Issan

 Ken Ireland sends Issan's Jesus koan. That's Issan Tommy Dorsey. Thanks Ken.

Ken's cuke page

Fussy

If you become too fussy about things, you know, you will lose your practice.      --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-16 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. 

Following from yesterday

So in our monastic life, you should be able to do whatever it is. Whoever it is, your teacher is teacher, you know. That is the only way to get rid of your selfish practice. You should forget all about why or how, even [laughs.] You should do it--whether it is creative activity or imitation. It doesn't matter.     --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-16 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. 

Pam Chernoff

Pam Chernoff was a student at the SFZC while Shunryu Suzuki was the abbot. She died in 1996. I see An old friend of hers would like to know more about her from those days. Does anyone remember anything? If so please write me at dchad @ cuke dot com. Thanks - DC

The only mention I see of her on cuke.com is nine mentions in the Tassajara 25 Year Book.

Sound

  In your zazen, every sound that comes, you do not think about. You do not discriminate. You just hear it.       --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-16 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. 

Taigen on Taihaku Priest and Tanaka Shinkai

Rev. Taihaku Priest/ Tanaka Shinkai Roshi by Taigen Dan Leighton

Advice to Zen students living in the spiritual community

So in short, the best way is to get up when people get up, to eat whatever it is your friends eat, to sleep where they sleep, to behave, you know, like other students behave, without any reason. [Laughs.] That is the best way. That is shikantaza in everyday life. If you are not able to do that, you don't know what is zazen.        --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-16 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. 

A Review

Check out the Publisher's Weekly review of the upcoming Zen is Right Now, sequel to Zen is Right Here. 

Wooden Teacher

When you have selfish practice, you stick to something, you know, which you can see, which you can understand. And when you stick to something which you can understand, you will forget all about what is supporting the understanding, the color you see or the beautiful shape it has. So instead of being one with the flower, your friend, or your teacher, you will stick to, you will be caught by your teacher, the flower you see, the friend you have, without having a direct intimate relationship. You will make some barrier between you and what you will see is dead flower or wooden teacher.         --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-16 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. 

RIP Taihaku Priest

Dear Sangha and Friends, It is with great sadness that I report that our dearly beloved teacher and abbot, Rev. Taihaku, passed away early this morning, May 24th, unexpectedly in the night of a heart attack. She often said that death is like “jumping into a ginger ale pool” – her joyful effervescence extending even beyond this life.  Final arrangements are being determined in conjunction with her family and the Soto Zen Order. May we together support her vision for Shao Shan Temple to be a flowering of the Dharma for the next 700 years. With immense gratitude for her life, teachings, and founding of Shao Shan Temple, In the Dharma, Kenzan Reverend Taihaku Seiren Priest trained at Hokyoji in Japan, and received Dharma Transmission from Tanaka-Shinkai

Shao Shan Temple

125 Cranberry Meadow Rd.

East Calais, VT  05650

Josho Pat Phelan wrote: Taihaku was Jeff Broadbent's first wife. The day I moved into the SFZC, Suzuki Roshi was performing their wedding.

Strict

 As long as you are seeking for something, some truth, or some way, or some understanding from outside, you will not find out what it is. Only when you are strict with yourself you will find out what is needed for you.         --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-16 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. 

Branching Streams

Here's the SFZC's Branching Streams site. Tova Green coordinates Branching Streams and she says there are 75 affiliate groups listed. That's quite a list. It sure has grown. I wonder about Shunryu Suzuki related groups not in Branching Streams and would like a list of them. Also how about a list of groups that former Suzuki era folks are in that aren't Zen, Various things come to mind. I've no time for it now but it would be neat to make a bigger map. - dc

Just Sit

So before you have this kind of struggle, you may wonder why we say you have to sit without any gaining idea. After you try various way to be free from selfish idea, then I think you will find yourself in the position where you can sit-- just sit.         --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-16 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. 

Louise Pryor Remembers

I went with Roshi to one of the stone rooms where Govinda was staying.  What I remember about that visit that was so striking for me is that during the visit Suzuki Roshi said to Lama Govinda, “Can you please tell me the cause of suffering?”  I was struck because someone of Roshi’s stature and position would ask a question like that, the most basic, important question.  Was it an expression of respect between teachers, an expression of humility, someone still asking the most important question?

Louise Pryor cuke page

Without Gaining Idea

[Referring to Pure Land Buddhism and Zen] So it is not matter of what you say or how you, even, behave. When you reach this point, you will find out the real practice of repeating Amida Buddha's name or practicing zazen. There is no other way than to repeat Amida-- just repeat Amida Buddha's name without any reason. There is no other way to sit, you know, without any gaining idea.        --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-16 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. 

Negative Arrogance

When arrogance is positive, it is easy to find out. But negative arrogance is rather difficult to see or to know. Negative arrogance is the arrogance when you say, “No, I cannot do that,”        --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-16 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. 

Mohawk Drums Along the Hudson

Kamala Cesar Buckner, a student of Shunryu Suzuki and dance, asks us to enjoy her Mohawk tribe in Drums Along the Hudson 2021 Virtual Benefit sponsored by her Lotus Music and Dance, a multicultural journey in the performing arts. 

Drums Along the Hudson, Sunday June 6th, 2021 from 11am to 6pm at Inwood Hill Park

Kamala's cuke page

Attitude

And because selflessness is difficult, you want some guidance or teacher. Maybe when you have good teacher and when you are practicing with good teacher, you will be naturally not so selfish. Why our teacher is so hard on us is because of our selfish attitude.       --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-16 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. 

Reloading previous post with link that works

  Jack and Ceci offer five ways to practice self kindness and not compulsively bum oneself out.

link was bad - just fixed it - my fault - didn't check it. Was tired. Mohon ma'af. dc

Jack Elias Cuke page

Self Kindness

 Jack and Ceci offer five ways to practice self kindness and not compulsively bum oneself out.

link was bad - just fixed it

Jack Elias Cuke page

Difficult

This selflessness is very difficult to understand. If you try to be selfless, that is already selfish idea. [Laughs.] We don't know what to do--how to cope with it. Perhaps you may have tried various ways, but selflessness is not something which you can try, you know. It should be there when you do not try anything. Selflessness is not something which you can be aware of. But for us it is necessary to know how difficult it is.       --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-16 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. 

Based On

 Our practice should be based on the idea of selflessness.       --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-16 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. 

Tassajara as featured in Be Here Now

 Tassajara in Be Here Now (titled Zen Center) published 1971.

Link posted in Early Papers and Print.

thanks Ted Howell

See text in Ram Dass page

Said at the conclusion of every lecture

  Thank you very much.

       --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-15 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. 

Jeff Broadbent event

Jeff wrote recently: The sociology department [U of Minnesota] had a nice zoom retirement event for me.  I talked about my climate change project and four people involved in it also made comments. 

Jeff Broadbent's Recognition Event

Jeff's cuke page

Mutants

Student H: In zazen, if the cushion before your eyes begins to glow, or you see the bodhisattvas blinking their eyes, or the people on each side of you seem to be mutants, what is happening?

SR: What is happening? Maybe that is a good experience. But sometime, you know, it is because of your bad breathing exercise. If it is healthy, you know, good experience for you, of course that is very good. But sometime, you know, it is just some created idea because of your unhealthy practice. What I mean is it is not always good, you know.

Student H: Well, one feels very peaceful when one sees this.

SR: Mm-hmm

Student H: Then perhaps it's good.

SR: Yeah.

Student H: But if, for instance, there's a feeling of a strong weight on the head--

SR: Yeah.

Student H: Then that's unpleasant.

SR: Yeah.

Student H: And one doesn't know what to do.

SR: Yeah. That is because your breathing is not so good. But even if it is good, you shouldn't stick to it,         --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-15 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. 

Continuing his answer from yesterday

Our sangha is a small world itself or society itself. We will learn many things. So for us it is necessary to know or to understand why we have rules. You should know why we have rules and why you have to say something to others. So actually, there are no rules. But [laughs], the rules are good devices.       --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-15 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. 

SR on Wikipedia

 I asked Kokyo where the latest version of his Shunryu Suzuki lineage was and he said on the Shunryu Suzuki Wikipedia page. So it's there. Nice of him to do that. Anyone see any omissions? I do. Suzuki had three dharma heirs not two. There's Richard Baker and Hoitsu Suzuki but he also gave transmission to Shoko Okamoto at his prior temple, Zounin - so that Shoko could pass the temple on to his dharma heir. This was done in accordance with Shoko's father Kendo who became the abbot there when Suzuki decided to concentrate on Rinsoin alone. And maybe Hoitsu has other dharma heirs - like his son Shungo. I'll write Shungo.

The page says there's no attribution but lots of the material on it obviously comes from Crooked Cucumber. I should go over it. I'd definitely change what it says about Suzuki and the war. I like to leave what others wrote and add a note sometimes. - dc

Sides

Student G: Roshi, you said not to get stuck or caught by some particular idea. But it seems like many ideas have two sides. ,,, Even though the other side may help you, still, you know, still you're caught.

SR: Yeah. If you know that point, you know-- it is necessary to know-- to understand that much. Without understanding it, if you push one way always-- one side always, that will be awful. So at least we should know both sides. Then the rules we have will help us. But because we don't know the other side, rules don't help at all-- makes us worse.       --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-15 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. 

Sandy Hollister

Shunryu Suzuki student Sandy Hollister died last month - as posted a few days ago. Here she is around 1970 making a rakusu in the Buddha Hall at the City Center. That's Fran Keller behind her.

Sandy Hollister cuke page

No Ice Cream

Student F: How do you, in your daily life keep a healthy mind from not expecting when some people, without knowing it, want you to get into expecting it with them?

SR: Yeah. If you don't know the nature of suffering, you know, you will suffer more. But if you know why you suffer, then you think, “I expect too much,” you know. “There is no ice cream here,” [laughs] so I shouldn't think about ice cream. That there is no ice cream is already not so good. But if you expect it, if you want [laughs, laughter] to have it, you make yourself worse [laughs, laughter]. So by not expecting it when you can't have it, you will be relieved from a lot of suffering.      --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-15 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. 

Cuke Archives on Instagram

 Thanks to Katrinka's urging and Peter Ford's persistence, we now have 

https://www.instagram.com/cuke_archives/

with a daily Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpt or quote that is different from what's on Cuke What's New Blogger.

Suffering

Student E: Roshi, why do people suffer?

SR: Suffer? Yeah. Suffering means, you know, spiritual suffering especially or physical suffering too. When you expect something, you have already suffering, because actually things doesn't go as you expect. So there is suffering already. When you are ill, if you do not try too much to get well, it is pretty good. It is not so bad. But if you try to get well too much, that is suffering. So when you are ill, you should accept it. “Oh, I am not so well [laughs]. Maybe someday I shall be all right.” Then you have not much suffering. So, you know, when you expect something, we have already suffering. And that expectation is not realistic enough, usually.              --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-15 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. 

Peter van der Sterre on Jay simoneaux

Peter van der Sterre included his thoughts on Jay Simoneaux and Jay's recent passing in an Everyday Zen talk. It's on a cuke page for Jay at http://www.cuke.com/people/simoneaux-jay.htm#peter

Deep Breathing

Student D: In the beginning of my practice of zazen it was suggested that I count my breaths. Are there other methods I could use? Should I just experiment around with different ways.

SR: Yeah. For instance, maybe, you know-- usually our breathing is very shallow. If you do shallow breathing always, you know, it create problem. So I say take deeper breaths. You should try to make your breathing deeper. Hai.             --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-15 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. 

Happy Mother's Day

 

RIP Sandy Hollister

Just learned that Sandy died on April 7th of cancer.

Cuke page for Sandy Hollister <http://www.cuke.com/people/hollister-sandy.htm>

Sandy began sitting at SF Zen Center in 1967 and later got involved with Gengo Akiba and Yoshi's Oakland Zen Center

Gya te gya te...

Whatever

 SR: Hai.

Student C: Do you think it's important to continue practice even when we're not feeling well? When we're ill?

SR: Sometime it may be better to sit even though you are ill. But sometime you cannot, you know. Or sometime it may be better not to take formal posture. But you can sit-- not sit, but you can practice our way whatever the situation is. Even though you are lying in bed, you can practice zazen-- not zazen but-- we can practice our way.             --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-15 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. 

Link Disappeared again

The link to Tano Maeda's Buddhist Film Channel disappeared just like the prior link did. I thought if I checked it after posting that would do it but I did check and it was good. But today it was gone. Or maybe this is a complex senior moment. Anyway - I updated it with a hot link and checked it and added the URL https://buddhistfilmchannel.com/ and I'm going to start doing that so that when this happens there will be some recourse for the frustrated visitor. 

The Buddhist Film Channel

The Buddhist Film Channel - Gaetano Kazuo Maeda's decades long endeavor. https://buddhistfilmchannel.com/

Here's his Facebook page

Between

When you are enslaved by something, what you are doing is not pure enough--realistic enough. Something is between you and what you're doing: rules or idea or idea of self, you know. “I am doing something.” ”I am doing something” means I am enslaved by “me,” ideal “me.” So, you know, we should be more realistic. Do you understand? What I want to say -- [Sentence not finished. Tape turned over.]             --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-15 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. 

DC comment: Some tape operators would note down what Suzuki said in the gap when the tape was turned over. They will be rewarded in the afterlife. Woe to this one.

Link Fixed

The prior post on the Jay Simoneaux (RIP) dharma talk now has a link to the talk. Darn Blogger - got to check them each time cause they can disappear when uploading. Thanks for the heads up A.M. - dc 

Jay Simoneaux

Here's a dharma talk by Jay on the Everyday Zen site

Here's another long ago photo of Jay in the center with Issan Tommy Dorsey on the right and Jed Linde on the left I think.

Good Relation

We are doing something always in relation to something else. But we should not be enslaved by it. There is difference, you know: to be enslaved by it and to have a good relationship.             --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-15 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. 

Enslaved

Student B: What do you mean, “We should not lose ourselves?”

SR: “Lose yourself” means you should not stick to something--some rules or some idea. You should be more realistic [laughs]. Do you understand? Lose yourself-- lose--”to lose” means to stick to something, to be enslaved by something.            --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-15 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. 

Jay Simoneaux in Memoriam

from Everyday Zen 

In Memoriam   Jay Simoneaux Elder Rinsho, Unfolding Compassion

Dear Everyday Zen Sangha, Jay Simoneaux has made his final ascent. At the center of his families and many circles of friends, he passed from this life Sunday, May 2, at 7:30 pm in the home he created with his wife and life partner, Judy Avery and extended family. High country explorer and guide, he shared with us a lifetime love of discovered trails and Sierra granite. Craftsman, lover and abiding student of the Buddha way, the scale of his gifts and wide reach was matched by the depth of his loss through Parkinson's disease. Through practice and pain, his heart was scoured and opened to us all at each creative stage. His life will continue to sustain and inspire us. Peter van der Sterre

Peter and Chris will lead us in a memorial service for Jay at Dharma Seminar on Wednesday evening. Norman will officiate at a Zoom memorial at a later date (to be determined).

Elder Rinsho Unfolding Compassion Jay received Shukke Tokudo, priest ordination, from Richard Baker Roshi at San Francisco Zen Center, 1977. He practiced with Everyday Zen for many years and served as Shuso for the Fall Practice Period, October 2009. He received Shiho, Dharma Transmission, from Zoketsu Norman Fischer in March 2012. His kind and gentle way was loved by all.

Cards can be sent to Jay's wife and life partner, Judy Avery, and the extended family at: 459 17th Ave San Francisco, CA 94121 You may wish to chant the Heart of Great Perfect Wisdom Sutra for Jay with the following dedication:   May we awaken Buddha’s compassion and luminous mirror wisdom, chanting the Heart of Great Perfect Wisdom Sutra, we dedicate the merit for the safe passage of our dear sangha brother, Jay Simoneaux, Elder Rinsho, Unfolding Compassion, and for the wellbeing of his grieving friends and family members. May he be free from suffering and born into peaceful nurturing, and may we all together attain Buddha’s way.

Unusual Example of Failure

If you fail to serve tea, you should think why, without making some excuse. You failed anyway, you know. So what you should do not to fail again? There is no rules but to be aware of what you are doing. Do you understand?            --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-15 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. 

Tap tap tap

So you should not attach to it, or you should not be bothered by it, or you should not be satisfied with it, whatever it is, or you should not try to avoid it because it is there [taps several times]. So you should think-- or you should be aware of that, you know, problem and why you have that problem [taps several times]-- that kind of problem.           --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-15 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. 

RIP Jay Simoneaux

Dear Zen brother Jay Simoneaux died at 7:30 PM Sunday, May 2nd. What a great guy he was. Condolences to Judy.

Mike Dixon's portraits

Michael Wenger suggested Mike Dixon send his portraits of "old Zen guys" to Cuke for immortalization which I see is actually a real word. Now they're on Willard Make Dixon's cuke page and next they'll be on the pages of the honored subjects.  The other subjects' portraits--Shunryu Suzuki, Mel Weitsman, Ed Brown, and Dan Welch--have each been featured on What's New recently. That leaves only yours truly which is featured today. I blush. - DC

Enough

That you have problem means you have not yet [taps five times with stick-- once for each of previous five words], you know, surrendered enough. [Taps several times.]          --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture - 69-03-15 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching.