One of the Many Ways To Practice

To be a Buddhist, moment after moment, we take vows. It is not necessary to think about whether it’s possible or not. When you take a vow and think about whether it’s possible, your way already is not a Buddhist way. You are falling into a superficial practice of “you should do” or “you should not,” or “you should take a vow” or “you shouldn’t take a vow.” To take a vow is to observe our way. So this, like zazen practice, is one of the many ways to practice our way.

Ordination Ceremony - January 1973

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-04-29 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

To Arise Buddha-mind

If you understand the purpose of observing the precepts is to arise buddha-mind, then when you say, “I will not kill,” at that moment you have buddha-mind. There is no need to think, “I have to observe precepts or vows forever.” Actually, we don’t know what we will do in the next moment [laughs]. It is very difficult to know, to be sure about our future. But if “I will not kill!” is so right now, that is enough to arise buddha-mind.

Memorial gathering at Nanjing massacre memorial site

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-04-29 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Buddha’s Spirit

When we count precepts like Ten Prohibitory Precepts, we feel if we fail to observe even one of them, we will not be a good Buddhist—as if the purpose of taking vows or taking precepts is just to observe those things literally. That is maybe the usual way of understanding precepts. But the true purpose of precepts is not just to observe precepts so that you can attain enlightenment. Why we observe precepts or why we take vows is to actualize Buddha’s spirit.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-04-29 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Original Precept

At first, Buddha did not have any idea of setting up precepts. When someone would do something wrong, Buddha just said, “That is not right. Why don’t you do it this way?” That was the original precept. So, there were no precepts in terms of “This is a precept all Buddhists should keep.”

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-04-29 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Mahayana

Mahayana Buddhism arose mainly because the teaching of Buddhism became more and more caught by a concrete idea of some particular teaching or precepts. And they tried to stick to the teaching rigidly. At first, they respected the teaching too much, and especially the priests tried to preserve the teaching. And this kind of effort resulted in a very rigid understanding of precepts or teaching.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-04-29 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

Featured Cuke Archives page

David Chadwick, Rap on Refuge - like not taking refuge in our hopes and dreams. Listen to the podcast here.

Taking Vows

To take a vow is very important. To believe in Buddhism means to take vows. If you don’t take vows, life will be the life of karma. Only when we take vows will our life be the life of a Buddhist. And how we take vows may be the most important point.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-04-29 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

All Buddhists

An underlying thought in the Agama Sutra is to help others, to save sentient beings. Usually, Mahayana Buddhists denounced Hinayana Buddhism, saying Hinayana Buddhists just practice our way to help themselves, not to help others. But actually, when they say in Agama Sutra that Buddha took nirvana because he finished his task in this world, it means that he came to this world to save others. And in various so-called Hinayana sutras, we find this kind of thought everywhere. Anyway, those vows are supposed to be Bodhisattva’s vows or Mahayana vows, but those four vows actually are vows for all Buddhists. All Buddhists should have these vows.

Calligraphy by Dainin Katagiri-roshi: The Four Vows

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 69-04-29 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives for the Instagram version.

I Vow To Attain It

[After the chant (the last line of which is, “Buddha’s way is unsurpassable. I vow to attain it.”) Suzuki added:]

I vow to attain it. That is our practice. Right now. I vow to attain it. Don’t say, “I’m just a human a being” or “It is not possible for me to attain it.” Don’t say so. I vow to attain it. Like a child does. That is our practice.

Rhonda under Roshi’s sleeve, Minnie touched by Roshi’s flower, Toni Johansen in gassho, Lethe, Kathy Cook, Silas Hoadly

—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.

Simple and Rich

Simple and rich. Strong and weak. Strong and kind. This is our practice. So, you cannot say what our practice is because it could be various virtues. It should not be so difficult [laughs], but it is difficult. That is our way. So, you cannot say our way is quite easy [laughs]. And you cannot say our way is very difficult. It is not difficult at all. Everyone can do it, but to continue it is rather difficult. Don’t you think so?

Photo by Tim Buckley

—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.

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.

Be Yourself

The purpose of our practice is just to be yourself. When you become yourself in that way, you have real enlightenment there. The enlightenment you have in your mind that you attained a long time ago, is not actual enlightenment.

Tassajara Spring Practice Period 1973

—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

A Memorial Podcast for Gene DeSmidt - Gene was a dear friend of mine and the SF Zen Center who died on October 30th. Gene was a creative builder who left behind a number of sound structures at Tassajara and Green Gulch. He was also a musician who helped me much in that realm. He was a great character and a humorous, generous, good hearted person.

Painted - Actual

If you cannot see what buddha-nature [taps] actually is, it doesn’t mean anything [laughs]. That would be a painted rice cake; it is not an actual one. If you want to see an actual rice cake, you should see it when it is there.

From a silkscreen by William DeRaymond

—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.

Here

So budda-nature is not something which will appear in the future. Real buddha-nature should be something which is actually here [taps on table with stick].

—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.

RIP Gene DeSmidt

SFZC Instagram post about Gene's passing:

We were saddened to learn that Gene DeSmidt died on October 30 after a long illness. An old and beloved friend of SFZC, Gene is responsible for the construction and renovation of many iconic SFZC buildings including the Stone Dining Room, Bathhouse (old and new), Bird House, and Cabin 14 & 15 at Tassajara, as well as housing at Green Gulch Farm.

From Abbot David: "I remember him as a bright, energetic, creative person with a big heart. He was someone who loved to laugh and connect with people."

Image: Abbot David and Gene at Tassajara in 2012

Gene's cuke page - lots there and lots to add there. (will be updating)

Gene - Lot's of good times. Thanks for all. See you soon. Gya te gya te. - dc

from Gene's GoFundMe page:

As of Wednesday 10/30 at 8:46 am, our beloved father Gene has passed on to heaven.
We sent him off peacefully with Bob Dylan music in the air.
Thank you all for your love and support.
We will notify everyone about the memorial gathering in December.

DeSmidt Builders - lots to tell there

SF Chron X post on Season of Sharing helping Gene - with link to SF Chron article on him.

Gene with Jerry Brown whose home Gene worked on.

Become Yourself

Buddha-nature which you have proudly within yourself is not buddha-nature. Actual buddha-nature is when you say “Hai!” or when you become you yourself, or when you forget all about yourself. [Hai is yes in Japanese.]

—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.

Forget Ourselves

As Dogen Zenji says, “To study Buddhism is to study ourselves. And to study ourselves is to forget ourselves in each moment.” To forget ourselves means to be yourself in each moment. Then everything will come and help you, and everything will ensure your enlightenment.

—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.

The Next Moment

You should forget all about any misunderstanding at the place where you are right now. Do you understand? You should forget this moment, and you should grow to the next—you should extend yourself to the next one. That is the only way. I think you must have understood our practice.

—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.

Right Here

You can’t stop at the top of the pole, and you can’t jump off. That is the problem. That is why you should practice, and you should forget all about the top of the pole. If so, where we should forget or throw our misunderstanding is right here. Not this way or that way or past or future. Right here.

—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

Don't Worry (Excessively) - DC riffs on not worrying excessively about undocumented immigrants and the ongoing election. Listen to the podcast here.

No Top

When you have some experience of enlightenment or something, you think we can rest here observing various sights at the top of a pole, forgetting all about continuing climbing. Usually, we think in that way, but actually, there is no top for anything. Things are continuously growing or changing to something else. Nothing exists in its own form or color. So actually, there is no top. When we think, “Here is a top,” that is already misunderstanding.

—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.

An Unusual new book

Bear and Forbear: Zen in “The Art of Living"

by Lucien Samms

Paperback and ebook available exclusively at Barnes and Noble

Epictetus’ Stoicism (particularly The Discourses) and Shunryu Suzuki’s Zen Buddhism (especially Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind) have been my guides to living for the last 35 years. 

The attached text is my attempt to show the inescapable and profound compatibility of the tenors of these two ways of living, a compatibility so often hidden by their distinct vehicles of presentation. Western students/practitioners of each (or both) of these ways of life will benefit, I believe, from better understanding my approach to Epictetus’ and Suzuki’s compatibility. 

Though the immediate audience for the book is persons interested in Stoicism and Zen Buddhism, my hope is that the book will eventually appeal to a much wider audience, one interested in bearing and forbearing as a path to peace of mind and to living peacefully.

If time or inclination prevents you from providing feedback or from otherwise responding, I understand, and I wish you all the best.  

Lucien Samms

Top of a Pole

There is a very famous koan. A man climbed up to the top of a pole. If he stays there, he is not enlightened. When he jumps off from the top of the pole, he may be an enlightened one. How we understand this koan is how we understand our practice. Why we have something which should be taken out from us is because we stay here. Because you stay at the top of a pole, you have problems. But actually, there is no top for a pole—for actual pole continues endlessly forever. So, you cannot stop here, actually. —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.