Branching Streams

Here's the SFZC's Branching Streams site. Tova Green coordinates Branching Streams and she says there are 75 affiliate groups listed. That's quite a list. It sure has grown. I wonder about Shunryu Suzuki related groups not in Branching Streams and would like a list of them. Also how about a list of groups that former Suzuki era folks are in that aren't Zen, Various things come to mind. I've no time for it now but it would be neat to make a bigger map. - dc

Just Sit

So before you have this kind of struggle, you may wonder why we say you have to sit without any gaining idea. After you try various way to be free from selfish idea, then I think you will find yourself in the position where you can sit-- just sit.         --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-16 - 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. 

Louise Pryor Remembers

I went with Roshi to one of the stone rooms where Govinda was staying.  What I remember about that visit that was so striking for me is that during the visit Suzuki Roshi said to Lama Govinda, “Can you please tell me the cause of suffering?”  I was struck because someone of Roshi’s stature and position would ask a question like that, the most basic, important question.  Was it an expression of respect between teachers, an expression of humility, someone still asking the most important question?

Louise Pryor cuke page

Without Gaining Idea

[Referring to Pure Land Buddhism and Zen] So it is not matter of what you say or how you, even, behave. When you reach this point, you will find out the real practice of repeating Amida Buddha's name or practicing zazen. There is no other way than to repeat Amida-- just repeat Amida Buddha's name without any reason. There is no other way to sit, you know, without any gaining idea.        --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-16 - 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. 

Negative Arrogance

When arrogance is positive, it is easy to find out. But negative arrogance is rather difficult to see or to know. Negative arrogance is the arrogance when you say, “No, I cannot do that,”        --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-16 - 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. 

Mohawk Drums Along the Hudson

Kamala Cesar Buckner, a student of Shunryu Suzuki and dance, asks us to enjoy her Mohawk tribe in Drums Along the Hudson 2021 Virtual Benefit sponsored by her Lotus Music and Dance, a multicultural journey in the performing arts. 

Drums Along the Hudson, Sunday June 6th, 2021 from 11am to 6pm at Inwood Hill Park

Kamala's cuke page

Attitude

And because selflessness is difficult, you want some guidance or teacher. Maybe when you have good teacher and when you are practicing with good teacher, you will be naturally not so selfish. Why our teacher is so hard on us is because of our selfish attitude.       --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-16 - 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. 

Reloading previous post with link that works

  Jack and Ceci offer five ways to practice self kindness and not compulsively bum oneself out.

link was bad - just fixed it - my fault - didn't check it. Was tired. Mohon ma'af. dc

Jack Elias Cuke page

Self Kindness

 Jack and Ceci offer five ways to practice self kindness and not compulsively bum oneself out.

link was bad - just fixed it

Jack Elias Cuke page

Difficult

This selflessness is very difficult to understand. If you try to be selfless, that is already selfish idea. [Laughs.] We don't know what to do--how to cope with it. Perhaps you may have tried various ways, but selflessness is not something which you can try, you know. It should be there when you do not try anything. Selflessness is not something which you can be aware of. But for us it is necessary to know how difficult it is.       --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-16 - 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.