One Direction

The uneasiness is somewhere where you don’t know what to do. If you are directed in one direction, there is no uneasiness. When you don’t know what to do, there is some uneasy feeling. If you have too many things, too many choices, or too many chances, there you have worry. But if only one thing is left for you, there is no problem.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-03-26-C 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.

Obtain Calmness

So, what you should do is to just obtain calmness within yourself—you can ignore the danger of being disturbed by someone else. There you have restfulness, and absolute reliance on yourself only. You can depend on your own effort.

AI Generated Image

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-03-26-C 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.

Real Calmness Is in Noisy Places

Nowadays, if you want some calmness in your life, some go to a mountain or retreat, or build a special home with a double wall. Even when you live in a calm place, if your mind becomes agitated and restless, there is no calmness. Real calmness is in noisy places. Where you are already disturbed enough [laughs], there is no mental danger for you to be disturbed by something else.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-03-26-C 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 Calmness

Outside of the zendo cars are always running, and sometimes Honda motorcycles roar like a thunderstorm. “What are you doing there?” they ask. But still, we have deep calmness in here. I think this is rather unusual, and the ability to appreciate the calmness of our life in a noisy city is very precious. By calmness, we do not mean just a calm, silent, soundless place. When our mind is calm in its true sense, nothing can disturb us.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-03-26-C 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

Andy Karr | Podcast - Andy Karr began his formal Buddhist practice in 1971 at the SF Zen Center with Shunryu Suzuki after having devoured Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind many times. In early 1972 he began studying with Chogyam Trungpa. He has written three books, the latest one being Into the Mirror: A Buddhist Journey Through Mind, Matter, and the Nature of Reality. He has been teaching Tibetan Buddhism for years focusing on clearly understanding Mahamudra, Yogachara, Madhyamaka, and so forth. Learn more about him and his teaching at andykarrauthor.com - https://cuke.com/f.

Unique Feeling

What we do looks very rigid and formal, but if you repeat this kind of practice over and over, you will find some unique feeling in our rituals and formalities. When the tea ceremony started, there was not much cake or good tea to serve. Our life at that time was so hard that we tried to help each other by serving a cup of tea or a piece of cake. And preparing a piece of cake and cup of tea is pretty difficult. All of us knew that it was to help people, so we took it with great appreciation. If you take a small piece of cake as if you are eating a piece of bread [laughs], it doesn’t make any sense. So, we take even a cup of tea with great care and appreciation.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-03-26-C 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.

Friendship

Our monthly one-day sesshin is not a matter of something unusual for us anymore; we are getting accustomed to it. But whenever we have this sesshin, we have some renewed feeling for zazen, and my talk may be different from what I said before. But my talks are always concentrated on several important points: way-seeking mind, right practice and attitude towards practice, discipline, or study of Buddhism. I am not so interested in what we will acquire by practice or philosophical answers to your questions. But I am trying to be more sympathetic and systematic in my answers because you will not understand what I am trying to say if my answer is not properly systematized. But for me, and for you too, systematic philosophical answers are not necessary, but the mutual understanding and friendship between us is more important.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-03-26-C 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.

Because of This or That

If you say, “I cannot practice anymore because of this or that,” that is the opposite of our way. Because of this or that, you have to practice! Because you are busy, you have to study. Because your mind is occupied by some particular thing, you have to practice. If you are interested in some particular thing recently, you have to practice our way or else you will be lost. Whatever you do, it doesn’t work; you are not you [laughs]. When you want to be you, you practice zazen. That is the most important thing for you.

Photo by Rowena Pattee (Kryder)

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-02 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.

Your Own Practice

I see many students who are very much afraid of their new experiences [laughs] that are so unusual. But there is no need to be afraid. And those people may not be able to see their teacher in many cases. Anyway, we should practice our way from beginning to end. As long as the practice follows your intellectual understanding and your emotional activities, whatever they are, it will be adjusted and will be your own in its true sense. Whatever it is, if your practice follows, it will be your own.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-02 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.

Four Ways

Shi, ge, gyo, sho—four stages. Shi is belief, ge is intellectual understanding, and gyo is practice—emotional activity followed by intellectual activity, we call gyo. And sho is enlightenment or proof, proved by various teachers. This is very important. Four ways. So, our practice includes those four. Our practice is not just one of the four—of entering our way.

Photographs by Judith Keenan

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-02 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

Neil Needs a Nudge - Tyson on Religion Stuck in the Literal - The title says it all. I rap on that some more and urge him to talk with me about this topic—not that there wouldn’t be a zillion others more qualified—but I’m asking and could suggest a broader approach so that his audience isn’t misled. Listen to the podcast.

Religion Is Just For Yourself

Don’t feel lonely [laughs]. You should exist just by yourself. You must have this kind of spirit. Then practice our way, and then read scriptures, or see your teacher. Then you will have the true meaning of your own life. Religion is through and through a personal thing. Religion is just for yourself, not for others.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-02 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.

Believe in Nothing

This is the most important belief we should have—to believe in nothing [laughs]. To believe in nothing enough is to believe in everything. So, first of all, we should believe in nothing.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-02 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.

A Warm Heart

We are so grateful to have many teachers and teachings which are the accumulation of the actual experiences of various sages. All those teachings are drops of blood of ancient sages. So, we have to study with a warm heart, not just with our brains. Direct experience, direct practice is near. You have to be very straightforward, you should be very open, and you should be ready for everything which will happen to you.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-02 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.

Practice

Whichever way you take, the most important thing is the practice, you know, practice of Zen. If your process of attaining actual meaning of life does not follow practice, it is impossible. The problem you have will not be solved, so your life will not be your own. It is like food: even though you take food, if your tummy doesn’t digest it [laughs], it doesn’t work. So, the important thing is to digest things you have had. That is practice. By practice you will attain oneness of intellectual understanding and emotional understanding.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-02 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.

Back and Forth

In this way, back and forth, there are many possibilities in our practice. The first stage may be the last stage, and the last stage may be the first. So actually, there are no stages [laughs]. I am intellectualizing to help you, that’s all [laughs]. I don’t know what the right order is, starting from actual Buddha to the third stage, or starting from believing in the absolute nature which we originally have, and then intellectual understanding, and then emotional practice which your emotions follow. Or until your emotional activity follows your practice or follows your intellectual understanding that you practice.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-02 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 Last Stage Will Be First

But this experience can be interpreted in reverse [laughs]. What Buddhas attained is the purity of mind or the absolute mind, so the last stage will be the first one in which you believe in. And because you have the last stage which everyone—every Buddha attained, and which everyone has, and because everyone has the same wisdom, whatever we do, whatever we understand.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-02 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

The 60s ZC and Hippies plus Unusual Stuff - Was it a bunch of hippies who helped Suzuki found Tassajara and who filled the zendo in the city. I look at this briefly. There's a lot more I could say, but I decided to think about how to approach the topic better. Then I talk about unusual experiences. It ends with a riff on current events. Listen to the podcast.

Natural Reality Track

So, the most important thing is to believe in our Buddha nature and then intellectually you have to study our many ways. Back and forth we have to study our view of life. We have to have enough experiences to accord with reality. And then we have to acquire the power by which we can act without any restrictions, without any idea of teaching even. To act quite natural without being off the track.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-02 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 Same Experience

You may say it is kensho, or whatever you may say, this is a quite new experience both intellectual and emotional. And the many patriarchs and Buddhas will prove your experience. That is the last stage. Then you have the same experience as the old buddhas had. In this way Buddhism will be developed.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-02 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 RIP post for Shuzan Uchiyama corrected

Yesterday's RIP post should have read RIP Shuzan Uchiyama not Shuzen Suzuki. It's been fixed and updated.

Link to yesterday's post 

Now it's included on the Aiko Uchiyama memorial page on cuke.com

Be Ready for a New Experience

Before you wonder what it is, you should practice more following a new experience. You may see your teacher, but the teacher will say, “Practice more with the new understanding.” And I don’t think all of you can always practice with a teacher. Some of you must go to your own home and practice alone. In that case, when you have a new experience, you should continue your practice folding the new experience within yourself, and act bravely according to the new experience. This kind of shift is necessary for you. We should not always be bound by the same old way. We should always be ready for a new experience.

Painting by Willard Mike Dixon

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-02 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 Shuzan Uchiyama

Just received this from Shungo Suzuki at Rinsoin in Yaizu, Japan, Shunryu Suzuki's former temple

Dear David-san,

 

The nephew of Suzuki Shunryu Roshi, Uchiyama Shuzan Roshi, has passed away.

 

He is the son of Suzuki Shunryu Roshi's younger sister, Aiko.

 

Name: Uchiyama Shuzan

 

Birthdate: August 2, 1939

 

Deathdate: February 13, 2025

 

Age: 85 years old (87 years old by Japanese age reckoning)

 

28th head priest of Zuienji Temple, Hamamatsu City

 

The chief mourner is his daughter, Miyagi Haruko.

 

Cremation was completed on February 16th.

 

The funeral will be held on April 2nd at Rinsoin Temple, with Suzuki Hoitsu as the ceremony chief priest.

 

He was a man who valued his roots and was proud to be Suzuki Shunryu's nephew.

 

The second photo was taken at the third anniversary of Aiko's death, held at the City Center.

 

Shungo Suzuki

Below is the group photo from that ceremony. When I met Shuzan Uchiyama in the dining room, he greeted me with an enthusiastic, "Hebo kyuri!" That was significant because it's the way to say crooked cucumber that we used in the Japanese translation of Crooked Cucumber - except for the title where they used the normal magatta kyuri because it wasn't so pejorative. I considered Shuzan's use of the word that day to be further confirmation that hebo kyuri is what Shunryu was called. Read more on this here. - dc

Back row L to R: David Chadwick, Kazuto and Mitsuo and Otohiro Suzuki. Haruko Uchiyama

Front row: Blanche Hartman, Vicke Austin, Christine Lehnherr, Shuzan and Tomoko Uchiyama.

This post now joins the page for Aiko Uchiyama on cuke.com

 

A New Experience

When you experience a new experience, at first you may even be afraid of it. And you may even cry over the new experience because it is so different from experiences you have had, and the experience is too real to you. But that is because your practice is still wanting. In other words, you have to practice until you can digest the new experience, and you can act properly according to the new experience. This kind of understanding is necessary.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 67-08-02 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.

Day by Day

Beyond time means to live in each moment. To enjoy or to appreciate your life, day by day, is how to live beyond the idea of time. Actually, there is no time, you know. Time is something which is happening. Day after day is time.

Drawings by Frances Thompson

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 68-07-23 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

Are We Part of It or the whole or what? Reading two Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts and commenting, then talking about what I'm going to do when this podcast is loaded. Listen to the podcast.

Forget

The purpose of my lecture is mostly to give you some way to understand the various scriptures and various thoughts, in an appropriate way, without being attached to them. Without wasting time. There is no need to remember. If you forget, it’s all right. If you doubt something, you will not forget it. Because you understand it, you forget.

Zen Is Right Here - Epigraph

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 68-07-23 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.

A Different Way of Understanding

[About government] they should know there are limits. And they should be more humble, and they could think more [laughs]. Then we will have a very good life. This is the only way to bring about a comparatively peaceful life. All those confusions are caused by misunderstandings of the truth. What I am talking about is something maybe you think unworthy because you compare religion to politics, or even to science, so it is difficult to understand. But religion is a different way of understanding our life. So, you should keep studying some things in some different ways.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 68-07-23 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.

Truth

The truth is something which we cannot bring perfectly into our everyday life. Truth is something which we have to strive for. So, without striving for it now, to believe in some truth which is not truth, or fake truth, and to force some principle on others—big, big mistake. From the beginning, it is too much to expect. For us, it is too much to expect for a government. We cannot expect so much from government.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 68-07-23 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.

How Enlightenment Happens

There may be two ways. By all of a sudden attaining enlightenment, or by long practice. When you become more and more aware of what you are doing in its true sense, and when you become sympathetic with people’s misunderstandings of our practice, and when you find out how to help them, you will find that you have come to a point where you can help others, even if you do not attain enlightenment.

Harambee Arts - Feeding Program

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 68-07-23 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.

A Goal

We are practicing actually aiming at a goal. But that goal, “what is the goal?” is the point. To find a goal in each moment is the goal. And that is enlightenment.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 68-07-23 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.

Who are you?

If we say we are part of it, the true relationship to the absolute one will be lost. If we are a part of it, then what is the real relationship to the absolute one? Part of it. And if every one of us is an unfolding of the one infinite absolute, or deity, then the meaning of each person will be lost. We are just an unfolding of one infinite being. So, each one of us loses our sense of meaning, of being. So, we are not even an unfolding of the absolute one. Or we are not even a part of it. If you think to this extent, you will find out what is the absolute one. Okay? Not part of it. And we are not an unfolding of the one being. So, [laughs] who are you? [Laughter] No words! [laughs].

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 68-07-23 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.

Infinity

By extending the second principle, you cannot reach the first principle. If you add one and one and one, however many ones you add, it will not equal infinity. So, infinity, or the first principle is something beyond the second principle. Or you may say the viewpoint is completely different. But if you divide the absolute in many ways, as much as possible, that is infinity. When we understand in this way, we can say we are a part of it. But we are not. Our understanding is not based on one or two. Our understanding is based on something absolute [laughs], which we don’t know. But we may be a part of it. When we understand in that way, we are a part of it. So, it is a kind of belief, you may say. But it is more than belief. It should be fully true, or else we cannot exist here. Big hypothesis [laughs]. Yet, there is no other way except in this way.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 68-07-23 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.

First Principle?

The second principle is ordinary common sense. Or the teaching which is for patients is the second principle. But people know this is just for some particular patients. So, there must be some absolute teaching which is for everyone. Buddhists look for some teaching which is permanent. And what is that permanent teaching? That was a problem for them. And we need general teachings that whatever is told by someone is not the First Principle. Then what is the First Principle? The First Principle is something which you cannot understand, to which there’s no approach. That is the First Principle.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 68-07-23 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.

Reincarnating Religion

Reincarnating Religion, a short article by Steve Tipton from The Martin Marty Center, The University of Chicago Divinity School

Steve's new book: In and Out of Church - On Amazon

Here's a Cuke blog post on that book

It's dedicated to Silas and Niels (Silas Hoadley and Niels Holm, two early Suzuki students and close friends who lived in Port Townsend).

Steve's cuke page

Featured Cuke Archives page

Kokyo (AKA Luminous Owl) Henkel - is a Soto Zen priest who came to the SF Zen Center in 1990 and is currently leading a practice period at Green Gulch Farm. He and his wife Shoho Kuebast founded the Bright Window Hermitage on Tassajara Road. In his college years Kokyo was a dedicated Deadhead. Listen to this podcast with him and learn more.

An Outline

What we are studying like this in our lectures is to have some outline of Buddhism, intellectually. Without some outline of teaching, or suggestions, you cannot practice. You cannot study. That is why we give you some advice or framework of Buddhism and point out some important points in your practice.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 68-07-23 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

Beginner’s mind is when you just start your study, you have no prejudice, no preconceived ideas. You don’t know anything about Buddhism, and you open your whole mind to Buddhism. That is beginner’s mind. But after you studied our way, you may feel as if you understood Buddhism, and as if you attained something special. That is quite usual. But at that time you lose your beginner’s mind. So, if you feel even though you are studying Buddhism, you should like to study more, and your study is not good enough, then what you study is Buddhism. Do you understand? That is beginner’s mind. And that beginner’s mind is also big mind.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 68-07-23 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.

Understanding Religion

Before you realize our religions are a practice, through and through, there are religions, you know. But after you understand religion, there is no religion because we are always with people, and we struggle with the same problems. What we are doing is not different from what everyone is doing. We find out this truth after going through various understandings and experiences. We come to this certain point again, and on and on we follow this way with people. So that is the point after you go through various religious experiences. And at the same time it is the starting point of religion.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 68-07-23 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.

Our Own Teaching

All the religions are good, if studied with sincerity for the people and through and through, each is good. We need various religions because there are many different types of people. So, each one of us needs his own religion. So, strictly speaking, religion should be each one’s own. And, when we have our own teaching, mysteriously enough it becomes a true teaching, and we can communicate with each other. This is also true.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 68-07-23 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.

To Help People

There were many various laymen with independent-based religions for the sake of religion, not for the sake of people. At first Buddha wanted instead to protect his people as a priest. But he found out it was not possible. He studied various religions, and he found out all the religions at that time were not so good. So, he started his own religion to help people. That is, I think, Buddhism.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 68-07-23 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

Marta Dabis - is the founding priest of Jissoji Zen Ann Arbor with a lot of experience in Buddhist chaplaincy. She practiced at the SF Zen Center for some years starting in 2007. She has had teachers in the Suzuki and Katagiri lineages. Hear all about it in this podcast with her.

Ed Brown gives Saturday lecture at SFZC City Center

 

Brings tears to my eyes. Thanks for inviting him Mako. - dc

Ed Brown cuke page

Amida Buddha’s Mouth

Even according to the Shin school that believes in Amida Buddha as a saver of sentient beings, this is also not absolute teaching. When we say Amida Buddha, Amida Buddha includes every one of us. The mouth we repeat Amida Buddha’s name is also Amida Buddha’s mouth, not our mouth. When we repeat his name with this idea, then that is to believe in Amida Buddha. It is not because we repeat his name that Amida Buddha saves us but because all of us are originally a part of Amida Buddha. That is our understanding of how we believe in Amida Buddha.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 68-07-23 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.

Emphasis

According to the Shingon school, the Diamond Sutra is the supreme teaching which was told by Buddha. If a teaching was told by some special person, according to his character or to his ability, it is not absolute teaching because it was told by him, like medicine to a patient. If the patient changes, the teaching will change, so it is not absolute teaching. But the Diamond Sutra, told by Buddha to himself, is the only teaching which we can depend on. But this is not a complete understanding. That is why Zen puts emphasis on our practice.

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 68-07-23 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.

Tendai Teaching

According to the Tendai school, there are aspects of being and non-being, and the third aspect is something beyond being and non-being. So for the Tendai school, according to the third aspect, you cannot arrange our teaching this way or that way. To arrange teaching this way or that way, in a time span or in a space span, is not the teaching which may be in the third dimension. And the absolute teaching which we transmit from master to others is not that kind of teaching.

Photo by Teteki Andrew Atkeison

—cuke.com/ig for links to the source of the image. Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 68-07-23 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.