Big Mind

If your effort is based on big mind, you cannot get out of it. It is so big that you cannot get out of it. But if your small self starts to act without any care of big mind, that is not Zen. What you do should be well taken care of by big mind. So, our practice should be based on big mind. Then the pain we have in our legs is the same, but how we handle it is quite different.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-12-11-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Buddha’s Practice Should Be Better

All those difficulties you have in zazen should not take place outside of your mind. All those efforts should be kept within your mind. In other words, you have to accept it. You should not try to make a particular effort based on your small self like: “My practice should be better,” [laughs] “my practice.” Buddha’s practice should be better, but not yours.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-12-11-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

A Caring Bridge page for Richard Baker

 This Caring Bridge page for Zentatsu Richard Baker was started by his daughters, Sally and Elizabeth, and Sophia.

photo -
Richard leaving UCSF yesterday with daughter Sophia, future son-in-law Ben and dear family friend, Renée.)

from Caring Bridge page

Difficulty

When you practice Zen you have of course pain in your legs, and mentally you have some difficulty. You will find it is rather difficult to concentrate only on your breathing. And various images will come into your mind. Or your mind will go out for a walk wandering about [laughs]. It is rather difficult for me too, so I think you will find out it is rather difficult.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-12-11-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Psychological Activity

What is our psychological activity within ourselves? And psychological activity which takes place outside of ourselves is delusion [laughs] according to Buddhist psychology. It is delusion. It is not true. It does not exist. So, deluded activity will not result in anything. But true activity, only true activity results in good results.

Drawing by Stan White

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-12-11-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Zentatsu to be Discharged from UCSF Hospital

Zentatsu Richard Baker recovering well from the stroke he had on May 18th, Shunryu Suzuki's birthday, and will be discharged from UCSF Hospital on the 21st, Wednesday. The doctors say he's healthy but it's not good for him to travel. He'll be staying at the SFZC City Center. Nicole Baden will be there too. Paul Rosenblum is with him as are family. He's had visitors and is in good spirits. It seems the stroke hit his speech center so he'll be doing some therapy for that.

Within Ourselves

For us to work on something or to help others is to do things within ourselves. Our effort is concentrated within ourselves. According to the sixth patriarch it is the activity of our true nature within. In the realm of true nature we do things, not outside of our mind. All that we do is the activity of our true mind, which is not dualistic. By mind he means Big Mind, not selfish mind.

Putative mummy of Sixth Patriarch’s body

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-12-11-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Without an Idea of Self

If our life is based on an idea of self, what we do will not be successful in its true sense. You will be successful in one way, but in another you will cause some conflict. So, to work without an idea of self is very, very important. It is much more important than making a good decision. Even when you make a good decision, if that decision is based on a one-sided idea of self, what you do will create some difficulties for yourself and for others.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-12-11-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Zentatsu Recovering from Stroke

 

Zentatsu Richard Baker is in Marin General Hospital recovering from a stroke he had at Green Gulch this morning. His dharma heir, Tatsudo Nicole Baden, and family are with him. He's smiling and "cognitively clear." No paralysis. All healing thoughts and prayers go out to Zentatsu to whom I am profoundly grateful..

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Barbara Horn came to the SFZC in the mid seventies, practiced Insight Meditation with Jack Kornfield at Barre, Mass., studied cooking with Julia Childs, got a graduate degree in mediation and interfaith chaplaincy. She volunteered for the 911 rescue and recovery effort and founded Calling of the Names - callingofthenames.org. Listen to the podcast and read more about her.