Rip Loring Palmer

He died on the morning of November 11th with a smile on his face.

Loring Palmer cuke page - with a link to a long podcast done with him recently. 

Issan Tommy Dorsey

" This is a recollection of the last 10 days of Issan's life." - Ken Ireland

Serious

Pat Lang: Docho Roshi, could you explain what it means to be a serious Zen student?

SR: Serious? Excuse me-- serious Zen--

Pat L.: Serious student of Zen Buddhism.

SR: Serious student Zen Buddhism. Don't try to be serious [laughter, laughs]. Just keep up with our practice. Don't, you know, try to get up earlier than other people [laughs, laughter]. Stay in bed. Okay?

Pat L.: Okay. [Laughter.] Thank you very much.         --------------------------- 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

Lew Richmond's new book has been released

EVERY BREATH, NEW CHANCES: HOW TO GROW OLD WITH HONOR AND DIGNITY has been released!  Purchase it here.  Amazon link is here. Watch a 1 minute video of Lew describing the book and check out his website for more info about him and his work.

Lew Richmond cuke page

Meaningful

Pat Herreshoff: Docho Roshi, I do not understand the meaning of my life. We have been given to understand that meaning is eternal. Is it possible for me to relate eternal meaning to this transient body? 

SR: Yes it is possible, and eternal meaning is actually in your everyday life. So there is no need to figure out what is the meaning of life-- especially for you. I say what you are doing is very good, so don't try to figure out the meaning of your life. To me your life is meaningful, but I don't know right now if it is meaningful for you or not. But your life is meaningful, very meaningful, and that you are struggling with it is also meaningful. Don't lose another aspect of your life. Don't stick to one aspect only.       --------------------------- 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

Podcast report

 Erik Storlie was our guest twice last week. He's an early Suzuki student (from 64) who helped Katagiri found his new group after he left the SFZC. Has also written a couple of books. We had one long phone chat from which I cut the first twenty minutes or so for the Life in Bali podcast from last week - not that he has ever been here but it seemed to fit in there. The rest of it went up Saturday. Here's his cuke page.

A Chat with Erik Storlie

Life in Bali with guest Erik Storlie

Keep Up

 DC: Docho Roshi, I am so grateful to you and Tassajara and Zen Center that I'd like to study Zen. What should I do first? 

SR: You should do something in right time in the right way. Try to keep up with our practice.      --------------------------- 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

An almost silent Q and A in a Shosan Ceremony at Tassajara

 Arnold Silberman: Docho Roshi. [One crack! from one of them - then silence for a few moments.] Thank you very much.       --------------------------- 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

DC Comment: I was there (I asked the next question), but I don't remember this. Seems like either Arnold stood silently till Suzuki his something - like the mealboard in front of him with his staff, or that Arnold made the sound, maybe by bringing clappers with him to strike them together once and then Suzuki just bowed.

Upgraded Podcast page

Cuke Audio Podcast page on cuke.com now features the guests for the Zen related podcasts with nifty little photos beside their names and links to their podcast and cuke page. The other Zen related podcast themes - reading Crooked Cucumber, Zen Is Right Here, and Tassajara Stories, each have a page that's linked to. Next got to create a page for the Life in Bali weekly podcasts with guests.  - thanks Peter Ford

Sermon

Jack Elias: Docho Roshi, there are many questions about how hard and how long. The stream outside Tassajara has been flowing a long time. I wish to ask it now how long and how hard must it flow? Listen.

SR: If you notice that point, that is Buddha's sermon.         --------------------------- 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