The SFZC Audio Archive

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Title Speaker Date

Respect for Things

Serial: SR-00200 What Is Our Practice? Sunday, January 4, 1970 San Francisco Practice as taking care of everything. Not making a noise with the chairs. Practice with new people coming to City Center. Extending the spirit of the zendo to everyday... The talk focuses on the essence of practice in Zen Buddhism, emphasizing the act of integrating zazen, or seated meditation, with everyday life through respect for all things. The discussion proposes that practice involves...
Bodhisattva Way, Big Mind, Building, Concentration, difficulty, Sutra, Bowing, Offering,...
Jan 04 1970
City Center

Awakening Within: Embrace Your Buddha Nature

Serial: KR-00043 The talk explores the significance of the Buddha's enlightenment on December 8th, emphasizing the importance of personal experience of enlightenment, as understanding through texts is insufficient. It discusses the inherent...
New Year, Don't Know Mind, difficulty, Buddha Nature, Meditation, Chanting, Patience,...
Dec 28 1969

Fundamental Buddhist Point: To Adjust Ourselves To Our Surroundings

Serial: SR-00192 Adjusting to life at City Center. Cleaning and zazen. Do we need furniture to practice? The talk explores the fundamental Buddhist principle of adapting ourselves to our surroundings rather than altering environments to better suit personal convenience. It emphasizes the significance of simplicity and the mindful...
Dogen, Eiheiji, Zazen, Culture, Building
Dec 21 1969
City Center

Shosan Ceremony

Serial: SF-05964 Friday, December 5, 1969 Previously described as intranscribable - now clearer ----- File name: 69-12-05N: untitled level low. [Verbatim transcript not available. (Sound problem.)] The talk discusses various aspects of Zen practice, focusing on themes such as fear, selflessness, the nature of Buddha, and the practice of questioning. The exchanges emphasize the dissolution of ego, detachment from material...
Ceremony, Shosan, Sixth Patriarch, Big Mind, Letting Go, Separation, Attachment, Dragons,...
Dec 05 1969
Tassajara

Embracing Emptiness: Transformative Awakening

Serial: KR-00041 The talk focuses on the Buddhist concept of transformation and the Buddha mind, emphasizing how human behavior and spiritual attitudes supersede societal systems for achieving happiness. The discussion includes the Buddhist...
Evil, Happiness, Religion, Addiction, Birth-and-Death, Delusion, Discrimination, Suffering...
Dec 04 1969

Winter Sesshin Lecture No. 6

Serial: SR-00201 The lecture emphasizes the importance of integrating Zen practice into all aspects of life, equating the observance of "pure rules" in the zendo with the practice of zazen. This integration is crucial for maintaining and...
Sesshin, Ceremony, Freedom, Observe, Wisdom, Oneness, Beginners, Precepts
Dec 04 1969
Tassajara

Winter Sesshin Lecture No. 5

Serial: SR-00202 Winter Sesshin Lecture No. 5 Wednesday, December 3, 1969 Tassajara This talk explores the bodhisattva practices, emphasizing the importance of zazen and the six primary practices: keeping precepts, almsgiving, vigor, patience, and wisdom, with specific attention to Dogen Zenji's interpretation...
Sesshin, Bodhisattva, Dogen, Shobogenzo, Oneness, Ceremony, Precepts, Wisdom...
Dec 03 1969
Tassajara

Infinite Wisdom: Emptiness in Practice

Serial: KR-00040 The talk delves into the exploration of wisdom and the infinity of the world, examining the nature of subjectivity and objectivity through the lens of Zen teachings. The discourse discusses significant Buddhist principles like...
difficulty, Perfect Wisdom, Balance, Don't Know Mind, Meditation, Posture, Building,...
Dec 02 1969

Practice Should Not Be Perfect, So Descendants Have Something To Do

Serial: SR-00203 Winter Sesshin Lecture No. 4 Tuesday, December 2, 1969 The lecture emphasizes that the core of Zen practice is not about achieving perfection or completion but about the continuous effort, moment by moment, allowing successors to inherit the spirit of practice. It argues that true...
Sesshin, Dogen, Building, difficulty, Monastic Practice, Transmission, Zazen, Breath, Anger...
Dec 02 1969
Tassajara

Way-Seeking Mind, Part III

Serial: SR-00194 Winter Sesshin, Day 3, Lecture No. 3 Monday, December 1, 1969 Tassajara The talk explores the concept of "way-seeking mind" or "buddha-mind," emphasizing its essence as the bodhisattva-mind focused on aiding oneself and others. The discussion underscores the importance of confronting difficulties...
Way-Seeking Mind, Sesshin, Big Mind, difficulty, Vow, Monks, Priest
Dec 01 1969
Tassajara

Awakening the Inner Wellspring Wisdom

Serial: KR-00039 The talk emphasizes the necessity of the way-seeking mind and wisdom, focusing on individual enlightenment derived from personal practice rather than borrowed teachings. The discussion compares this to drawing fresh water from a...
Ceremony, Delusion, Religion
Nov 30 1969

Way-Seeking Mind, Part II

Serial: SR-00266 Winter Sesshin Lecture No. 2 Sunday, November 30, 1969 Tassajara The talk explores the concept of the "way-seeking mind" within Zen practice, emphasizing that it is not something to be attained but is inherent within everyone. This mind is realized through acts done with pure motivation,...
Way-Seeking Mind, Sesshin, Buddha Mind, Don't Know Mind, Big Mind, Intention, Beginners,...
Nov 30 1969
Tassajara

Way-Seeking Mind, Part I

Serial: SR-00267 Winter Sesshin, Lecture No. 1 Saturday, November 29, 1969 Tassajara This talk explores the essence of "way-seeking mind" as critical to authentic Zen practice, emphasizing that practice without this mindset is merely mechanical. It cautions against relying on intellectual understanding alone,...
Way-Seeking Mind, Sesshin, Faith
Nov 29 1969
Tassajara

Pinch Hitter

Serial: SR-00268A The talk examines the distinction between personal enlightenment efforts and the broader, altruistic quest for universal happiness, centralizing the "way-seeking mind" or "doshin" as essential to Buddhist practice. It discusses...
Practice, Zazen, Time
Nov 25 1969
A
City Center

Pinch Hitter

Serial: SR-00268B Tuesday, November 25, 1969 Evening LectureCity Center, San Francisco [Katagiri spoke before Suzuki. This portion has now been edited out] The brief talk expresses gratitude and joy over a successful event, metaphorically described using baseball terminology. The speaker reflects on recovering from an illness and the importance of rest after achieving one's...
Wisdom, Truth, Zazen, Priest, Delusion, Meditation, Greed
Nov 25 1969
B
City Center

Opening Lecture At Page Street Zendo: American Precepts

Serial: SR-00264 Moving into the new space. Don't worry about success, practice in the present. Hyakujo's regulations, positive and negative sides of guidelines and precepts. The talk emphasizes the importance of practicing Zen in the present moment and introduces the concept of creating precepts specific to the context of American Zen practice, analogous to the Hyakujo Shingi established by Hyakujo...
Precepts, Shingi, Precepts, Monks, Gratitude, Building
Nov 22 1969
City Center

Epilogue: Zen Mind

Serial: SR-00263 American practice different from Japanese practice. Enlightenment experience is beyond good and bad, beyond our usual way of thinking. Big mind is always with you, never outside of yourself. Discussion at Tassajara around sex.... The talk discusses the distinct nature of Zen practice in America, emphasizing that it differs from traditional Japanese practice. Central themes include the concept of "big mind," which transcends subjective experiences of good...
Big Mind, Enlightenment, Passions, Big Mind, Don't Know Mind, Consciousness, Community,...
Nov 16 1969

Form Is Emptiness and Emptiness Is Form

Serial: SR-00243 The talk focuses on elucidating the concept of "form is emptiness, and emptiness is form" from the Prajnaparamita Sutra, contrasting this Mahayana understanding against what is described as the more limited Theravadan view of...
Heart Sutra, Emptiness, Big Mind, Forms, Don't Know Mind, Interdependence, Monks, Wisdom...
Nov 13 1969

Some Questions

Serial: SR-00244 The talk examines key concepts from the Lotus Sutra, focusing on terms such as "no outflow" and "Buddha-seed," emphasizing the balance of desires and the socio-political analogies like communism versus human society in...
Lotus Sutra, Time, Ego, Wisdom, Passions, Mindfulness, Buddha Nature, Culture, Oneness,...
Nov 11 1969

Miss Ransom Was A Teacher Of Conversation

Serial: SR-00242 [Not an interview I think, but a question Peter asks at the beginning of the lecture, possibly pre-arranged with Suzuki. Got labeled as an interview because I had it grouped with Peter’s interviews long ago and maybe I was the... The talk revolves around the influence of Miss Ransom on Suzuki Roshi and her significant role in shaping his views regarding teaching Buddhism to Westerners. Initially skeptical of non-Buddhist practices, Miss Ransom's eventual...
Japan, Komazawa University, Buddhism, Shobogenzo, Obon, Conversation, Building, Offering,...
Nov 09 1969

Lotus Sutra, Lecture No. III-7

Serial: SR-00042 Third Lotus Sutra Series Friday Evening, November 7, 1969 Zen Mountain Center The main thesis of the talk centers on interpreting the true meaning of the Lotus Sutra, especially in terms of the distinction between skillful means in Buddhist teaching and the ultimate understanding of emptiness, which...
Lotus Sutra, Emptiness, Passions, Lotus Sutra, Concentration, Evil, Sutra, Mahayana, Precepts...
Nov 07 1969
Series 3, Talk 7
Tassajara

Zen Beyond Borders

Serial: RB-00416 The discussion explores the challenges and cultural differences faced by Westerners practicing Zen in Japan. It highlights the barriers due to linguistic, cultural, and traditional differences, as well as how these affect...
Japan, Culture
Nov 05 1969

Lotus Sutra, Lecture No. III-6

Serial: SF-06005 Third Lotus Sutra Series Thursday Evening, October 30, 1969 Zen Mountain Center The talk analyzes a section of the Lotus Sutra and discusses its translation by Kumarajiva, emphasizing the accessibility and popularity of his rendition in China and Japan. The discussion includes the significance of certain...
Lotus Sutra, Beginner’s Mind, Politics, Interview, Concentration, Precepts, Freedom, Doubt...
Oct 30 1969
Series 3, Talk 6
Tassajara

Navigating Japan's Cultural Landscape

Serial: RB-00418 The central thesis revolves around sharing insights about navigating Japanese culture, especially concerning the distinctions between American individualism and Japanese collectivism. Practical advice is provided for prospective...
Japan, Culture
Oct 29 1969

Zen and Western Intersections

Serial: RB-00419 The discussion revolves around the intersection of Buddhist practice, Japanese cultural mindset, and Western American socio-cultural perspectives. It explores distinct ways of thinking and perceiving, rooted in different...
Japan, Time
Oct 28 1969

Zen Pathways: Rethinking Existence

Serial: RB-00415 The principal thesis of the talk explores the Japanese cultural emphasis on relationships and processes over endpoints and products, drawing contrasts with Western approaches, and suggests that these cultural forms present...
Japan, Time
Oct 28 1969

Lotus Sutra, Lecture No. III-5

Serial: SF-06006 Third Lotus Sutra Series Tuesday Evening, October 28, 1969 Zen Mountain Center The talk explores the distinction between Hinayana and Mahayana Buddhism, emphasizing the divergent interpretations and approaches to Buddha's teachings over time. It outlines how the Theravada (Hinayana) tradition focused on...
Lotus Sutra, Mahayana, Skandas, Balance
Oct 28 1969
Series 3, Talk 5
Tassajara

Living Authentically Amid Tradition

Serial: KR-00038 The talk primarily discusses the complexities of respecting traditions and individual choices in life, focusing on the significance of living respectfully in the present rather than being bound by principles, especially those...
Greed, Funeral, Observe, Ceremony, Suffering
Oct 25 1969

Lotus Sutra, Lecture No. III-4

Serial: SR-00038 [Third Lotus Sutra Series]Saturday Evening, October 25, 1969Zen Mountain Center The talk focuses on the central teachings of the Lotus Sutra, particularly emphasizing the profound nature of Buddha's wisdom which can only be fully comprehended by Buddhas themselves. The discussion highlights the concept of "...
Lotus Sutra, First Principle, Wisdom, Buddha Nature, Sutra, Priest, Mahayana, Suffering,...
Oct 25 1969
Series 3, Talk 4
Tassajara

Lotus Sutra, Lecture No. III-2

Serial: SR-00037 Third Lotus Sutra SeriesThursday Evening, October 23, 1969Zen Mountain Center [The recording starts with Suzuki reading from: Saddharma Pundarika or The Lotus of the True Law, translated by H. Kern, New York: Dover, 1963 (an... The talk revolves around interpretations of Chapter II, "Skillfulness," from the Lotus Sutra, emphasizing the profound but often underestimated importance of skillful means in Buddhist practice. The discussion highlights the...
Lotus Sutra, First Principle, First Principle, Don't Know Mind, Consciousness, Sutra,...
Oct 23 1969
Series 3, Talk 2
Tassajara

Lotus Sutra, Lecture No. III-1

Serial: SR-00212 [Third Lotus Sutra Series]1 Monday Evening, October 20, 1969 Zen Mountain Center Introduction to third series of talks on the Lotus Sutra. Zen as practical teaching. Suzuki Roshi's mother recited parts of the sutra when he was... The lecture introduces the third series of talks on the Lotus Sutra at the Zen Mountain Center, emphasizing the sutra's role in Zen practice and its nature, which is likened to an experience similar to engaging with grand music...
Lotus Sutra, Mahayana, Dogen, Mahayana, Lotus Sutra, Precepts, Ego, Sutra, Priest, Building,...
Oct 20 1969
Series 3, Talk 1
Tassajara

Embodied Enlightenment Through Practice

Serial: KR-00034 This talk explores the concept of "shugyo" in Zen Buddhism, translating to "refined practice," emphasizing the necessity of engaging with both mind and body to achieve enlightenment. The discussion addresses the Zen school's...
Right Effort, Religion
Oct 19 1969

Navigating Zen Training in Japan

Serial: RB-00414 The talk centers on the challenges and considerations involved in studying Buddhism in Japan as a Westerner, emphasizing the importance of understanding Japanese culture and language. A key point is the cultural friction that...
Japan, Monastic Practice, Time
Oct 18 1969

New Students' Questions

Serial: SR-00211 Tuesday, October 14, 1969San Francisco This talk addresses the concept of karma, the bodhisattva's vow, and the role of zazen in understanding the Buddhist view of life. It explores the notion of everything having meaning from different perspectives, highlighting the...
Question-and-Answer, War, Buddha Nature, Addiction, Diversity, Vow, Continuous Practice,...
Oct 14 1969

Beyond Words: Living Zen Wisdom

Serial: KR-00033 The talk discusses Zen Buddhist teachings on the importance of not clinging to personal views and the practice of wisdom in daily life. It uses stories such as the narrative of Fuchang and the anecdote of Hakurakuten to...
Silence, difficulty, Meditation, Buddha Mind, Enemies, Buddha Nature, Discrimination,...
Oct 07 1969

Finding Purpose in Chaos

Serial: KR-00032 The talk explores the story of King Kuntun and the philosophical implications of chaos and the concept of completeness, comparing this tale to the lives of three individuals with unique paths, emphasizing the significance of...
Meditation
Sep 28 1969

Zen Action Beyond Form

Serial: KR-00030 The talk analyzes a Zen koan from the "Mumonkan" or "Gateless Gate," specifically focusing on the story "Tipping Over a Water Vase". The narrative illustrates the non-attachment and direct action in Zen Buddhism, exemplified by...
Community, Building, Interview, Chanting, Balance, Delusion, Enthusiasm
Sep 27 1969

Settling in the Dharma Mind

Serial: KR-00037 The talk explores the concepts of Right Thought (Shonen) and jhana in Zen Buddhism, focusing on Dogen Zenji’s teachings. Right Thought is presented as retaining the Dharma without forgetting, emphasizing the importance of...
Concentration, difficulty, Meditation, Happiness, Discrimination, Conversation, Observe,...
Sep 23 1969

Why I Came to America

Serial: SR-00157 "Why I became a priest" Memories of his father as a temple priest. Wanting to be an unusual priest himself, to teach people. Training at a temple with Oka Sotan. Enjoying teaching people who have no preconceptions about... The talk reflects on the personal journey to becoming a priest and coming to America, influenced by a background of poverty and the historic hardships faced by Buddhist temples due to governmental Shinto favoritism. Key...
Priest, Meiji, Japan, Dogen, Priest, New Year, Ceremony, Enemies, Monks, Sutra, Forms,...
Sep 16 1969
Sokoji

On Zen Center History, Personal History, and Nona Ransom

Serial: SF-05610 Interview of Suzuki Roshi by Peter Schneider The talk explores personal and Zen Center history, focusing on experiences with Miss Nona Ransom and the journey to understanding and practicing Zen. The narrative includes reflections on early students at the Zen Center, the...
Interview, Transmission, Priest, Hate, Suzuki Roshi, Enemies, Passions, Bell, Conversation,...
Sep 16 1969
1 of 2

Interview of Suzuki by Peter Schneider

Serial: 69-09-16-IB Entered onto disk by DC 1996 or soRevised by Bill Redican 9/01 [I dated this 69-09-16 to go with other Peter Schneider interview and lecture of that date. Transcription was difficult with much time spent making sure -- or maybe... -
Interview, First Principle,
Sep 16 1969

Pure Silk, Sharp Iron

Serial: SR-00246 Sitting cross-legged - and then what? Having the right state of mind. Chinese and Japanese culture. His absent-mindedness, impatience. Virtue of endurance. The talk explores the concept of Zen practice, emphasizing the importance of attaining a certain state of mind through both physical posture and deep personal experience. It draws analogies from Japanese and Chinese cultural...
Zazen, Dogen, Culture, Ego, Transmission, Patience, Forms, Pain, War, Freedom...
Sep 14 1969

Zazen: Unlocking True Nature

Serial: KR-00036 The talk explicates Dogen's pivotal chapter "Bendo wa" from the "Shobo Genzo," emphasizing the primacy of Zazen as the essential practice within Zen Buddhism and the unique characteristics of single and direct transmission. The...
Transmission, Chanting, Birth-and-Death, Teacher-and-Student, Religion, Buddha Mind, Silence,...
Sep 07 1969

Experiencing Zen: Intuition Over Instruction

Serial: KR-00029 The talk delves into the essence of Zen, emphasizing the concept of "nothing" as a foundational understanding, where teachings are not delivered through structured lessons but instead through direct experiences and interactions....
Instruction, Concentration, Samadhi, difficulty, Meditation, Realization
Sep 03 1969

Sesshin, Third Night Lecture

Serial: SR-00130 TassajaraSeptember, 1969 The talk delves into the intersection of practice and enlightenment in Zen, emphasizing that true practice encompasses everything, aligning with Dogen Zenji's teachings. The practice, whether in zazen or sutra recitation,...
Sesshin, Emptiness, Passions, Intuition, Bell, Forms, difficulty
Sep 1969
Tassajara

Shosan Ceremony

Serial: SR-00213 TassajaraSeptember, 1969 [Beginning of ceremony not recorded.] The talk centers on a Shosan Ceremony at Tassajara, emphasizing the nature of karma, the integration of breath practices, and the duality of life and death from a Zen perspective. The discussion explores various philosophical...
Sesshin, Shosan, Perfect Wisdom, Dragons, Breath, Death, Intuition, Lay, Bell, Continuous...
Sep 1969
Tassajara

Sesshin, Sixth Night Lecture

Serial: SR-00129 TassajaraSeptember, 1969 The talk focuses on Zen teachings regarding the distinction between the "small mind" and the "big mind," exemplified in the exchange between the Seventeenth Patriarch and the Eighteenth Patriarch about whether it is the bell or...
Sesshin, Don't Know Mind, Posture, Ceremony, Addiction, Duality, Beginners, Zazen, Wisdom...
Sep 1969
Tassajara

Stand Up By The Ground

Serial: SF-05209 Protection Master "Suzuki Roshi summer sesshin 1969 2nd night lecture Sesshin, Second Night LectureSeptember, 1969Tassajara The talk discusses the concept of "inmo," as presented by Dogen Zenji, exploring its dual nature as both a definitive presence and a question, with parallels drawn to the term "it" in English. The speaker elaborates on how this...
Sesshin, Dogen, Time, Continuous Practice, Freedom, Doubt
Sep 1969
Tassajara

Wherever You Are, Enlightenment Is There

Serial: SF-05184 Sesshin: First Night Lecture, “I Don't Know Zazen”September 1969Tassajara Knowing that we have buddha nature even while we are in the dualistic world of good and bad. Analogy with various parts of a meal. Analogy... The talk addresses the dual nature of existence, emphasizing the recognition of buddha-nature amidst dualistic notions of good and bad. It highlights the importance of zazen practice in realizing enlightenment within imperfection...
Dogen, Buddha Nature, Enlightenment, Practice, Enlightenment, Zazen
Sep 1969
Tassajara

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