A Water story

Yesterday, when I was preparing for the evening lecture (in San Francisco) although I tried to find out something to talk about, I couldn’t find out anything so I was just reading. And I thought of the story which I was told in Obun Festival when I was young. The story is about the water or the story is about the people in Hell.

Suzuki begins lecture at Los Altos thus

It’s been a pretty long time since I saw you. I am still studying hard to find out what is our way. Recently I reached the conclusion that there is no Buddhism or there is no Zen or anything. --------------------------------------------------  " Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture - 67-12-014 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC

Concluding Statement for the Q & A Shosan Ceremony

SR: Yakusan Zenji-- Yakusan Zenji did not give lecture for a long time. The monks asked him to give them lecture. Yakusan Zenji mounted on-- on the altar, and seeing every monk one by one, and came down from the altar, and went back to his own room again. A monk asked-- a monk who was responsible for the zendo asked him why did he-- didn't he give any lecture? Yakusan said, there is a master-- there is scripture master or Buddhist philosophy master, and I am master of Zen. Don't wonder who I am, he said.

Zen monks are Zen monks because they are speaking in fluently without saying anything-- just by everyday activity. That is how Zen student should be. That is why I said Buddha started giving teaching when he attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in the country of Magadha. We should not forget this point.

And we should take care of our practice, not only zazen practice but only-- whatever we do in Tassajara. I am very grateful for you to observe our way in various way without asking why we do that or why we should do this. Whatever you do, that is our practice. There you will find out yourself. Our practice is valuable because we can find out ourselves on what you do in that moment.

Thank you very much.

 --------------------------------------------------  " Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki shosan ceremony - 67-12-07 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC

Observes

Student II: Docho Roshi, who observes our way?
SR: You observe our way. When you observe our way everything observes our way. So our way is universal way, and at the same time your own way.

 --------------------------------------------------  " Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki shosan ceremony - 67-12-07 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC

An Interview with Jane Hirshfied

A Continuously Accidental and Precarious Thing - from Marsh Hawk Press. The title of the interview is a quote from the interview about how she sees her poetry. She has a wonderful way with words. This interview is not dated which I think is not cool but they didn't ask me. - DC

Know Jane through Zen Center and friendship since. He has been a helpful reader/editor of my books. If you search for "hirshfield" in the cke.com site search box you'll see a ton of links come up. Thanks Jane. 

Neither Mind nor Buddha

Student HH: Docho Roshi, neither mind nor Buddha, what is this?

SR: Neither mind nor Buddha points out the real Buddha because we are caught by the word of Buddha. If we say “Buddha,” we want to find out where is Buddha, when Buddha is right here. So “neither mind nor Buddha,” we say.

 --------------------------------------------------  " Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki shosan ceremony - 67-12-07 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC

David Schneider post opps

Will link to Dwelling Place of Our Ancestors soon. That was a post in progress that wasn't supposed to go up yet. Hang on. - DC

Avoid

Student GG: Docho Roshi, if everything changes, why is there always suffering?

SR: Because of change. Change itself is suffering. Change is essential nature for everything, suffering cannot be avoided. There is no way to avoid it. If you know there is no way to avoid it, there is our relief.
 --------------------------------------------------  " Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki shosan ceremony - 67-12-07 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC

Sangha

Student FF: Docho Roshi, who are the sangha?

SR: We are. Those who are in Tassajara is sangha-- in limited sense. But all of us-- all sentient being are sangha.

 --------------------------------------------------  " Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki shosan ceremony - 67-12-07 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC

Now?

Student EE: Docho Roshi, what now?

SR: Now. Don't ask me. Now is now. You have now. I have my own now. That is why now is so important. It is beyond question and answer.

 --------------------------------------------------  " Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki shosan ceremony - 67-12-07 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC