Completely Concentrated

When we are not afraid of anything, that will be imperturbability. And when effort is understood to the point of simplicity, there is no need to make effort in various directions. The only way is just to be yourself at each moment. Our only way is to be concentrated completely on what we do.	"MUDRA" BY John Gruenwald
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-04-20 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Big Mind

back cover of original Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind	It is to be more—we say “soft mind.” At the same time, it is big mind because we do not stick to anything. We do not see things objectively as something good or bad, or strong or weak because we are strong enough to accept things as it is. So, for us who have big mind there is no need to be afraid of anything. But we do not ignore anything. That is strictness of the way.
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-04-20 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Featured Cuke Archives page

DC on Visiting - David Chadwick on keeping in touch with those who are ill or isolated. Visiting my monk friend. Visiting a Japanese neighbor now in a convalescent clinic, a touching experience. Visiting Katrinka on the way home and sharing her birthday cake. Chatting with ChaptGPT. Listen to the podcast here.

Continuous

Continuous practice is necessary. And we should not rest. We should continue practice, if possible, without trying to continue it. Just to have generous mind and big mind and soft mind is how to continue our way. And we should always be flexible. We should not stick to anything.

Zenkei Blanche Hartman

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-04-20 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Not So Easy To Be Natural

For me to be here right now is naturalness. And to wear a robe is naturalness. And to shave my head is naturalness, as a priest [laughs]. We should practice in this way, and we should remember this. It is not so easy [laughs] to be natural. Not so easy.

Ordination of Dan Welch and Peter Schneider at City Center, May 1970

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-04-20 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Naturalness

We say, “be yourself” to be natural. If you say, “This is the way to be natural,” that is not natural [taps table]. Only when you are you in its true sense, in this moment, at this place, that is naturalness. So, there will not be any particular way to be natural.

from a page of Crooked Cucumber

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-04-20 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Enlightenment Before Enlightenment

That is how we practice zazen before attaining enlightenment. Actually, enlightenment will be there only before you attain enlightenment, or just before [laughs]. If you say, “I attained enlightenment,” it is too late to say it [laughs, laughter]. You should say it before the smallest particle of time imaginable, if you want to say it. But if you cannot say it, maybe better to be silent. Better not to say anything.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-04-20 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Everything

One practice includes various virtues, and one feeling of practice will result in various feelings like waves on the sea. So, we say, “One practice covers everything”—various virtues. And when you practice in that way, you may be a piece of stone, you may be a tree, you may be a star, you may be an ocean. So, you cover everything.

Image from A Flora of Tassajara by David Rogers

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-04-20 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Various Feelings

Sometimes you will have pity on someone who is involved in wrong practice. And sometimes you will laugh at yourself, when you fall into wrong practice. You will tease yourself: “What are you doing?” You will have various feelings. All the real compassion, real love, true encouragement, and true courage will arise from here. You will not only be a courageous person but also a very kind person when you understand yourself in that way.

Fall, 1967 - Oldest Group Photo at Tassajara

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-04-20 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

With Guest Susan Ross

Susan Ross is an illustrator and artist who worked on Be Here Now. In this podcast she takes us from her native Ohio to Smith College to Woodstock to New Mexico, to Shunryu Suzuki's funeral with Gary Snyder and David Padwa, to Colorado studying with Trungpa Rinpoche. She's in Mexico now still being an artist, practicing Tibetan Buddhism, and working on turtle rescue. Her website is susanrosscreative.com.