Most said phrase by our founder

 Was thinking about what phrase did Shunryu Suzuki use the most. We had a lot of emphasis on "most important a decade ago or so--most important point or most important thing. He said that a lot. There's a collection of statements he made with most important in them. We've added some lectures to the archive since then so it could be brought up to date. There's a page for it. And from that page:

The phrase “most important” as found in Shunryu Suzuki lectures.

There are 224 instances found in the 2010 collection of his lectures, 85 of "most important point" and 87 of "most important thing." [As of November 2020 there are 266 instance of "most important" in the Suzuki lecture archive default (closest to verbatim) selection.]

Tomorrow - a phrase he used more than that.

No Need

Someone may say our activity is originated or based on Buddha's mind. And Buddha's mind is “such and such” is Buddha's mind, and the “so and so” is ordinary mind. You may, you know, say various explanation [laughs], but there is no need, you know, to explain in that way.       --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-30 - 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. 

Tassajara Fire Updates

 All seems okay. Don't fret. Here are the links again for updates.

For updates on the Willow Fire near Tassajara, go to https://www.sfzc.org/fire-updates

and the US Forest Service's: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7549/

Tao Again

Ordinary mind is tao, you know. Even though we are doing quite usual things, whenever we do something, that is actually Buddha's activity-- Buddha's activity, but our activity [laughs]. Ordinary mind is tao. Buddha's mind, Buddha's activity, and our activity are not different.      --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-30 - 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. 

That Point Again

It is rather difficult to explain how to be concentrated on this point. There are many koans and sayings on this point. And those sayings look like they are very different, but [laughs] actually they are all the same. Ordinary mind is tao, you know.      --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-30 - 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. 

Willow Fire Updates

For updates on the Willow Fire near Tassajara, go to https://www.sfzc.org/fire-updates

and the US Forest Service's: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7549/

Huff Post report - national news

Tassajara Fire Update

 from Arlene Lueck on Facebook

Tassajara to be Evacuated due to Nearby Fire

The Willow Fire in Willow Creek Canyon, a ridge over from Tassajara, is being fought. Most students to evacuate.

What's that Point Again?

Even though we can explain what is Buddhism, if you do not have the actual feeling with it, we, you know, cannot call ourselves real Buddhist. Only when our personality is characterized by this kind of feeling we call ourselves a Buddhist. It is necessary for us to be always concentrated on this point.     --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-30 - 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. 

Pam Chernoff

 

Got another photo of Pam Chernoff today from Linda Wong, formerly Linda Lupo. Just go to Pam Chernoff's page and you'll see what she wrote below this 1975 photo.