helped during the summer at Tassajara if they were stretched, and went to the work periods at Green Gulch Farm. He died in the Klamathon Fire.

Klamathon Fire  Wikipedia page - As David Silva pointed out, John was the only fatality of that fire, listed as John Karl Bermel dying of fire related causes.

I posted this comment: Thanks for sharing this Judith. John was a very close friend, He used to come work on our home with Dennis Samson and me in Sebastopol and latter at John Tarrants when I was in the barn there. Katrinka and I are sad to hear the news.

Renshin Bunse wrote: Oh wow. I remember him. He told me the fig tree down by the suburbs came from a slip off a tree in his family's yard. Nice nice guy. He was one of the ones who'd sleep in the parking lot the night before work period started.

Old Teachers

The old teachers in their practice -- there was no cessation in their practice. They are always practicing their way. They are always ready for various activity. That is how we should be concentrated on our activity. ---------------------------------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-12-02 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay.