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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.

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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.

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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.