Wind Bell presentation upgrade

All the Wind Bells of the SFZC have been available on cuke.com with many excerpts and all of Suzuki Roshi's lectures from the linked to from one page. They're presented with searchable PDFs and there has been a Contents page but it only listed the major stuff and what the Wind Bells listed in contents But now they are getting indexed with a thorough contents listing and a link from each listing to the article or item. 1966 through 1978 is done. The rest will be added little by little. See the Wind Bell Search page. - thanks Peter Ford for this amazing job. 

Thank you

Student DD: Docho Roshi, thank you for coming to the United States. Thank you for bringing us your teaching. And thank you for showing me this new life and our way. Thank you very much.

SR: Thank you. 

 --------------------------------------------------  " Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki shosan ceremony - 67-12-07 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC

Pass

Student CC: Docho Roshi, snow is piled deep in the mountain pass making it nearly impenetrable. How do we pass from here?

SR: If you want to pass, you can. There is no difficulty in passing through. Is there any difficulty? I don't think so.

 --------------------------------------------------  " Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki shosan ceremony - 67-12-07 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC

Thoughts

Student BB: Docho Roshi, to do it all in the present moment, and to be totally involved in the present moment, and yet it seems so impossible with so much feeling and so many thoughts. It seems so impossible.

SR: Too many thoughts is all right. That is not the point. The point is to be concerned about too many thought or no thought. All thought-- all the thought you have is one thought or no thought. I am not saying to stop your activity. I am not counting how many thought you have. All the thought you have is originally one thought. If it is one thought, that is no thought.

Student BB: Thank you very much.

SR: So don't be concerned about the thought you have. Don't be bothered by it. You should think. To think is all right, but to be bothered by it or to discriminate good thought or bad thought is bad.

 --------------------------------------------------  " Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki shosan ceremony - 67-12-07 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC

Not Answered?

Student AA: Docho Roshi, there is no question that is not answered before it is asked. Have I spoken truly?

SR: Excuse me, I couldn't follow you.

Student AA: There is no question that is not answered--

SR: That is not answered.

Student AA: -- before it is asked.

SR: Mm-hmm. Every questions is answered when you ask question already.

Student AA: Thank you very much.

 --------------------------------------------------  " Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki shosan ceremony - 67-12-07 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC

Rob Gove

A page for Rob Gove, an old student who does marvelous sculpture.

Instant?

Student Z: Docho Roshi, automobile go to San Francisco, jet plane to New York, rockets to the moon. Where does instant mind go when it's not here?

SR: Instant?

Student Z: Instant mind.

SR: Inst- -- ?

Student Z: Where does the mind go--

SR: When?

Student Z: -- when it's not here?

SR: Mind does not go or come back. Mind is always here.

Student Z: Thank you very much.

SR: The mind which [goes] wandering about is not true mind.

 --------------------------------------------------  " Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki shosan ceremony - 67-12-07 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC

Serve?

Student Y: Docho Roshi, you have told me at first I must serve in calmness.

SR: Serve?

Student Y: Serve in calmness others.

SR: Mm-hmm.

Student Y: Is the boss that is illumined by the mind['s] calmness only a small boss?

SR: There is actually no small or big boss. When you call any boss, that is your boss. Because you think this is big boss or great boss, your practice is not any more true practice. Don't be involved in good or bad, high or low. Just do what you should do at that moment.  --------------------------------------------------  " Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki shosan ceremony - 67-12-07 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC

Right and Wrong wrong

Student X (Ed Brown): Docho Roshi, I have many questions. But they seem to come and go, and they don't seem very important. And everyone seems to have worked very hard during sesshin.

SR: The question is not-- should not be about whether it is right or wrong. Right now, the most important thing is to find what is the most important thing. Still, your question is directed to wrong direction. You are asking yourself for others, which is not important. The most important thing is to find-- to be involved in what you do-- what you are doing now, without thinking “good” or “bad.” Stop asking-- stop thinking, and devote yourself to your kitchen work. Whatever people say, or whatever you yourself say, you should not be concerned about it.  --------------------------------------------------  " Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki shosan ceremony - 67-12-07 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC

Necessary

Student W: Docho Roshi, is it necessary-- words, questions, or even thinking?

SR: For you it may not be necessary. Continue your practice.

Student W: Thank you very much.

[Long pause.]

SR: I know what you mean. Go and rest. Go and rest.

 --------------------------------------------------  " Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki shosan ceremony - 67-12-07 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC

Ponder

Student V: Docho Roshi, should we think or ponder about our problems or anything?

SR: Yes you should. But if you want to think in its true sense, you should resume to the area where you do not think. That is pure practice.

Student V: Thank you very much.

SR: Your thinking should not be based on unreal foundation.

 --------------------------------------------------  " Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki shosan ceremony - 67-12-07 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC

Outside

Student U: Docho Roshi, we can succeed in directing our effort inside. How can there be anything outside our effort?

SR: There is no inside or outside. We say our effort should be directed towards inside, but why we say is to suggest to you the direction. One arrow will get through past, present, and future: the three worlds. And the arrow will continuously go forward. Don't think the arrow is always going outward. To go outward, one thousand miles means going back one thousand miles. So don't think there is outside or inside in our practice.

 --------------------------------------------------  " Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki shosan ceremony - 67-12-07 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC

Save Self

Student T: Docho Roshi: When a person has saved himself or herself, has that person also saved the world?
SR: Yes. Whole universe will be saved. If it is not so, he did not save himself or save others.

 --------------------------------------------------  " Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki shosan ceremony - 67-12-07 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC

Great Sages

Student S: Docho Roshi, what is it that the great sages have said speaks when you are silent, yet is silent when you speak?

SR: Great sages always, incessantly are giving teaching, not only through his mouth, but also by his blinks of eyes, walking, sitting, lying down. Always he is showing the truth.

 --------------------------------------------------  " Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki shosan ceremony - 67-12-07 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC

No and Yes

Student R: No beginning, no end. No teacher, no student. No and yes. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, no, yes, yes, no, no, yes, yes, yes, no.

SR: That's right. 

Student R: Thank you very much.


SR: Don't forget you said “yes.” Do not forget that you said “yes” with “no.”

 --------------------------------------------------  " Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki shosan ceremony - 67-12-07 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC

Cause

Student Q: Docho Roshi, what is the fundamental cause of the universe? 

SR: Cause of youness?

Student Q: Universe.

SR: Hmm?

Student Q: Universe.

SR: Universe. Ah, we do not discuss about it because there is no beginning or no end for the universe.

Student Q: Thank you very much.

DC Comment: What he means here is not that the particular physical universe has no beginning or end, but that there will always be samsara, form of some sort.

 ---------------------------------------------  " Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki shosan ceremony - 67-12-07 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC

Home

Student P: Docho Roshi, how or why has this come about that we can feel that we have lost our home and make the journey-- what we think is a journey to return to it? How-- why-- why is this? 

SR: Your feeling is opposite. You think you started your journey from home, but real home is here. Don't go wandering about to various countries.

Student P: I understand that, but I wonder why it is that we do that?

SR: Because you feel you started your journey from your home, which is not true home. It was not true home.

Student P: Thank you very much.

SR: You must feel as if you came back to your home right now. 

DC comment: Here's another traditional approach, that of the home-leaver. That was reserved for monks, But one's true home include's one's home with family.

 --------------------------------------------------  " Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki shosan ceremony - 67-12-07 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC

Dependency

Student O: Docho Roshi, as I accept you as my teacher more and more, I find more and more a growing dependency on you in that role, and I'm afraid of this. What can I do about it?

SR: There is no need to be afraid of being a part of me. Don't be afraid of me, and try to study hard.

Student O: But what happens if something happens to you, and you can't be our teacher any more?

SR: That cannot be happen. I am always with you forever. 

DC comment: This is the 2nd time in this shosan ceremony that Suzuki has said this sort of thing. It's a common way that spiritual teachers express themselves but not very common in Zen. Here, when he says "I," he's referring to the absolute and not to the person who is born and dies, or, to use his terminology, to big mind. This approach is reassuring and I think it's true, that what's real about him is the unborn, but it also seems to me to be conducive to misinterpretation, thinking that some being who's called Suzuki now will stay with you forever. Jesus in the Bible used that approach as in, "I am the way, the truth, and the light, and it was turned into deifying him as an individual by the vast majority of Christians, though I was fortunate to be raised on New Thought Christianity which is among a number of approaches that didn't do that.

 --------------------------------------------------  " Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki shosan ceremony - 67-12-07 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC

Save

Student N: Docho Roshi, why did you and why did all the buddhas and patriarch try to teach and save others?

SR: Try to teach what?

Student N: Why did they teach and try to save others?

SR: Save others. Because all of them are part of them.

[DC note: Hmm. Maybe need to go back to the audio and see if maybe he said something else. See if you can find it.]

 --------------------------------------------------  " Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki shosan ceremony - 67-12-07 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC

Off for a while

I'm off to a Vipassana retreat at Brahmavihara Arama (BVA) in Singaraja regency. It's led by a nun, bhikkhuni we say here but she uses ayya instead. Ayya Santini. She's from Java and was ordained at BVA by the founder, Girirakkhito, from Bali. Here's an article on her and here's an interview: Reviving the Bhikkhuni Sangha in Indonesia. She's somewhat controversial because she's taking a lead where women are supposed to just follow. The other three Vipassana retreats I've done at BVA have been led by monks from Myanmar. And all practice a type of Vipassana meditation like the temple's founder that is compatible with zazen, emphasizing the hara though they don't use that word. 

Take care. DC

Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts will continue daily except Sunday.

Question

Student M: Docho Roshi, how can I stop to ask a question?


SR: Originally there is no need to ask a question. Your active mind bring about many questions. So the point is to practice our pure way. Then at least at that time you have no question.


 --------------------------------------------------  " Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki shosan ceremony - 67-12-07 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC

Silent

Student L: Docho Roshi, when we are silent, what is the question?

SR: There is no question when you are silent, but when you are in activity, you will have innumerable questions. But questions should be answered on each moment-- in each moment.


 --------------------------------------------------  " Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki shosan ceremony - 67-12-07 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC

Devotion

Student K: Docho Roshi, is there only one act of devotion?

SR: Excuse me? There is only-- I couldn't follow you.

Student K: Is there only one act of devotion?

SR: After devotion, devotion itself only one. And devotional life will be continued one after another incessantly.


 --------------------------------------------------  " Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki shosan ceremony - 67-12-07 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC

Fear again

Student J: Docho Roshi, how is it possible to lose the fear of no nose, no mouth, no eyes, no world of eyes?
SR: Fear comes from your ego. So the way is to open up your mind so that there is no more ego.


 --------------------------------------------------  " Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki shosan ceremony - 67-12-07 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC

Questions

Student X (Ed Brown): Docho Roshi, I have many questions. But they seem to come and go, and they don't seem very important. And everyone seems to have worked very hard during sesshin.
SR: The question should not be about whether it is right or wrong. Right now, the most important thing is to find what is the most important thing. Still, your question is directed to wrong direction. You are asking yourself for others, which is not important. The most important thing is to be involved in what you do-- what you are doing now, without thinking “good” or “bad.” Stop asking-- stop thinking, and devote yourself to your kitchen work. Whatever people say, or whatever you yourself say, you should not be concerned about it.

 --------------------------------------------------  " Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki shosan ceremony - 67-12-07 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC

Afraid

Student I: Docho Roshi, I'm afraid to ask you a question. Why?

SR: Because you see me as your teacher always. 

Student I: Thank you very much.

SR: Open your eyes and listen to me more.



 --------------------------------------------------  " Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki shosan ceremony - 67-12-07 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC

On Jack Weller

A piece Laura Burges wrote on Jack for the SFZC to post before he gave his talk there in October. But she gave it to Jack to look over and he never got back to her about it. Now it will be on the SFZC's Great Leap page though maybe in a different form. It's Edited by Mary Watson, David Chadwick, Andrew Main

Nothing

Student H: Docho Roshi, after four months' training and seven-day sesshin, what am I doing here?

SR: You are doing nothing.

Student H: Thank you very much.

 --------------------------------------------------  They all say "Thank you very much." Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki shosan ceremony - 67-12-07 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC

Location

Student G: Docho Roshi, what place is this?

SR: What place is this?

Student G: Yes.

SR: This is Tassajara zendo.  -------------------------------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki shosan ceremony - 67-12-07 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC

Overcome

Student F: Docho Roshi, in our practice should we try to overcome our weakness or should we try to work through it?

SR: Why should you overcome? You should try to overcome when there is no big mind or no small mind. -------------------------------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki shosan ceremony - 67-12-07 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC

Happy New Year!

2019!!! May you be happy, healthy, free from harm, love life, and awaken every minute of the coming year but not excluding the years to follow. 

Home

Student E: Docho Roshi, I have two questions. Where is home? What is true strength?
SR: When you start wondering about there is no home, there is no strength. But if you find your home in this moment at this place, you have enough strength to practice our way. And home is right here. -------------------------------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki shosan ceremony - 67-12-07 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC