Beyond Discussion

We don’t know why we should try to improve ourselves. No one knows. There is no reason for it, or it is beyond discussion. Even though you cannot discuss it, our true nature is so big. It is out of our intellectual understanding, so it makes no sense even if you discuss it. “What are you talking about?” [Laughs.] Those who are aware of it will laugh at you if you discuss why it is so big a problem to discuss. This is why we bow to Buddha.

Drawing by Stan White

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-22 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

This Awareness

If you understand about true nature, you will find the true nature within yourself and in every existence. Flowers have this nature. Even though it is cold, they are preparing for spring. Even though they do not know it, they are making good effort to come up in the spring. So when we become aware of it, we will know that this nature we have is universal nature to every existence. But this awareness of true nature is limited to human beings. So, this awareness is very important, and this awareness is, in short, to try to do something good is our spirit.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-22 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Publishers Weekly Interview about Tassajara Stories

Cathy Grossman, the religion editor for Publishers Weekly, did a nice brief interview with me about the upcoming Tassajara Stories book. Here 'tis. The book is coming out September 23rd.

Difficulty and Pleasure

Because we are not so good we try to improve ourselves. And we are aware of having some intention to improve ourselves. This intention is limited to human beings. Flowers may come out in the spring without fail, but they do not make any effort; they automatically come out, that’s all. We try to do the right thing at the right time, but we find it very difficult. In this sense we are very stupid [laughs, laughter]. Even though we try, we cannot make it, but this is our human nature. We always try to do something and have some difficulty. But this point is very important for us. That is why we have pleasure as human beings, because it is difficult, and we are always making some effort. That effort results in our pleasure of human life. This pleasure is limited to human beings, and this is called our true nature.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-22 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Featured Cuke Archives page

Renshin Bunce began practicing with Steve Stucky in 1994. In 2013 she received dharma transmission from him. Her website is renshinbunce.com. Go there for info on her in-person and Zoom sitting groups. She's published three books on Amazon: on Steve Stucky, hospice work, and practicing at Tassajara. Her cuke.com page has links to her many photos or go to flickr.com/photos/renshin. Listen to this podcast to learn lots more.

Oneness in Duality

Another meaning of bowing is: As long as we live, we have a body here, and we have to think something. So, Buddha practiced Zen, and we practice Zen. Everyone when we practice Zen, we are called Buddha. And Buddha Mind, or Bodhisattva Mind is a spirit. To attain oneness in duality is, in short, our spirit.

Image generated by Microsoft Copilot

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-22 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Buddha Bows to Buddha

We bowed nine times this morning. Bowing to Buddha is actually a kind of practice to get rid of our self-centered ideas—to give ourselves completely to Buddha. I mean to give our physical and intellectual life to Buddha because it is based on Buddha Nature. So even when we forget all about it, still we have Buddha Nature, and Buddha bows to Buddha. That is one meaning of bowing.

Photo by Sheldon A. Brody. Courtesy ICP, NY. Image from: tricycle.org.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-22 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Zen and Precepts Is One

You have freedom. You are not enslaved by Buddha Nature, by a moral code. And a moral code is not always the same. It is not permanent. Strictly speaking, there is a moral code whatever you do. So, we say, Zen and precepts is one. In everyday life we call it precepts, and in practice of zazen we call it Zen. So, Zen and everyday life should be the self-use of our true nature. In this sense, precepts and Zen are not different. This is a very important point.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-22 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Freedom and Morality

Some may say, “Whatever we do is Buddha Nature, so it doesn’t matter what I do.” This is a misunderstanding. Morality without Buddha Nature is just a rigid moral code in which you will be enslaved. But if you become aware of Buddha Nature, innate nature, that is freedom, that is not rigid precepts. You act by your own choice, and you act according to your true nature. So, that is complete freedom. And that is also morality.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-22 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

True Freedom

So, in our everyday life, we should observe the precepts, instead of leaving Buddha responsible. We should be responsible, but at the same time we have freedom. There is no need for us to be bound by precepts. Precepts are formulated by our own choices. As long as we take activity consciously, there is freedom, and at the same time, we should be responsible for that. This is true freedom.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-22 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Decisions

When we make decisions, we listen to Buddha Nature. “What should I do?” That’s all. So, here in your everyday life you have precepts, and you have freedom too. Whatever you do, that is up to you. As long as you have freedom you yourself make decisions, so you should be responsible for them. You should not say, “Buddha should be responsible for it [laughs]. I am not responsible for that.”

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-22 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Featured Cuke Archives page

Rinso Ed Sattizahn first came to the SF Zen Center in 1970, had a few memorable experiences with Shunryu Suzuki, and returned in 1972. He lived at Tassajara for years, was VP and president of the SFZC, went into the high tech world for over seventeen years, returned to the SF Bay area, got ordained, co-founded Vimala Sangha in Mill Valley with Lew Richmond, was a co-abbot then central abbot of the SFZC for nine years. In this podcast he talks about that and much more.

Morality

When you make some plans, you are responsible for it too. And at that time you should listen to what your inmost nature will say. That is morality or precepts. Our inmost nature will tell you what to do. If you understand this way, this is morality, or this is precepts. Whatever we do is precepts because we have some choice. We have to make decisions.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-22 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Just Sit

When you do something, there is a kind of morality in it because you do something by your choice. But when you make a decision to do something, your inmost nature will tell you, “That will not be so good [laughs]. Why don’t you do it this way?” That is precepts, when we have some choice in our activity. In zazen we have no choice. We just sit, and whatever inmost nature says, let it do it. “I don’t mind.” This is zazen.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-22 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

This Is Zen

Your true nature says, “Your zazen is not so good.” If it says so, you should accept it. “Oh, not so good.” [Laughter.] “What are you thinking? Stop thinking—okay.” This is Zen, you know.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-22 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Not So Good

Of course, even though you do not do anything, you will have pain in your legs, or some difficulty to keep your mind calm. And sometimes you may think, “Oh, my zazen is not so good.” [Laughs, laughter.] That is also the activity of the inmost nature. Not your activity, but the activity of your true nature.

Drawing by Stan White

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-22 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

When We Sit

When we sit, we let inmost nature be in it’s self, or activity. This we call self-use of inmost nature. Let it work. We don’t do anything but let our true nature work by itself. This is Zen practice.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-22 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Many Names

By inmost nature I don’t mean a soul but something that’s always in incessant work. Whatever you call it, spirit or soul, I don’t mind [laughs]. You can put many names or interpretations on it, but the interpretations are intellect. So, whatever you call it—inmost nature itself, doesn’t mind [laughs, laughter]. Some may call it soul. Some may call it spirit. Someone may say, “Oh, no, no, that is just a material function.” Maybe. People will put many names to it, but our inmost nature is our inmost nature regardless of the name.

Drawing by Stan White

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-22 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Featured Cuke Archives page

Kelly Chadwick - talks about a week spent at Tassajara in April trimming and removing trees with a crew from his Spirit Pruners biz in Spokane, WA. He was a podcast guest last year after doing the same at Tassajara. He’s got new insights to share about Tassajara where he spent a lot of time growing up. Full disclosure—he’s my son - DC. Listen to the podcast and read more about him.

Inmost Nature

We have a true nature. Whatever you do, even when you do nothing, your true nature is in incessant activity. Even if you are sleeping, it is quite active. Your thinking or your sensations are superficial activity of yourself, but the inmost nature is always working. Even when you die, it is working.

RIP Thomas Tim Buckley

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-22 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Sound Comes

When we sit, we do not do anything; we just sit. There’s no activity of our mind. We just sit, and all we do is inhaling and exhaling. Sometimes you will hear some birds singing, but you are not actually hearing. Your ears will hear it [laughs]. You are not hearing it. Just sound comes, and you make some response to it, that’s all. This kind of practice is called “wisdom seeks for wisdom.”

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-22 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Everyday Life

Realization of our precepts is our everyday life. When our everyday life is based on wisdom, we call it precepts.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-22 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Wisdom Seeking Wisdom

We are studying the sutra of the sixth patriarch, and Prajna is of course a Sanskrit word. Now we mean wisdom, but this wisdom is not intellect, or knowledge. This wisdom is our so-called inmost nature, which is always in incessant activity. Zazen practice is wisdom seeking for wisdom, if I use a technical term. Wisdom seeks wisdom is zazen practice, and our everyday life is wisdom.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-22 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Thank You Very Much

When you become the successor of your master in a Japanese art, you will receive some paper on which something is written. No one knows what it is [laughter, laughs]. It is very difficult to figure out what it is, and to explain what it is. But if you have a beginner’s mind, it’s all right. If you can just say, “Thank you very much” from the bottom of your heart, that’s enough. But this is very difficult [laughs]. So, through our practice, we must make our beginner’s mind more and more. We should appreciate beginner’s mind. This is the secret of Zen practice.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-11-11 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Lew Richmond on The Internet and the End of Intimacy

 

Internet and The End of Intimacy

on Lew Richmond's blog

Lew Richmond cuke page

Always a Beginner

The most difficult thing is to keep our beginner’s mind in our practice. If you can keep your beginner’s mind forever, you are Buddha. Our practice should be concentrated on this point. We should practice our way with beginner’s mind always. There is no need to have a deep understanding of Zen. Even when you read Zen literature, you have to keep this beginner’s mind. We shouldn’t say, “I know what Zen is” or “I have attained enlightenment.” We should be always a beginner. This is a very important point, and difficult. We should be very, very careful about this point.

Former Hell’s Angel - Freewheelin Frank, photo by Larry Keenan

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-11-11 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Featured Cuke Archives page

Ben Van-Overmeire is an Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Duke Kunshan University. His research focuses on the study of Zen Buddhist texts. His teaching interests at Duke Kunshan include ethics and leadership, global China studies, religion and literature. Van Overmeire has a B.A. (cum laude) and M.A. He wrote American Koan: Imagining Zen and Self in Autobiographical Literature. In this podcast we talk about his book (which features my Thank You and OK!) and how his path has taken him from his native Belgium through the US and to China.

Self-satisfied

When our mind becomes demanding or when we are longing for something, we will violate our precepts not to kill, not to be immoral, not to steal, not to tell a lie, and so on. Those acts are based on our greedy mind. When our mind is satisfied, we keep our precepts. When we ourselves are always self-satisfied, we have our original beauty, and we can practice goodness, and we are always true to ourselves.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-11-11 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Mind

If we keep our beginner’s mind, we keep our precepts. When we lose our beginner’s mind, we will lose all the precepts. For Zen students the most important thing is not to be dualistic; we should not lose our self-satisfied state of mind. We should not be too demanding, or we should not be too greedy. Our mind should always be rich and self-satisfied.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-11-11 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Always a Beginner

In a beginner’s mind we have many possibilities, but in an expert’s mind there are not many possibilities. So, in our practice the important thing is to resume our original mind, or our inmost mind, which even we ourselves do not know what it is. This is the most important thing for us. The founder of our school emphasized this point. We have to remain always with beginner’s mind. And this is the secret of Zen, and the secret of flower arrangement, Japanese singing, and various arts.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-11-11 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Original Mind

We recited the Prajna Paramita Sutra this morning only once. I think we recited very well, but what will happen to us if we recite it twice, three times, four times and more? Then we will easily lose our original attitude in reciting the sutra. The same thing will happen to us. For a while you keep your beginner’s mind. If we continue to practice one year, two years, three years, our beginner’s mind will have some pattern, and we will lose the limitless meaning of original mind.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-11-11 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Beginner’s Mind

I don’t want to talk about the history of Zen this morning, but I want to talk about why it is difficult just because you came here this morning. Getting up early is a very valuable experience for you. Just wanting to come here is very valuable. We say shoshin. Shoshin means beginner’s mind. If we can keep beginner’s mind always, that is the goal of our practice.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-11-11 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Pure

People say to study Zen is difficult, but there is some misunderstanding why it is difficult. It is not difficult because to sit in a cross-legged position is hard or to attain enlightenment is hard, but it is hard to keep our mind pure and to keep our practice pure in its original way.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-11-11 as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Featured Cuke Archives page

Furyu Nancy Schroeder | Podcast - Furyu Nancy Schroeder came to the SF Zen Center in the seventies. She was the abbess of Green Gulch Farm from 2014 to 2023 and has been an active supporter of programs for children, people of color, the gay and lesbian community, and the interfaith community. In 2008 she was elected to the Marin Women's Hall of Fame, and in 2010 she was appointed to the Board of the Marin Community Foundation. In addition, she has previously co-led SF Zen Center's Contemplative Caregiver Course. She received Dharma Transmission from Tenshin Reb Anderson in 1999. That's from the SFZC bio on her. In this podcast she talks about how she got into Zen and what's happened since and other stuff.

Koans Too

We use koans too. In Dogen Zenji’s Shobogenzo there are many, many koans. And there are many, many interpretations of koans. He may say, “My answer to that koan is like this.” So, [laughs] we use koans too. We do not ignore anything, precepts and Theravada and Mahayana ways. But it is impossible to study everything, so according to the person and their character, each can study whatever they like.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-12-11-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Direction

As long as our efforts are based on self-centered ideas, there is no congenial life among human beings. Because of those precepts and by reflecting on ourselves and respecting precepts and rules, we will know the direction in which to make effort, and we will have right orientation in our lives. This is why we practice Zen and how Buddhism has developed.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-12-11-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

RIP Gladys Thacher

Legacy Obituary for Gladys Thacher, a friend of SF Zen Center who was on the board for some years. She was lovely, bright person called Glady by friends. I'm happy I was fortunate enough to spend time with Glady. - DC

SF Education Fund obit for Gladys Thacher with photos and links to articles on from the past.

SF Chronicle obit for Gladys Thacher

Many more articles on her.

More Precepts

Strictly speaking we should have some more precepts [laughs]. You say, “One hundred and fifty precepts is awful, why don’t you make it simpler?” [Laughs] but I think you have to add some more because our precepts were prepared in Japan. So, here you have to have other precepts.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-12-11-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Layers

As a big tree in Muir Woods has annual layers, if you cut your life in another way, we have annual layers in our life, I think. That is precepts. You say that we don’t want it, but you have it [laughs]. So as long as you have it, you have to sit, and you have to know how to continue your effort, and you have another annual layer on your self. In this way we will develop Buddhism more and more.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-12-11-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

RIP Maureen (O'Shea) Magarity

Obituary for Maureen (O'Shea) Magarity

Back around 1980, Maureen and her husband Tim O'Shea lived at Yvonne Rand's place in Muir Beach. I had a little hut there where I frequently stayed. Maureen worked at Greens as a waitress for some time back then. She and I stayed close for years. She moved back to Philadelphia I forget how long ago. We were in touch a few times after her move but it's been a long time now. Farewell Maureen, dear friend. - DC 

Maureen's Facebook page

A Vow

My teacher Kishizawa Roshi always said, “You have to have a vow or aim to accomplish.” If you do not have your aim of life, you cannot be a good Buddhist. The aim we have may not be perfect, but even if it is not perfect, it is necessary for us. It is like a precept. Even though it is almost impossible to observe it, we have to have it. Without that we cannot actualize our way, Buddha’s spirit.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-12-11-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Aim

In your everyday life, without any purpose or any aim, you cannot organize your life. Without knowing what you are going to be [laughs], you cannot make your effort. Because you have your own aim to accomplish, you can make your best effort.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-12-11-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Featured Cuke Archives page

Kathie Fischer began practicing Zen in 1971 with Sojun Mel Weitsman at the Berkeley Zen Center. She was ordained a Zen priest at San Francisco Zen Center in 1980 by Zentatsu Richard Baker, and continued residential practice at Zen Center for 15 more years. She received Dharma transmission from Sojun Weitsman in 2011 while in the midst of her 28-year career as a school teacher in Mill Valley. Since retiring from teaching science to adolescents she has turned her attention to studying and teaching Dharma. In our podcast we hit on various topics, one of them being Richard Baker. This was recorded soon before Baker's stroke in May 2025 from which he's recovering nicely. Listen to the podcast and read more about her.

Update on Richard Baker's Condition

Update on Baker Roshi's Health from Dharma Sangha's Dharma Academy newsletter Richard Baker Recovery page

We are happy to report that Baker Roshi is doing quite well. He has remained in the Bay Area, where he has had the best of medical care, supported by his family, the Sangha, and the highest quality medical care. He has begun speech therapy, which he can continue with remote sessions and will soon travel to Germany. He is making good progress, but aphasia is hard work. We will need to pause his lectures and teachings for a while, but we are hoping that he can find his way back into teaching. All of the messages of support have meant so much; thank you to all for your good will and good wishes.  photo - Sophia Baker, Rene des Tombes, Richard Baker, Sally Baker.

To Concentrate

It is not possible to concentrate on some uncertain way. There must be some accurate way to observe. There must be strict rules to observe. Because of the rules we have, because of the way of sitting and way of practice it is possible to concentrate on something.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-12-11-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Necessary

If you want to practice this kind of practice as a good example of everyday life, you need your friends, you need your teacher, you need the precepts we have. Even though it is almost impossible to observe them, they are necessary. And some form is necessary, and some way of working or some way of taking breaths is necessary.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-12-11-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Enlightenment Is Everywhere

Enlightenment is not some certain stage. Enlightenment is everywhere. Wherever you are, enlightenment is there. Whatever you do, if you do it with your best effort, that is enlightenment. This point is very important for our Zen practice and for our everyday life. So, to practice Zen is a part of everyday life. In everyday life we should make our effort. Without our effort in everyday life, just coming to sit here for forty minutes, that is not Zen at all.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-12-11-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Best Effort

Our effort is to observe precepts. If we give our best effort each moment with confidence, that is enlightenment. Don’t ask whether a way is perfect or not. When we do our best to observe precepts, to practice Zen, then there is enlightenment. There is no other way to attain enlightenment.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-12-11-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

That Effort

Dogen Zenji actually was enlightened when he heard a disciple being hit by his master. “What are you doing? You have to make hard effort. What are you doing here?” His teacher slapped a person who sat next to him, and he was enlightened. That effort is Zen.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-12-11-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

The Secret

The secret of observing precepts is to practice Zen. Because if you practice Zen, the dualistic idea of to observe or not to observe takes place within your mind. You have no one to blame, and there is no one who is violating precepts. When you make an effort to observe precepts, even though it is not complete, that effort is Buddha-Mind’s effort. If you yourself are outside of the precepts or Buddha-Mind, there is no time to observe completely. But if your activity is involved in Buddha’s big activity, whatever you do is Buddha’s effort. Then even though it is not perfect, you are manifesting Buddha’s mercy and activity.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-12-11-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.

Richard Baker Recovering

 Here's a page on cuke.com for Richard Baker's recovery from his stroke. Nothing new. A few photos. Will add to it.

Zen Practice and Precepts Is One

We say, “Zen practice and precepts is one.” To observe precepts is to practice Zen. It is the same thing. In precepts we have—not moral code—but we have many rules. Most of the rules or commandments are almost impossible to observe completely [laughs]. I don’t think that you can observe them. But if you practice zazen, you can [laughs] observe them.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-12-11-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com, edited by PF. These posts are also on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. We are continually working on improving the quality of transcriptions of Suzuki's lectures. After a new "verbatim transcript" is made, we create a minimally edited version which is more readable. See the most recently completed transcripts at shunryusuzuki.com/n.