Chris Flynn: Docho Roshi, some Zen masters, both contemporary and historical, have put a great deal of emphasis on reaching kensho. They put emphasis on method and posture, but here at Tassajara and at Sokoji we don't do that.
SR: Then what will you do here? Here it is necessary to have confidence to keep up with everyday activity which is going here. If it is difficult to do everything perfectly, then choose something like zazen practice or like sutra reciting, like sutra study. Choose one or two out of the many activities, and try to be concentrated on the activity you have chosen, and try to do it satisfactorily. --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture - 68-11-11 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. - DC
And swiping this great photo from it as well.
philip-whalen-anne-waldman-allen-ginsberg-performing-at-naropa-1975-photo-by-rachel-homer
Perfect time to not have my newer ASUS laptop. The shop needs it till Thursday. It's Wednesday morning. Watching Tuesday eve election results while getting it ready to go. Told me to back up all data as they won't. Doing that now. Nyoman will be here to pick it up and deliver it to the shop when I call and let him know I'm ready. Backup laptop old and slow but I guess it will do. If not, these are good days to not have it. Posts and podcasts are pre-loaded. Pray for peace.
Not fight thoughts and fears and doubts and confusion. Just sit and breathe into it all -- while watching CNN and MSNBC, follow 538 and Talking Points Memo. Drink tea. Eat fruit. Stand up a lot and do little exercises and swing my arms, some yoga. Pace. - DC
Doug Bradle: Docho Roshi, there you sit resolute in your serenity, and here am I miserable and quivering in my confusion. And as I try to think of a question for you, I just became hopelessly tangled up in my own thoughts. And then, just now I thought, well, you probably had to go through the same thing at one time too. And you probably had to try and think of a question for your master. And what did you do? Did you become hopelessly confused like me, or did you find some way out?
SR: You say you don't know what to do. If there is no one to ask about the confusion, then what is the confusion? The confusion itself is already the meaning of life, your own experience which you have to get through. So to ask a question, to present a question, is a kind of communication-- mutual understanding. It means to extend your experience. So you should accept the confusion as your experience of life. To be in confusion means to be amid the boundless mercy of the Buddha. We should accept in that way. And we should lead our life in this way. --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture - 68-11-11 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. - DC
Saturday featured David Schneider's piece on Philip etc here from Parole Blog. Here's another
Passing this on - Dear friends, Thank you for registering for the Shambhala Online Book of the Month--November Edition featuring Street Zen: The Life and Work of Issan Dorsey, by Tensho David Schneider. The live event will take place on Sunday, November 1, 2020, at the following times: 10:00am (Pacific) / 11:00am (Mountain) / 12:00pm (Central) / 1:00 pm (Eastern) / 2:00 pm (Atlantic) / 18:00 (UK) / 19:00 (CET) (If you are unable to attend, please know that the event will be recorded.) We look forward to seeing you online soon! Sophie (Shambhala Online) ********************************************** Zoom Meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/93959844700? Meeting ID: 939 5984 4700 Passcode: 991464 |