Reflect on Ourselves

Without being strict with ourselves, we cannot do anything because that will be the wrong practice. So, first of all we should reflect on our practice. And before we say something, we should reflect on ourselves. This is a very, very important point. You should not rely on some teaching, but you should reflect on yourself, and polish yourself, and get rid of selfish ideas as much as you can, even if you have attained a wonderful enlightenment. If you forget to polish yourself, that enlightenment will not work. That is not real enlightenment.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-04-08 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Featured Cuke Archives page

Bill Porter is a translator and interpreter of Chinese Buddhist and Taoist poetry and texts, with books on Chinese hermits and travel. His pen name is Red Pine. Listen to our encore podcast and read more about him.

Help Hozan Alan Senauke

Hozan Alan Senauke's GoFundMe page toward essential home care.

Alan Senauke's Caring Bridge page

Alan Senauke Cuke page

An Encore Presentation of a cuke podcast with Alan

photo is Alan with Laurie Senauke

Nothingness

Instead of putting emphasis on the Soto way, or Rinzai way, or Tendai way, we put emphasis on nothingness. Everything comes from nothing, and our way will be extended foever, limitlessly. That is how we study Buddhism.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-04-08 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Extend

If we understand some teaching literally and stick to the teaching, then Buddhism cannot be transmitted to us. When we limitlessly try to extend our true nature, instead of selfish, limited self, then Buddhism is there.

The Church Creek Canyon as seen from the Pine Ridge Trail

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-04-08 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

More Truth

Before the acolyte was enlightened, he thought, “I understand Buddhism.” And he thought, “My understanding is perfect.” That is why his understanding was not perfect. When he gave up his intellectual understanding, his limited understanding, and when he tried to seek for some more truth, then his mind was open and enlightened.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-04-08 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Just Sit

A gaining idea is based on a selfish idea. When you just sit because you are told to sit, only because that is Buddha’s way, then you have not much selfishness in your practice.

Chapel Hill Zen Group

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-04-08 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Studying

Studying is also practice. It is not just intellectual. It is not different from zazen because both are based on a non-selfish idea.

Joanne Kyger

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-04-08 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

A Teacher

Why you should have a teacher is to learn the truth in its pure form, excluding selfish practice.

L to R: Paul Discoe, Jane Westberg (Schneider), Shunryu Suzuki, Peter Schneider, Sotan Tatsugami, Dan Welch, Ryogen Yoshimura, Frances Thompson, Niels Holm, Margret Kress.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-04-08 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Featured Cuke Archives page

Vanja Palmers is a Zen teacher who was at the SFZC centers for years, ordained by Richard Baker, transmission from Kobun Chino. He talks about his life, his way-seeking mind story, work with animal rights, and psychedelics, dangerous hang gliding and his centers in Europe. Listen to our podcast and read more about him.

Not Selfish

When you study Buddhism, you have a lot of selfish ideas: “I study. I must know what it is.” When you want to listen to your teacher, there is not much of a selfish idea. That is the difference. This is a very important point.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-04-08 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Control Our Desire

Asceticism before Buddhism was practiced for their future good life: to be born in some place where they have a lot of enjoyment or a more perfect world. That is a kind of extension of selfish practice. But our mortification is not based on selfish desire. The purpose of our practice is to control our desires so that our desires find their own place and act properly. We control our desire. So that every one of us extends our desire without any difficulty, we practice mortification.

Statue at Wat Umong, Chiang Mai, Thailand

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-04-08 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Why We Have Difficulty

As long as our life is controlled or based on a selfish idea it is not possible for every thought to find its own place without fighting with each other. So, it’s no wonder why we have difficulty when our life is based on just a superficial idea of self or individual.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-04-08 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Dancing with the Dead: Red Pine and the Art of Translation screening soon

Dancing with the Dead: Red Pine and the Art of Translation is finally going to be streamed (albeit briefly) online beginning this weekend (September 20-29). Go to redpinemovie.com for more info and to sign up for the link. Make some popcorn. Tell friends. 

about the film

Cuke Podcast with Bill Porter

Human Nature

The foundation of our culture is based on individualism, which is based on the idea of self. And from the time of the Renaissance, we started to put emphasis on our human nature rather than something which is called “divine nature” or “holy nature.” And we wanted to express our human nature as much as possible. So, holy nature or buddha-nature, were replaced by human nature. And that human nature is not what we mean by buddha-nature. This is, you know, the starting point of our mistake.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-04-08 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Some Way To Go Further

There must be some reason why so many people come to Zen Center and practice Zen and study Zen. I think this is because our civilization has come [laughs] already to a dead end, and you realize that you cannot go any further. So, people who notice that this is a dead end may come to Zen Center to find out some way to go further. That is your feeling whether or not you understand what the dead end is or why we came to the dead end.

Sokoji Soto Zen Mission

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-04-08 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Not Asceticism

Recently I was talking about denial of desires. This may be confusing. Our way is not asceticism, but actually, if you read our precepts literally, there is no difference [laughs]. But what it means is completely different.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-04-08 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Featured Cuke Archives page

Ryuten Paul Rosenblum was a student of Shunryu Suzuki and is the vice abbot of Johanneshof, Richard Baker's retreat in the Black Forest. He lives half time in Germany and half time in Northern California. His website is ryutenpaulrosenblum.com. Listen to our podcast and read more about him - https://cuke.com/f.

Enjoy Your Difficulty

I was in bed for a long time, and I was thinking about these things, you know. I was just practicing zazen in bed [laughter]. I should enjoy my bed. Sometimes it was difficult, but I laughed at myself. “Why is it so difficult? Why don’t you enjoy your difficulty?” [Laughs.] That is, I think, our practice.

Del Carlson - 2017

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-30 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Tassajara Stories will be published by Monkfish

Today Paul Cohen, publisher of Monkfish Publishing, and I signed a contract for Tassajara Stories. This will be part one of three and covers through the first year. Jon Sweeney, the associate publisher and religion editor and I have talked about a subtitle and we'll have that agreed on soon. We're aiming to get it out October 2025. I'll be making an audiobook which they will publish. Maybe that could come out sooner. That's not decided yet. Thanks to Peter Ford and Wendy Pirsig for all the many many hours they have put into going over it and thanks as well to wife Katrinka McKay, co-conspirator Michael Katz, and sister Susan Chadwick.  And thanks to Arnie Kotler for sending me to Monkfish.

- May all beings be happy, healthy, free from harm, love life, and awaken. - DC

See this photo with almost all names when you hover the cursor over faces.

Monkfish Publishing website

Enjoy Moment after Moment

It is all right to enjoy your life moment after moment because you are not enjoying it as something concrete and eternal. Our life is momentary, and, at the same time, each moment includes its own past and future. The next moment will include its own past and future. In this way, our momentary and eternal life will continue. This is how we lead our everyday life, how we enjoy our everyday life, and how we get freedom from various difficulties. How we do not suffer from difficulties, and how we enjoy our life moment after moment is our practice based on true understanding.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-30 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Absolute Freedom

When you are able to sit without being attached to any image or any sound, with an open mind, that is true practice. And that you can do that means you already have absolute freedom from everything.
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-30 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Not Real, Real

As Dogen Zenji said, we human beings attach to something which is not real and forget all about what is real [laughs]. That is actually what we are doing. If you realize this point, you will have perfect composure, and you can trust yourself. Whatever happens to you, it doesn’t matter. You can trust yourself.
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-30 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Not You Anymore

Our activity is cosmic activity and personal activity. So, there is no need to explain what we are doing. When you want to explain it, that is all right, but because it is impossible to understand you should not feel uneasy. You know, actually you are here, right here. Before you don’t [thumps stick] understand yourself, you are you. After you understand, you are not you anymore [laughs].

Shadow screen of Shunryu Suzuki created by Al Wong

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-30 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Thump

You cannot say this is just Buddha’s activity because you are [thumps stick] active actually. You may say then, I don’t know who is doing what. But why say that. You want to intellectualize your activity, that’s all. So, before you say something, the actual [thumps stick] activity is here. That is actually who we are. We are Buddha, and we are each one of us [laughs].

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-30 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Featured Cuke Archives page

Tatsudo Nicole Baden has been practicing Zen since 2001 and received Dharma Transmission in 2017. Richard Baker will be stepping down and Nicole Baden will be stepping up to be the abbot of Dharma Sangha in Germany and the US. Listen to an encore presentation of a podcast talk with Nicole that was posted on March 20, 2021. - https://cuke.com/f.

Everyone

If we do something we cannot say, “I am doing something,” because there is no one independent separate from others.… When I say something, you are hearing it. So, I cannot do anything just for myself…. When someone does something, everyone is cooperating, and everyone will be doing something.

L to R: Phillip Wilson, Shunryu, Mitsu Suzuki, ?, David Chadwick, Richard Baker - Tassajara 1967

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-30 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Explanations

Some may say our activity originated or is based on Buddha’s mind. And “such and such” is Buddha’s mind, and “so and so” is ordinary mind. You may say various explanations [laughs], but there is no need to explain in that way.

Buddha’s Birthday, Sokoji - 1966

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-30 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Ordinary Mind

Ordinary mind is tao, you know. Even though we are doing quite usual things, whenever we do something, that is actually Buddha’s activity—Buddha’s activity, but our activity [laughs]. Ordinary mind is tao. Buddha’s mind, Buddha’s activity, and our activity are not different.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-30 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Actual Feeling

Whatever you hear, whatever you see, that is okay. Before you have this kind of actual feeling, of course it is necessary to be accustomed to our practice. Although intellectually we understand ourselves, but if we haven’t actual feeling with it, then it is not so powerful. So, that is why you must keep on practicing. If you keep practicing our way, naturally you will have this understanding and this actual feeling, too.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-30 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Whatever They Say

When you experience enlightenment, or when you are enlightened, you will understand things more freely. You don’t mind what people call you. “Ordinary man.” “Okay, I am an ordinary man.” “You are buddha?” “Yes, I am buddha.” “How can you be a buddha and an ordinary man?” “Oh, I don’t know why, but actually I am buddha and an ordinary man.” It doesn’t matter. Whatever they say [laughs], that is all right.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-30 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Carrying a Big Board

We call someone who understands things from just one side, tamban-kan. In Japanese it means a man who carries a board on his shoulder. Because he carries a big board on his shoulder this way, he cannot see the other side [laughs]. He is always carrying a big board on his shoulder. Almost all people are carrying a big board, so they cannot see the other side. He thinks he is just an ordinary man, but if he takes off the board, he will understand, “Oh, I am buddha, too [laughs]. It is amazing,” he may say. That is enlightenment.

Erik Storlie and his brother

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the photo. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-03-30 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Featured Cuke Archives page

Kelly Bernard Chadwick grew up in and around Tassajara, the SFZC City Center, and Green Gulch Farm. He is my older son. His mother is my first wife, Daya Goldschlag who now has a Zen group in Spokane, Washington, where Kelly is an arborist and has a business there called Spirit Pruners. Listen to our podcast and read more about him and his recent work at Tassajara - https://cuke.com/f.