Participate in Nature

Rikyu, the founder of the tea ceremony, would sweep his garden, and he appreciated falling leaves on a well swept garden. If the purpose of sweeping a garden is to get rid of leaves, why did he appreciate them on a well swept garden? Leaves on a well cleaned garden and leaves in the mountains are not the same. The feeling is quite different. We are also a part of nature, and we should participate in nature. — Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture - 67-12-04-B - as found on shunryusuzuki.com edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts - with a photo.

How to Search for something in Shunryu Suzuki lecture archive

Someone just wrote and asked me to look for a good quote in the Shunryu Suzuki lecture archive that dealt with today's political and social situation in the US. Obviously they thought this is something only I can access. Not so. I responded:

Anyone who can get online has the same ability as I do to search SR talks. I just go onto the Internet, go to shunryusuzuki.com, open the gate to the base page then click on the Lecture Search Form, and write in the Keywords or Filename box. Also at the base page there's a Google site search where you can search for two words near each other with "and" between them. There's even a third Mnemotrix search method.

I will be thinking about the sort of quote they're looking for but I think they'll know better than I do what they want. - dc

If Everything Is Mixed-up

If everything is mixed-up always, what is the point of appreciating everything if everything is just phenomenon? Why do we appreciate such a tentative phenomenal world? If you understand in that way, that is like serving salad and brown rice and miso soup in one big pail. How would you feel to eat from a bucket like a pig? [Laughter.] Even though it will be mixed-up in our tummy, we should serve one by one. That is our way, you know. But we do not keep it separate in our tummy. — Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture - 67-12-04-B - as found on shunryusuzuki.com edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts - with a photo.

Last week's Podcast guest

Before a new podcast is posted Saturday, check out last weeks - Berry Crawford in his encore podcast, this time on his outdoorsy Sierra Foothills Zen and mainly on the Science of Zen. Neat stuff. 

Hi websites are Simplicty Zen dot com with his video podcasts 

Science of Zen dot org

Sierra Foothills Zen do com

Berry Crawford Cuke page

- dc

Concentrated on Each Moment

In the sky, sometimes wild geese are flying. And after that some clouds will come. And after that the bright moon will come. But each of the wild geese and clouds and moon are not always the same. The bright moon is bright moon, and wild geese are wild geese, and cloud is cloud. But at the same time, the moon is not moon, cloud is not cloud, and wild geese are not wild geese. They exist in the same place in a mixed-up state. Even though it is mixed-up, our practice should be concentrated on each moment. When we see the moon, we should see the moon. When we see a cloud, we should see a cloud. And we should appreciate everything one by one. — Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture - 67-12-04-B - as found on shunryusuzuki.com edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts - with a photo.

RIP Layla Bockhorst

Just got word from Chris Fortin that dear friend and truly good person, Layla Smith Bockhorst has died in hospice care with husband Jim.

I loved sitting with Layla's group in Larkspur one morning a week when Katrinka and I lived in San Rafael. She and Jim were emigrees from Reed College who came to Zen Center in the early seventies.

Condolences to Jim and Sarah and Robin.

Layla's cuke page

Contact DC for visiting info.

No Need to Think About It

The purpose of zazen is not to think about it. To catch ourselves in its full function is zazen. If so, there is no need to think about it. If you think about it, you will lose it. When you don't think and are involved in the practice fully, you have zazen. — Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture - 67-12-04-B - as found on shunryusuzuki.com edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts - with a photo.

Zazen Cannot Be Always the Same

If you want to catch reality in its true sense, you cannot think about it. When your life energy is burning in perfect combustion, you cannot catch it. That is zazen. But even zazen cannot be always the same. As something you eat in your tummy does not stay the same way, it will change into something else. — Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture - 67-12-04-B - as found on shunryusuzuki.com edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts - with a photo.

RIP Paul Lee

 

I just learned that Paul Lee died on October 19th of this year. Paul was an early friend and supporter of the SF Zen Center and especially Tassajara. A UC Santa Cruz professor of existential and religious philosophy, staunch supporter of Alan Chadwick, environmentalist, chicken lover, homeless activist, one of Richard Bakers closest long time friends and supporters. Farewell dear friend. Condolences to widow Charlene and daughter Jessica. - dc

Paul Lee cuke page

Wikipedia

Paul's impressive Ecotopia website

No Practice Can Be Perfect Practice

No practice can be perfect practice. Even though to wash your face is a very good habit, but, if you are always washing your face, you cannot attain enlightenment [laughs, laughter]. The same thing can be said about your zazen practice. Zazen is a very good practice. But if you just are always practicing zazen, you know, it doesn't work. — Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture - 67-12-04-B - as found on shunryusuzuki.com edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts - with a photo.