Link Fixed

The prior post on the Jay Simoneaux (RIP) dharma talk now has a link to the talk. Darn Blogger - got to check them each time cause they can disappear when uploading. Thanks for the heads up A.M. - dc 

Jay Simoneaux

Here's a dharma talk by Jay on the Everyday Zen site

Here's another long ago photo of Jay in the center with Issan Tommy Dorsey on the right and Jed Linde on the left I think.

Good Relation

We are doing something always in relation to something else. But we should not be enslaved by it. There is difference, you know: to be enslaved by it and to have a good relationship.             --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-15 - 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. 

Enslaved

Student B: What do you mean, “We should not lose ourselves?”

SR: “Lose yourself” means you should not stick to something--some rules or some idea. You should be more realistic [laughs]. Do you understand? Lose yourself-- lose--”to lose” means to stick to something, to be enslaved by something.            --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-15 - 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. 

Jay Simoneaux in Memoriam

from Everyday Zen 

In Memoriam   Jay Simoneaux Elder Rinsho, Unfolding Compassion

Dear Everyday Zen Sangha, Jay Simoneaux has made his final ascent. At the center of his families and many circles of friends, he passed from this life Sunday, May 2, at 7:30 pm in the home he created with his wife and life partner, Judy Avery and extended family. High country explorer and guide, he shared with us a lifetime love of discovered trails and Sierra granite. Craftsman, lover and abiding student of the Buddha way, the scale of his gifts and wide reach was matched by the depth of his loss through Parkinson's disease. Through practice and pain, his heart was scoured and opened to us all at each creative stage. His life will continue to sustain and inspire us. Peter van der Sterre

Peter and Chris will lead us in a memorial service for Jay at Dharma Seminar on Wednesday evening. Norman will officiate at a Zoom memorial at a later date (to be determined).

Elder Rinsho Unfolding Compassion Jay received Shukke Tokudo, priest ordination, from Richard Baker Roshi at San Francisco Zen Center, 1977. He practiced with Everyday Zen for many years and served as Shuso for the Fall Practice Period, October 2009. He received Shiho, Dharma Transmission, from Zoketsu Norman Fischer in March 2012. His kind and gentle way was loved by all.

Cards can be sent to Jay's wife and life partner, Judy Avery, and the extended family at: 459 17th Ave San Francisco, CA 94121 You may wish to chant the Heart of Great Perfect Wisdom Sutra for Jay with the following dedication:   May we awaken Buddha’s compassion and luminous mirror wisdom, chanting the Heart of Great Perfect Wisdom Sutra, we dedicate the merit for the safe passage of our dear sangha brother, Jay Simoneaux, Elder Rinsho, Unfolding Compassion, and for the wellbeing of his grieving friends and family members. May he be free from suffering and born into peaceful nurturing, and may we all together attain Buddha’s way.

Unusual Example of Failure

If you fail to serve tea, you should think why, without making some excuse. You failed anyway, you know. So what you should do not to fail again? There is no rules but to be aware of what you are doing. Do you understand?            --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-15 - 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. 

Tap tap tap

So you should not attach to it, or you should not be bothered by it, or you should not be satisfied with it, whatever it is, or you should not try to avoid it because it is there [taps several times]. So you should think-- or you should be aware of that, you know, problem and why you have that problem [taps several times]-- that kind of problem.           --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-15 - 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. 

RIP Jay Simoneaux

Dear Zen brother Jay Simoneaux died at 7:30 PM Sunday, May 2nd. What a great guy he was. Condolences to Judy.

Mike Dixon's portraits

Michael Wenger suggested Mike Dixon send his portraits of "old Zen guys" to Cuke for immortalization which I see is actually a real word. Now they're on Willard Make Dixon's cuke page and next they'll be on the pages of the honored subjects.  The other subjects' portraits--Shunryu Suzuki, Mel Weitsman, Ed Brown, and Dan Welch--have each been featured on What's New recently. That leaves only yours truly which is featured today. I blush. - DC

Enough

That you have problem means you have not yet [taps five times with stick-- once for each of previous five words], you know, surrendered enough. [Taps several times.]          --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-15 - 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.