Work

To work on something is not difficult but not working on anything is rather difficult. When we have an idea of self, we cannot stay still. Because we have an idea of self we find a reason why we work on something. But if you do not have any idea of self, you can remain silent and calm as you work on something. You will not lose your composure whether you work or not.

Sandy Watkins working with Chino Sensei

—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.

Just To Sit

Most of you are beginners, so it may be rather difficult to understand why we practice zazen in this way. We always say, “just sit.” That’s all we say. But if you sit, you will find out Zen practice—just to sit is not so easy. Just to sit may be the most difficult thing.

—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.

Day by Day

You should just say, “Yes, I will” [laughs]. That is the secret of observing our precepts, and that is how you follow our rules. Then day by day your practice will mature.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 70-08-03 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.

Featured Cuke Archives page

Tatsudo Nicole Baden is a Dharma Successor of Zentatsu Baker in the Dharma Sangha Soto Zen Lineage. Last September Richard Baker passed on the abbotship of Dharma Sangha in Germany and the US to Nicole. In this podcast she will be talking about the Launch of the Dharma Academy with a free and open event on the weekend of May 23-25, “Engaging the Heart of Wisdom: Pathways for Meeting Uncertainty.” Participating dharma teachers include Zentatsu Richard Baker, Joan Halifax, Jiryu Rutschuman-Byler, Valerie Brown, Ryuten Paul Rosenblum, Rahshaana Green, Sarabinh Levy-Brightman, Ravi Welch, Lien Shutt, and Tatsudo Nicole Baden. Learn more about the event and sign up at courses.dharmaacademy.com/launch-event. Listen to the podcast and read more about her.

Pretty Good

Bodhidharma at first did not accept his disciple’s practice. But after he tried very hard, and he gave up the practice of perfection—then, okay he’s pretty good. His practice was mature enough. So, he didn’t say anything.

Drawing by Stan White

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 70-08-03 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.

Same Quality

The moon in the sky, the moon in the water; it is the moon. It has the same quality. Although it is small, even a bodhisattva mind of the moon is there. Dogen Zenji points out this point.

Image generated by Google Gemini

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 70-08-03 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.

O Mother Gaia: The World of Gary Snyder

An excellent film called O Mother Gaia: The World of Gary Snyder has been completed just in time for Gary's 95th birthday. The 100-minute film by Colin Still features extensive footage of Gary himself along with Allen Ginsberg, Michael McClure, Peter Coyote, Jane Hirschfield, Carol Koda (his late wife), and Jack Shoemaker (his publisher).

You can view the film for free at this link any time before midnight this Sunday (May 11). After that time it will presumably be available only through ordinary film distribution. I encourage you to see it now while you have a chance.

I assume that most of you know who Snyder is. If you don't, you may want to check out these two essays at my website:

• Gary Snyder: "Buddhist Anarchism" 
• Kenneth Rexroth: "Gary Snyder: Smokey the Bear Bodhisattva" 

Thanks, Ken Knabb, for sending this.

Incessantly

A bodhisattva mind will make its effort to save life. And because it is almost impossible that bodhisattva mind will continue with our teaching forever and will not stop. It will incessantly be working on everything. So, that kind of mind of course is not our dualistic small mind. But the relationship between our mind and this mind is very close. You cannot separate.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 70-08-03 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.

Tassajara Stories by David Chadwick - Kirkus Reviews

First review of the forthcoming Tassajara Stories: A Sort of Memoir/Oral History of the First Zen Buddhist Monastery in the West―The First Year, 1967 by David Chadwick and it's by Kirkus Reviews! Here's what they concluded: “An engrossing account of the people and antics that defined the Tassajara monastery in 1967.”

• kirkusreviews.com
• amazon.com

Buddha Is There

Even in our dualistic thinking mind, bodhisattva mind will reflect like the moon on water. That is, you may say, inspiration for the future. Even in your confused mind, Buddha is there. Even in muddy, wavy water, the moon will be there.

Image generated by Google Gemini

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 70-08-03 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.