Shunryu Suzuki Roshi was the founder and abbot of the San Francisco Zen Center beginning in 1962. He practiced in the Soto Zen tradition, which teaches that direct understanding comes from just sitting zazen (zen meditation) and does not rely on doctrine or sutras (scriptures).
Under his guidance, additional properties were acquired: the Green Gulch Farm in Sausalito, California by the Pacific Ocean, Greens restaurant in San Francisco, the Tassajara Bakery, and the first Buddhist monastery outside of Asia – Tassajara Zen Mountain Center.
You might say that he is the father of Zen in America, for many caucasians joined his sangha (community of practitioners).
Shunyru Suzuki Roshi
I discovered that it is necessary, absolutely necessary, to believe in nothing. That is, we have to believe in something which has no form and no color—something which exists before all forms and colors appear… No matter what god or doctrine you believe in, if you become attached to it, your belief will be based more or less on a self-centered idea.
― Shunryu Suzuki
I attended the San Francisco Zen Center in 1972, shortly after Suzuki Roshi died in 1971 from cancer. I attended a seven day sesshin (Zen retreat) that was led by Dainin Katagiri Roshi.
The most memorable things about the sesshin were the opportunities I had to visit with Katagiri Roshi to get answers to my questions and report on my progress.
The major insight that I had (besides pain in my knees) was that just sitting was like a redwood tree in the forest – just standing there, providing shade and other wonderful things. I saw my self sitting like a redwood tree.
If you know anyone who would benefit from practicing Zen meditation, please tell them about his quote!
Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind
Old Price: $14.95
Price: $8.63
Suzuki Roshi’s, Zen Mind, Beginners Mind, is probably the most read book on Zen ever! I’ve read it several times and listen to the book on tape version quite often.
I highly recommend that you click on the link and buy the book today!
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