DC reads the Preface to Tassajara Stories. Full title - Tassajara Stories: A Sort of Memoir/Oral History of the First Zen Buddhist Monastery in the West—The First Year, 1967. Publishing date for the book/audio book/ebook is September 23, 2025. Go to cuke.com to read reviews and so forth.
In morality you have freedom of choice. You can take bad instead of good [laughs]. But in religion we have no alternative way. But it is our choice. Which way to go is up to us. And yet for us there is no other way than to take good. This is way-seeking mind. To pursue truth and beauty is also our way-seeking mind. There is some difference from ethics. This mind is the traditional mind transmitted from Buddha to us, and for Zen students this spirit is most important.
Drawing by Stan White
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-27-B 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.
I’m going to talk now about the problem of choosing one of the two: good or bad. Refraining from bad to take good is way-seeking mind, not from a moral viewpoint but from a religious viewpoint. When we take a religious viewpoint, there is no alternative way. We choose good, and we refrain from bad. There is no alternative way. But if you have no way-seeking mind, or if you have no idea of religion, you will wonder which to choose.
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—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-27-B 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 you take a religious viewpoint, everything becomes opposite [laughs]. If you are talking from a scientific standpoint, and we are talking from a religious standpoint, the same statement makes a big difference. When we say, “Zen is wonderful. Whatever you do, that is Zen. Even though you are doing something wrong, that is Zen. Whatever you do is Zen. That is why I like Zen.” [Laughter] I think you will have this kind of misunderstanding about Zen. But what we actually mean is quite opposite.
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—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-27-B 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 say, “to observe things as it is” it means “to see things as it should be” [laughs]. For you, these are opposites. For you, “as it should be” and “as it is” are quite different. “As it should be” means “it is not so, but it should be so.” It means you want to be moral. But human beings are not always moral. When you are not religious, when you are not good, that is how you are. So “way it should be” means morality or religion. And “way as it is” is science. But for us, “things as it is” is morality, not science. So, to observe “things as it is” means to be moral and to be religious. It’s what I mean by “way it should be” [laughs]. So, the statement is the same, but what we mean is not the same.
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-27-B 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.
Yesterday's Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpt implied that seeing things in a scientific way was to see a flower as static, not something always changing like Buddhism. I'm confident to say Suzuki was wrong and didn't understand that science for a long time has seen phenomena as ever changing too.
I was in a class on the scientific method and the professor pointed out that from a scientific point of view "this chair isn't a chair" and explained how it's made up of atoms etc. always moving and it would be more accurate to call it - I forget what he said - something like chairness or chairing. At that point I said, "Oh - like Buddhism." "No!" he exploded and said a bunch of ignorant stuff about Buddhism. I got him together with Reb and they got along quite well and he changed his mind about Buddhism as Suzuki would have about science if someone had talked to him about it at that time which might have happened at a later date. He wasn't attached to his views so it wouldn't have been hard for him to see his error. Or he might have known better at the time but used the word science carelessly. - DC
Yesterday's post:
You think “there is a flower.” But the actual flower is changing. But you see the flower— “there is a flower, and this flower is always like this.” This is, perhaps, your understanding of the flower. But actually, the flower is changing. When you see something in a scientific way, actually, you do not see “things as it is.”
You think “there is a flower.” But the actual flower is changing. But you see the flower— “there is a flower, and this flower is always like this.” This is, perhaps, your understanding of the flower. But actually, the flower is changing. When you see something in a scientific way, actually, you do not see “things as it is.”
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-27-B 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.
David Rogers kindly shared with us
Chapter One: the Esselen People
a chapter from A History of the Tassajara Region
I like his use of the word people instead of Indians - dc
In our way of Zen, we emphasize the way-seeking mind, in other words, bodhisattva-mind. In Zen, people say “way it is” or “to observe everything as it is.” But “the way it is” or “to observe things as they are” will not be the same as what you mean by that. I find there are big misunderstandings in your understanding of “way it is” or “to observe things as it is.”
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-27-B 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.
If you cut paper with a razor, the razor will become dull. So, you should not use a razor when you cut paper. That is why Dogen Zenji emphasized the purity of Buddhism. Religion should be pure and sharp always, so that it can serve its original purpose—its own purpose. Leave every other activity for other people. We religious people should devote ourselves to pure genuine religion. And we should keep religion sharp enough to always cut various entanglements completely.
Image generated by Leonardo.ai
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-27-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.
Spreading Indra's Net: the Columbia Lectures of D.T. Suzuki.
Columbia U. Press page for the book
Ted Howell came to the SFZC in the mid-seventies and stuck around a long time. In this podcast, part two of two, he talks about his time at the SF Zen Center and a good deal more. Listen to the podcast and read more about him on his new Cuke page.
Someone said Western people failed in creating their culture by ignoring religion. And Oriental people made a great mistake in abusing religion. Buddhism was too handy, so we abused religion too much. So, now we don’t know what true religion is. Oriental religion is mixed up [laughs]. In India, China, Korea, and even Japan, Buddhism is so handy that it’s used instead of medicine. Religion is used instead of education and science; all our culture is based on Buddhism. That is too much. When you abuse something, the true original advantage will be lost.
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—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-27-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.
If I say, “Treat everything in the right way,” it looks very rigid and formal, but it is not so. This secret of Dogen Zenji will work.
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-27-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.
Stan was in charge of guests. The night of Trungpa’s talk, Suzuki asked Stan to come to his room. When Stan did so, Suzuki handed him a box of powdered incense to give to Trungpa and Diana. Diana answered the door and invited Stan in. Trungpa was in back, so Stan presented the incense to Diana, bowing his head respectfully. Diana did the same and they bumped heads which caused Stan to drop the box spilling the powdered incense on the floor. Trungpa came up and saw the two of them on the floor getting the incense back in the box. Stan looked up and said, “This powdered incense is a gift from Suzuki Roshi.”
Trungpa said, “Would you like to have a drink?”
Recently, even though you have a very advanced culture, there is something which you don’t know what to do about, that is your mind [laughs]. You don’t know what to do with this mind. You have various tools, but you have no mind to use them. That is your problem, I think. And we Japanese people have studied what is our mind, but we have become too attached to your civilization and almost forget what we have studied [laughing]. That is our problem just now. So, a combination of the two will create something wonderful, I think.
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—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-27-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.
For a long time after the Renaissance, you have forgotten the value of religion. You have tried to exchange science and philosophy for religion. You are Christian, but actually what you have been doing is replacing science for religion. And you wanted to establish human culture quite free from the authority of religion [laughs]. You had quite good reasons in your effort to try to reform your culture before it became too dark. Now it is too bright. You went too extreme, I think [laughs].
Image generated by Leonardo AI
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-27-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.
Ted Howell | Podcast - Ted Howell came to the SFZC in the mid-seventies and stuck around a long time. In this podcast, part one of two, he talks about what he’s up to these days, his relationship with squirrels and crows, what transpired on his way to Zen Center, his arrival there and the first thing he learned—having to do with footwear. One point of interest is about his early acting training and relationship with Robin Williams.
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Zazen practice is not the kind of practice you can compare with your everyday activity. This is quite a different practice from your everyday activity. We say, “no value in our practice.” No material value or physical value or mental value. It is beyond any worldly value. And it is the source of all our activity, the source of all our culture. |
Image generated by ChatGPT |
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—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-27-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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We say, just sit on your cushion. It may be pretty difficult to find the meaning of “just sit on your cushion.” It may be pretty difficult if you do not know how important it is. But the more you study your life and the more you have problems in your everyday life, you will find out how important it is to practice Zen.
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—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-27-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.
This kind of self is what we mean by self, and this kind of life is called a religious life in our sense. So, the best way to repay the mercy of the great boss is to do something. There is no other way. And to be grateful to him is the only way.
The difference between an ordinary boss and this boss is, he does not say anything. He just watches what you are doing. He is always encouraging you, that’s all. He will not give you any suggestions, but because he is your boss and you are his small boss, you will know intuitively what you should do. This is our practice.
Drawing by Stan White
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-27-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.
| One Zen master always called up the boss, and he used to say, “Ohayo gozaimasu, boss” [laughs] “good morning, boss,” “good evening, boss,” “how are you, boss?” The neighbors wondered, he might be crazy. He was always going around saying “good morning” and “good night.” He had no boss, so he must have been crazy. But he was always calling up the big boss who’s always doing something. Even when sleeping, he is doing something [laughs]. If you forget all about the boss, you may eat too much. When you know you are under the control of the big boss, you will not eat too much. You will not do anything wrong. Whatever you do will be right. |
 Image generated by Leonardo.Ai |
| —cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-27-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. | |
Peter Ford started helping with Cuke Archives in 2012, maybe earlier. Not sure. Since the day he started he's been pretty much full time. For a number of years he's been the Managing Director of Cuke Archives. Thanks to Peter I can concentrate on special projects. In the podcast we talk about the work he's done and his way-seeking mind story. Nine bows to Peter for all he's done and continues doing - dc. We also talked about the San Francisco Zen Center's review of David's forthcoming book: Tassajara Stories.
Now, what I want to ask is, what is our practice? What is pure practice? As I said just now, all practices will be dualistic. When it is dualistic, it looks like rigid rules, but it is not so for a man who realizes true self. Because it is impossible to figure out what it is, we ignore true self. It is not interesting—or you cannot have any interest in studying true self because it is empty. It is empty, but it is there! [Laughs.] But if you ignore this boss, you will suffer a lot.
Drawing by Stan White
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-27-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.
I don’t know existentialism, so I cannot compare, but there must be some difference. We have no existentialism, but in our Buddhist philosophy we have this kind of interpretation of our mental functions. We Buddhists suffered a lot [laughs] about our mind, so Buddhism studies our mind. Our mind is very troublesome [laughs]. We don’t know what to do with it. So, at last we found that it is impossible to study our mind, but you cannot deny the existence of mind.
—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-07-27-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.
