The Suzuki Roshi Audio Archive

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Showing 31 talks

Title	Speaker	Date
Not Sticking to Enlightenment Serial: SF-05445B ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #26, by Shundo David Haye ===== It's not completely clear how this talk dropped off the radar, as the tape had been copied and transcribed previously – indeed, it features in Not... The talk centers on the challenges of transitioning from sesshin to everyday life, emphasizing non-attachment to 'enlightenment' as a fixed goal. It highlights the teachings of the Sixth Patriarch Huineng, particularly the notion... Sesshin, Sixth Patriarch, Emptiness	Suzuki Roshi	Feb 12 1971 B City Center
Ignorance Serial: SF-05131A SR 014 - On this tape: lectures A and B and also first part of D. This is to be known as the A-B lecture tape or #1 ZMC (has been transcribed) Track 1 Roshi's lecture A 9/8/67 - copied The lecture discusses the concept of ignorance within both Zen Buddhism and general Buddhist teachings, with a focus on the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination as an explanation of the cycle of suffering initiated by ignorance... *Prajna Paramita, Attachment, Freedom, training, Daily Life, Diversity, confusion, Hate...*	Suzuki Roshi	Sep 08 1967 Tassajara
At The End Of The Year We Clean Up Our House Serial: SF-05970B Dec 1968 New Year Lecture This lecture discusses the theme of renewal, both physically and spiritually, at the end of the year, drawing parallels between the annual Japanese tradition of house cleaning and the Zen practice of remaining adaptable in life.... Beginner’s Mind, Dogen, Japan, New Year, Beginners, Transmission, Instruction, Priest, Faith...	Suzuki Roshi	Dec 29 1968 Sokoji
Talk on Shobogenzo Serial: SF-05111B Other Japanese lecture [case replaced 12/95. Case notes transcribed verbatim] This talk analyzes a chapter from the "Shobogenzo," focusing on the teachings about harmonious living within a Zen Monastery. The speaker emphasizes the notion that all members should coexist as seamlessly as milk and... Sesshin, Happiness	Katagiri Roshi	Aug 15 1966 B Sokoji
Tokusan and The Old Lady Serial: SF-05114C ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #10, by Shundo David Haye ===== This is another track from the same problematic reel as the previous two talks in this series. Initially, it seemed to be a talk of Katagiri Roshi - the first... The talk concludes with a discourse on the importance of wholehearted commitment to Zen practice, emphasizing a non-idealistic approach where each step in practice is executed with complete presence. The tale of Tokusan and the... Sesshin, Diamond Sutra, Balance, training, Religion	Suzuki Roshi	Feb 19 1966 1:00pm Sokoji
To Study The Self Serial: SF-05114D The talk focuses on the essential nature of Zen practice and the concept of self-identity through the metaphor of a burning candle. The process of studying Buddhism is described as a way to study and ultimately forget the self,... Sesshin, Dogen, Genjokoan, Bell, training, Faith	Suzuki Roshi	Feb 19 1966 pm Sokoji
Where There is Some Limitation, There is Universality Serial: SF-05114B ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #9, by Shundo David Haye ===== This talk is found on the same reel as the one previously discussed (https://suzukiroshi.engagewisdom.com/talks/tokusan-and-old-lady), along with two other tracks... This talk explores the interplay of light and dark as metaphors for the relative and absolute in Zen practice, drawing mainly from the Sandokai by Sekito Kisen. It emphasizes understanding the unique value of each entity through... Sesshin, Dogen, Buddha Nature, Faith, Evil, confusion, Freedom, Doubt	Suzuki Roshi	Feb 18 1966 Sokoji
Zazen Practice and Listen to the Right Teacher Serial: SF-05631 ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #24, by Shundo David Haye ===== In the last years of Suzuki Roshi's life, very few talks were lost from the collections. The previously available recording for this date was incomplete - it... The talk centers on the importance of right practice and the role of a teacher in Zen practice, especially regarding the understanding and observance of the bodhisattva precepts. Emphasis is placed on the necessity of a steadfast... Sesshin, Dogen, Bodhidharma, Precepts, Bodhisattva Precepts, Observe, Precepts, Faith,...	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 03 1970 City Center
Shosan Ceremony Serial: SF-05094 ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #23, by Shundo David Haye ===== This was the last of the three 5" reels that appeared to be from the summer of 1968, but there were no visual clues beyond the note "sounds like ZMC... The talk is a shosan ceremony, a formal question-and-answer session following a seven-day sesshin, where participants engage in a dialogue exploring Zen practice concepts. Central themes include the nature of self-realization,... Shosan, true dharma, Separation, Faith, Emptiness, confusion, Dragons, Ego, Passions, training...	Suzuki Roshi	Sep 10 1968 Tassajara
To Polish A Tile Is Our Practice Actually Serial: SF-05135B ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #18, by Shundo David Haye ===== Further to the date confusion and missing talks discussed last time, it seems that even Suzuki Roshi lost track of time during the first seven-day sesshin at... The talk centers on the fundamental role of practice in Zen, emphasizing that enlightenment cannot be separated from the act of practicing zazen. It draws heavily on the Genjo Koan and Prajna Paramita Sutra to illustrate how... Sesshin, Prajna Paramita, Shobogenzo, Discrimination, Silence	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 23 1967 Tassajara
Genjo Koan no 2 Serial: SF-05134C ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #16, by Shundo David Haye ===== This third talk from the historic inaugural sesshin at Tassajara in 1967, given the day after the first two, is divided into two parts, held together by the... This talk examines the concept of "dharma position" through the lens of work-practice in monastic life, as elucidated in Dogen's "Tenzo Kyokun." The narrative underscores the importance of complete engagement in one's current... Sesshin, Dogen, Priest, Emptiness, Dragons, confusion, Hate	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 21 1967 Tassajara
We Are Always Helping Others Serial: SF-05080B ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #13, by Shundo David Haye ===== This tape is, happily, the last of the messed-up recordings from the first half of 1966. It is the first of two talks from the July one-day sitting, and it begins... The talk elaborates on the Bodhisattva practice of helping others before helping oneself, a central tenet of Zen Buddhism. It challenges superficial understandings of service and stresses realizing the fundamental oneness of all... Shushogi, Enemies, training, Faith	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 23 1966 B Sokoji
Tokusan and The Old Lady Serial: SF-05114A ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #8, by Shundo David Haye ===== At Zen Center, responsibilities get passed on from person to person regularly. One part of traditional Zen training is that a monk should not expect to keep any... This talk explores the story of "Tokusan and the Old Lady" from Mumon's comment on Case 28 of the Mumonkan, with insights into Dogen's commentary from the 'Ungraspable Mind' fascicle in the Shobogenzo. It emphasizes the... Genjokoan, Buddha Mind, Zazen, Culture	Suzuki Roshi	Feb 19 1966 pm Sokoji
Esalen Institute: First of two lectures Serial: SF-05870 This is the first of two talks given at Esalen. The talk delves into the interconnectedness of Zen Buddhism with broader Buddhist teachings, highlighting the concept of 'selflessness' and its importance in balancing the understanding of life. This teaching is framed within the... Dogen, Time, Four Noble Truths, Lotus Sutra, New Year, Continuous Practice, Emptiness, Soto...	Suzuki Roshi	Jun 28 1968 Esalen
Real Calmness Is In A Noisy Place Serial: SF-05116B ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #12, by Shundo David Haye ===== This talk is another example of a track that was somehow overlooked for many years, while the two other talks on the same reel were catalogued. The written notes... The transcript discusses the integration of Zen practice in everyday life, focusing on the themes of "beginner's mind" and the calm in the midst of activity. Emphasizing practical experience over systematic teachings, the... Sesshin, Shobogenzo, Beginner’s Mind, Beginners, Ego, Silence, Hate, Doubt	Suzuki Roshi	Mar 26 1966 Sokoji
Pure Rules Serial: SF-05126A ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #6, by Shundo David Haye ===== The value of these sets of recordings during sesshins in the summer of 1965 at Sokoji is that not only were the formal dharma talks preserved, but also the... This talk discusses the importance of the zendo's physical and philosophical structure during a sesshin, drawing from traditional Soto Zen practices and teachings by Suzuki Roshi. It emphasizes the role of "Pure Rules," which... Sesshin, Instruction, Emptiness, Interview, Religion, Faith	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 28 1965 9:00am Sokoji
Lay Ordination Ceremony Serial: SR-00069B ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #25, by Shundo David Haye ===== This tape, which is unfortunately very poorly recorded, gives us a sense of the lay ordination ceremony that took place at City Center in August 1970. During the... The talk centers on the lay ordination ceremony conducted in August 1970, highlighting the significance of lay ordination in aligning with the bodhisattva way, which emphasizes compassion and adaptability in aiding others. It... Precepts, Ceremony, Commitment	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 23 1970 City Center
Bodhidharma Serial: SF-05081 ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #22, by Shundo David Haye ===== In this second tape made by Dan Gourley at Tassajara in the summer of 1968, Suzuki Roshi starts by answering a question about a scroll of Bodhidharma... The talk focuses on the significance of the "first principle" in Zen practice, elaborating on Bodhidharma's foundational contributions to Zen thought through historical anecdotes and philosophical teachings, including his... Beginner’s Mind, First Principle, Time, First Principle, Bodhidharma, Faith, Beginners,...	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 29 1968 Tassajara
When You Have A New Experience Serial: SF-05134B ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #15, by Shundo David Haye ===== This talk was given later on the same day of the first Tassajara sesshin as the last one discussed (https://suzukiroshi.engagewisdom.com/talks/genjo-koanmorning... The talk explores the four stages of belief, intellectual understanding, practice, and enlightenment as outlined in the Lotus Sutra and emphasizes that these stages do not form a linear progression. It advises practitioners... Sesshin, Faith, Doubt	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 20 1967 Evening Tassajara
Study Yourself Serial: SF-05123B ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #4, by Shundo David Haye ===== "I always felt his best Zen talks were the ones he gave on Thursday mornings in my home. They were spontaneous, succinct and spoken from a relaxed and contented... The talk delves into the nature of self-study in Buddhism, drawing extensively on Dogen's Genjo Koan. It emphasizes the practice of self-awareness through monastic activities, highlighting how these practices allow practitioners... Dogen, Genjokoan, Rinzai, Monastic Practice, Instruction, Hate, Doubt	Suzuki Roshi	Sep 09 1965 Los Altos
Calmness Serial: SF-05123A ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #3, by Shundo David Haye ===== In this talk, which became the Calmness chapter of Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind (p121), Suzuki Roshi starts with a Japanese Zen poem, offering a pair of analogies to... The talk explores the concept of seeing through contrasts, as encapsulated in a Japanese Zen poem, to illustrate the need for experiential context in perceiving life's essence. This aligns with Dogen's doctrine of "practice-... Dogen, Zazen, Composure	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 26 1965 Los Altos
Lunch Instruction Serial: SF-05126C ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #7, by Shundo David Haye ===== This is a second short instruction from the same day of sesshin as the Pure Rules talk (https://suzukiroshi.engagewisdom.com/talks/pure-rules900am); again the... This talk focuses on the practice of oryoki and the appropriate conduct following mistakes, as taught within monastic traditions. It begins with a rectification of a misstep regarding the use of the oryoki Buddha bowl,... Sesshin, Oryoki, Instruction, Ego, Japan, Observe	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 28 1965 12:00 Sokoji
Reflections on the Prajna Paramita Sutra Serial: SF-05135A ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #19, by Shundo David Haye ===== This is the talk that was chosen by the Wind Bell (p69) to represent the first sesshin at Tassajara; some of the discussion was also presented in that issue... The talk centers on the theme of form and emptiness in Zen practice, drawing primarily from the Diamond Sutra and other Buddhist teachings. It emphasizes the understanding that "form is emptiness, and emptiness is form," as a... Sesshin, Sengai, Time, Emptiness, Ego, Continuous Practice, Evil, Nirvana, Concentration,...	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 24 1967 Tassajara
Buddhism Is Not a Special Teaching; Enlightenment Is Not a Particular Stage Serial: SF-05134D ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #17, by Shundo David Haye ===== About half way through this sesshin talk, you can start to hear crickets in the background, getting louder over the remaining twenty minutes. They are a typical... The talk examines the teachings of the Genjo Koan, specifically the analogy of the bird and the fish, to emphasize the importance of practicing within one’s current circumstances and elements, without pursuing conceptual... *Sesshin, Dogen, Genjokoan, Enemies, Continuous Practice, Doubt, Religion, Peace...*	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 23 1967 Tassajara
Beginner's Mind Serial: SF-05122 ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #1, by Shundo David Haye ===== When this particular, otherwise unremarkable, reel was photographed as part of Engage Wisdom’s archiving process, unlike many other tapes stored at Zen... The talk explores the concept of "beginner's mind" in Zen practice, emphasizing its vital role in maintaining the purity and openness of one's practice. It stresses the importance of returning to an original, unknowing state of... Beginner’s Mind, Dogen, Precepts, Beginners, Precepts, Enemies, Posture	Suzuki Roshi	Nov 11 1965 Los Altos
Wisdom Seeks For Wisdom Serial: SF-05128A ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #2, by Shundo David Haye ===== Among the tapes previously known to exist in the Zen Center archives, the earliest were from a sesshin held at the end of July 1965, which contain recordings of... The talk discusses foundational aspects of Zen practice, emphasizing the interplay between Zazen and the practitioner's inmost nature, as presented by Suzuki Roshi at the Los Altos sittings. The central theme focuses on "wisdom... Precepts, Genjokoan, Instruction, Precepts, Buddha Nature, Freedom, Buddha Mind, Posture,...	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 22 1965 Los Altos
Think the Unthinkable Serial: SF-05137B ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #20, by Shundo David Haye ===== This talk comes from the middle of the second sesshin at Tassajara, in December 1967. Unlike the extreme heat of the summer sesshin, students would have... The talk focuses on Dogen's text "Fukanzazengi," particularly its exploration of zazen's value and function. Key discussions include the concept of the hara as an energy center integral to spiritual practice and the notion of "... Sesshin, Fukanzazengi, Buddha Mind, training, Sanctuary, Beginners, Duality, Separation, Evil...	Suzuki Roshi	Dec 04 1967 Afternoon Tassajara
Genjo Koan Serial: SF-05134A ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #14, by Shundo David Haye ===== The acquisition of Tassajara in 1967 was a huge leap for Zen Center. Suzuki Roshi had long been interested in finding a suitable location for a monastery; an... This talk explores the acquisition of Tassajara and its role in the transmission of Zen monastic practices under Suzuki Roshi. The discussion centers on Suzuki Roshi's interpretations of Dogen's Genjo Koan, emphasizing the... Genjokoan, Dogen, Sesshin, Emptiness, New Year, Interview, Freedom	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 20 1967 Morning Tassajara
Although We Have Nothing, We Can Help Others By Offering Things Serial: SF-05099 This talk was previously not ascribed to Suzuki Roshi - it was listed as XX-66-07-07 in the Redican log. At the beginning of the talk he is reading from a text, for which his voice sounds different to his usual teaching voice - Shushogi, Observe, Desire, confusion, Money, Culture	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 07 1966 Sokoji
Forgotten the Value of Religion Serial: SF-05101A ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #5, by Shundo David Haye ===== The oldest recordings of Suzuki Roshi made at Sokoji, the home of the San Francisco Zen Center at the time, come from a week-long sesshin that took place at the... The talk centers on the integration of Zen practice within the broader understanding of religion and philosophy, emphasizing Suzuki Roshi's reflections from 1965. The discussion articulates the contrast between Western thought... Sesshin, Dogen, Shobogenzo, Inmost Nature, Religion, Don't Know Mind, Buddha Nature,...	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 27 1965 1:00pm Sokoji
Bring Me The Rhinoceros Fan Serial: SF-05086 ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #21, by Shundo David Haye ===== For whatever reason, there are few talks existing from the summer of 1968. At Tassajara, in the spring and the fall training periods, Suzuki Roshi... The talk highlights the challenge of distinguishing intellectual understanding from experiential insight, especially within Zen practice. It focuses on the necessity of balancing effort with non-attachment in practice,... Koan, Faith, Freedom	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 28 1968 Tassajara