So-and-so Buddha

You may say it would be a great blessing if the weak animal could be killed at once and eaten quickly, rather than having to remain for a long time in pain and suffering. But suppose that the small animal is a Bodhisattva who is practicing his own way. What does he say? "Don't watch me. I am very serious. I am practicing my way with my whole mind and body. Go away. Don't watch me. This is my world. I have a teacher called So-and-so Buddha." ------------------------------------------------------------------ Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-24-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay, not just the super cool ones.

RIP Al Tribe

Al died on Monday of unknown cause. A fellow student of Shunryu Suzuki, a dear friend I've been in contact with occasionally for years, a supporter of Cuke Archives. My sympathies to Carol and Laurence and others in the family.

Al remembers Shunryu Suzuki

More on Al later. - dc

- thanks Judy Gilbert

Animal

In dokusan (sanzen or personal training) one student expressed her feelings about seeing an animal devouring another animal. She became very angry with the animal which was devouring the weaker one. If you did not see this, or do not see that side of things, it does not matter. It is someone else's problem. But once you do see it, it is your problem, not just the animal's problem, or just a problem of the animal world. As I listened to her I thought that there is her world as well as the animal's world, and that in each world there is a Buddha. For us there is Shakyamuni Buddha; for animals I don't know, but actually they practice so hard in their own way. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-24-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay, not just the super cool ones.

Conclusion of Concluding Statement after Shosan Ceremony first practice period Tassajara

And on this occasion especially Maezumi Sensei, Chino Sensei, Kats-zen (? Phillip), and especially Richard Baker who is in the position of Shuso. With all their effort and helped our practice. This is my gratitude indeed. I am very much grateful for you effort and all the students who joined our practice and encouraged our project at Tassajara. This is the most wonderful event, which we had and which you had first in America. I am very grateful for your effort. Thank you very much. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-24-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay, not just the super cool ones.

Adding link to video for prior post

11-27 - A local who calls himself Putu Hiking who guided Katrinka's son to the top of Mt. Agung a couple of years ago sent her this video he took yesterday.

Bali Report

Lot of folks asking about how we're faring in Bali. I haven't been putting personal stuff here for a while and I've been posting all that on my personal Facebook page at David Reich Chadwick but there are too many who choose to eschew the evil FB and I understand as I don't linger there. So here are my recent posts there.

11-27 - We live in Sanur, about 40 miles from the Mt. Agung volcano. There's not a big emphasis here in the local culture with thinking about the future so the main thing I hear is complaints that there aren't many tourists with account for 75% of the island's economy. We see posts on Facebook, see features on foreign media sites like NYT and BBC. We have friends among locals and foreigners who've been involved with helping refugees and we've stocked up on food and water in case of a shortage. Otherwise, back to daily life.

11-27 - A local who calls himself Putu Hiking who guided Katrinka's son to the top of Mt. Agung a couple of years ago sent her this video he took yesterday. He's not leaving and he's two kilometers further away than the six kilometer evacuation zone - less than five miles from the place where the smoke and magma come out. We've offered him and his family refuge here. Hope he doesn't need it.

11-27 -  I just talked to Nyoman about Agung. He's a driver and assistant whom I've used for over three years and see almost daily. I asked (in Indonesian) if people were talking about Agung. He at first had to think about what I was referring to then said, the mountain? Yeah, the volcano. Are people talking about it? Oh yeah it's smoking. I kept pushing him. And he said oh it's only the nearby six kilometers they're concenred about. It's not unusual. Wow. Not unusual? Hasn't been like this since 63. Meanwhile we've got a few extra rations and making extra drinking water with our filter.

Concluding Statement of Q and A Shosan Ceremony at end of first Practice Period

As I said this afternoon in my lecture, the second master of my temple in Japan was studying Zuigan's addressing his own name for six years it was not enough. After he found out the truth of addressing himself is addressing to the Buddha nature, addressing to our Shakyamuni Buddha, the true practice started in my temple. Sometimes many students, sometimes quite few students, but that practice incessantly continues so far. But his practice will continue forever and pervade whole world, whole universe, because this is the truth how everything exists in each world and each world without any contradiction or disturbance exists at the same time in the same way. As I believe in this truth, I am here now in Tassajara, and practicing our way with you. This is not Japanese way or --
American way, and Japanese way and American way. I don't mind which is which. May we continue this practice without any misunderstanding forever with all sentient beings. Thank you very much. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-24-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay, not just the super cool ones.

Something

Question 25 (Male): I want to say something, but I have nothing to say, still I am saying something.

SR: When you want to say something, when you are finding out what to say, there is--that is enough. Actually whatever you say, that will not be enough.

#25: That is my feeling. Thank you very much. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-24-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whSatever is next that seems okay, not just the super cool ones.

Absolute

Question 24: A definition, Roshi. I would like to answer your question before I ask mine. You say, Prajnaparamita, same as zazen and same as Buddha's bowl or Buddha's head. Emptiness is form, form is emptiness. Now I'd like to ask my question. If we live in suffering, for to live is to suffer, and we seek Buddha nature, or Buddhahood to end reincarnation of suffering, Buddha is emptiness, the Bodhisattva suffers just a little more. Why must we seek the absolute?

SR: Understanding what we seek for the absolute is opposite. Absolute reveal itself as form. When we try to seek for the absolute, that absolute is not true absolute because the absolute cannot be object of training--of practice. If it is object of our training, that is not absolute any more. So the only way, only approach to the absolute is through form. That is Bodhisattva. Through Bodhisattva's practice, the absolute will reveal itself, and absolute will be on the back of Bodhisattva. So Bodhisattva is form - although it is absolute, but when Bodhisattva act as Bodhisattva, he is also Buddha. So actually Bodhisattva and the Buddha is no different. But whenever we do something, that is form and that is Bodhisattva. That maybe some other Buddha. So there is no need to seek for it. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-24-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay, not just the super cool ones.

Karma

Question 23 (Male): As summer follows spring, and fall comes after, we see the wheel of karma turning within us, how can we come to know subjectively the Buddha's way of stopping that wheel?

SR: When you hear the sound of the river and sound of the falling leaves as a Buddha's sound, you can--you have already stopped your karma, subjectively and objectively, because originally the karma itself is Buddha's way. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-24-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay, not just the super cool ones.

Understand

Question 22 (Ed Brown): I don't understand what I have done.

SR: Because you want to understand, when you doing your kitchen practice -- why is it necessary to understand what you are doing? Buddha knows. At least I know, and people know. When you bow in zendo, when everything is ready, everyone knows. So find out what you are doing moment after moment, for instance, when you bow to me, when you bow to zendo, when you hear the bubbling sound of the rice. There you will find out yourself. That is call your name, address to yourself. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-24-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay, not just the super cool ones.

Mountain Top

Question 21 (Silas Hoadley): Docho Roshi, on the mountain-top, how would desire?

SR: On the mountain-top, where you can see everything, there should be no desire, but there is.

#21: How coming down?

SR: Coming down will be your desire. You cannot, you should not, you cannot stay even on top of mountain. That is not fair. So to come down is the most important practice actually. That is so-called form is emptiness and emptiness is form. Up and down, back and forth, while you are doing this, as if you are every week coming to Tassajara and going back to San Francisco. Back and forth, while you are doing your way, your practice will be matured enough. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-24-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay, not just the super cool ones.

Cause

Question 20 (Male): When my greed is not satisfied, anger arises. What is the real relationship between my anger and my greed?
SR: You think your anger comes from greed. That may not be so. Greed comes from the same thing. Anger also comes from that same thing. You should know the real cause of the greed and anger. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-24-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay, not just the super cool ones.

Help

Question 19 (Female): I have many relatives who are very old, and who fear death. Is there anything I can do to help them?
SR: The only way--there is no way to repay them for their kindness. There is no way. You cannot do that. But there is only one way for you. That is to practice our way with sound body and sound mind and to be happy with what you have and what you can do. That is the only way to repay their benevolence. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-24-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay, not just the super cool ones.

Wish

Question 18 (Male): May one always apply the absolute, rather than the intellectual, to existence, to his life?
SR: [Said in a kind of prayer fashion:] May all of us forget all about good and bad, and acknowledging their own position with each other. And may the perfect communication take place between them. Your wish comes from emptiness. My wish comes from various--each being. But may those two understandings get together to help with each other and attain our Buddha's way. That is my wish. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-24-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay, not just the super cool ones.

Use

Question 17 (male): If there is no beginning, no end, and no existence, what is the use of a question?
SR: To recall something which is unknown, to call back something unknown, to address Buddha. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-24-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay, not just the super cool ones.

How

Question 16 (Sheridan): In my practice, I find there is part of me that stubbornly doesn’t want to see or to realize my true nature. How can I work with resistance rather struggle against it in order to become a more sincere student?
SR: “How to” is the way. How to, how to, how to. That is continuity of ‘how to’ is Buddhism. Our way is nothing but that continuity of “how to, how to, how to.” Whatever scripture you read, what is written in it is how to help all sentient beings attain enlightenment and liberation, how to, how to, how to. You are one of the sentient beings and you’re trying to save them, save all sentient beings including yourself. That is how to, how to, how to. You see? “How to” is very valuable word. Actually it is not you trying hard to attain enlightenment. Buddha is trying to do so--how to, how to, how to. Like your mother, you know, trying to communicate with you: “How to communicate with you?” she may say. Same thing. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-24-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay, not just the super cool ones.

Question

Question 15 (Peter Schneider): Docho Roshi, do you have some question?
SR: Yes, I have question. Why are you so serious? (Silence, then Peter laughs, and then the whole assembly breaks into laughter.) If you start to laugh, that is all right.
Peter: I am deeply grateful. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-24-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay, not just the super cool ones.

Gem

Question 14 (Pat Herreshoff): Do we, each and everyone of us, have inside of us a wish granting gem, a magic jewel, that if you wish sincerely and deeply for something, this will help with our effort, and if so, how can this become significant in our practice?

SR: Whatever you have, that is actually gem. We shouldn’t expect it from outside. Then all the jewel you have, spiritually and mentally will serve its own purpose without destroying you. You shouldn’t expect from outside. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-24-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay, not just the super cool ones.

Cessation

Question 13 (male): What is meant by the statement: “Cessation of thought is the cause of thought”?
SR: What is quotation from?
#13: From your lecture this afternoon.
SR: I cannot figure out, I am sorry. This afternoon--what I meant was, incessant practice is necessary. Before autumn come, already autumn is here. You see? There is no gap between autumn and spring. So when summer come, before summer is over autumn is here. There is no gap between it. So is our practice. True practice has no gap between it. So one practice will be continued through and through forever.

Forced

Question 12 (Marian Derby): Great stress seems to have been made on sitting quietly, and yet Buddha gave up asceticism. I can’t reconcile the two, because there is so much pain in sitting quietly.
SR: Zazen practice is supposed to be the easiest way to practice our way or to understand our way. So you should practice it when you really want to, but for a while until your real way-seeking mind arise, you will be forced -zazen practice will be forced on you. Something which does not like to be forced on you is not the true way. True way at first looks like some morality, or something which was forced on you. This is quite usual, but it will not be so forever. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-24-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay, not just the super cool ones.

Overcome

Question 11: Why is self-centeredness so hard to overcome?
SR: Because you try to get rid of it. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-24-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay, not just the super cool ones.

Root

Question #10: How does one cut off consciousness at the root?
SR: There is no root for the consciousness. If you understand this, you already cut off the root of consciousness. All that you do, all the consciousness is--has no root. It is rooted, you should know that it is rooted, it is firmly rooted on Buddha nature. Again form is emptiness, and emptiness is form. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-24-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay, not just the super cool ones.

A musical offering

Karan Bindra has a nice presentation of a favorite Shunryu Suzuki quote of his here on Youtube. - thanks Peter Ford

RIP Del Carlson

Del died peacefully at 7:55 am on this day, November 7th in Florida where he's been living for some years now. He would have been 94 in December. Got the word from his close friend Eric Kaljo Roos here in Bali. Del's niece Nancy will save some ashes to be sprinkled on rice fields near Eric's home here in Bali where Del visited about ten years ago.

Del Carlson cuke page

That's a recent photo of Del when he was in the hospital for a while.

Difference

Question 9 (Mike Dixon): What is the difference between sesshin and everyday life? This is a useless question.
SR: Of course sesshin is everyday life; everyday life is sesshin. Although, the way is different, but that is the different expression of our practice. Again form is emptiness and emptiness is form. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-24-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay, not just the super cool ones.

who?

Question 8 (female): Where does the need come from to bow to Buddha, and who is Buddha when we bow?SR: When you bow, who Buddha? When you bow, you are the Buddha. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-24-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay, not just the super cool ones.

Leave

Question 7 (male): When many of us leave here and leave your sticks and your lectures, it will be difficult to continue good zazen. You suggested one method of calling our name or finger. The question is: since there is no subject who is doing zazen, who is calling and who is being called?
SR: When you call your name, you will immediately--you will immediately feel yourself. When you feel yourself, that is--you feel the Shakyamuni Buddha’s voice. Form is emptiness, and emptiness is form. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-24-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay, not just the super cool ones.

Drive

Question 6 (male): One hears so often in Zen about doing what one must do rather than what one wants to do. Is it possible to know what one must do before one has the desire to do it.
SR: Your teacher will put you in that circumstance. Follow our way. At first you think you are following the way, but soon you will drive the way. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-24-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay, not just the super cool ones.

Wider

Question 5 (female): Why is it necessary to have some kind of unusual experience in order to practice Buddhism?SR: To open up your mind wider and wider. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-24-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay, not just the super cool ones.

Jeanne DiPrima

On Shunryu Suzuki

Mantra

Question 4 (Tim Burkett): Using the mantra you gave me, I broke through one dam of spiritual tension. Should I continue using this mantra to break further dams?
SR: As long as you are devoted single heartedly to your attainment, you can use that mantra. You cannot use it for other purpose.
#4: I am deeply grateful. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-24-B as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Many Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. Going slowly through Suzuki transcripts featuring whatever is next that seems okay, not just the super cool ones.

Stephen Gaskin

Just updated Stephen Gaskin's cuke page.