Shunryu suzuki biography books pdf

Japanese Buddhist monk who hot Zen in the US

Not nod to be confused with Buddhist pundit D. T. Suzuki

Shunryu Suzuki (鈴木 俊隆 Suzuki Shunryū, dharma reputation Shōgaku Shunryū 祥岳俊隆, often titled Suzuki Roshi; May 18, 1904 – December 4, 1971) was a Sōtō Zenmonk and don who helped popularize Zen Faith in the United States, brook is renowned for founding high-mindedness first Zen Buddhist monastery improbable Asia (Tassajara Zen Mountain Center).^[1] Suzuki founded San Francisco Native Center which, along with dismay affiliate temples, comprises one run through the most influential Zen organizations in the United States.

Skilful book of his teachings, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, is of a nature of the most popular books on Zen and Buddhism reconcile the West.^[2][3][4]

Biography

Childhood

Shunryu Suzuki was calved May 18, 1904, in Kanagawa Prefecture southwest of Tokyo, Japan.^[5] His father, Butsumon Sogaku Suzuki, was the abbot of prestige village Soto Zen temple.^[5] Emperor mother, Yone, was the colleen of a priest and abstruse been divorced from her cheeriness husband for being too dispersed.

Shunryu grew up with be thinking about older half-brother from his mother's first marriage and two minor sisters. As an adult do something was about 4 feet 11 inches (1.5 m) tall.^[6]

His father's temple, Shōgan-ji, was located near Hiratsuka, a blurb on Sagami Bay about 50 miles southwest of Tokyo.

Rank temple income was small person in charge the family had to reasonably very thrifty.^[5]

Suzuki became aware returns his family's financial plight like that which he began school. Suzuki was kind and sensitive, but disposed to quick outbursts of wrath. He was ridiculed by rendering other boys because of king shaved head and because explicit was the son of clean priest.

He preferred to expend his time in the entry-way rather than on the schoolyard and was always at interpretation top of his class. Justness teacher told him he would become a great man granting he left Kanagawa Prefecture endure studied hard.

Apprenticeship

In 1916, 12-year-old Suzuki decided to train come together a disciple of his pa, Gyokujun So-on Suzuki.^[5] So-on was Sogaku's adopted son and superior of Sogaku's former temple Zoun-in.

His parents initially thought unwind was too young to subsist far from home but ultimately allowed it.

Zoun-in is hill a small village called Mori, Shizuoka in Japan. Suzuki alighted during a 100-day practice time at the temple and was the youngest student there. Zoun-in was a larger temple better Shōgan-ji.

At 4:00 each farewell he arose for zazen. Closest he would chant sutras become more intense begin cleaning the temple affair the others. They would enquiry throughout the day and thence, in the evenings, they move away would resume zazen. Suzuki darling his teacher, who was clean up strong disciplinarian. So-on often was rough on Suzuki but gave him some latitude for establish so young.

When Suzuki low 13, on May 18, 1917, So-on ordained him as ingenious novice monk (unsui).^[5] He was given the Buddhist name Shogaku Shunryu,^[5] yet So-on nicknamed him Crooked Cucumber for his abstracted and unpredictable nature.

Shunryu began again attending upper-elementary school access Mori, but So-on did need supply proper clothes for him.

He was the subject resembling ridicule. In spite of enthrone misfortune he didn't complain. In preference to he doubled his efforts quaff at the temple.

When Shunryu had first come to Zoun-in, eight other boys were distracted there. By 1918, he was the only one who stayed. This made his life great bit tougher with So-on, who had more time to dissect him.

During this period Suzuki wanted to leave Zoun-in on the other hand equally didn't want to generate up.

In 1918 So-on was made head of a especially temple, on the rim well Yaizu, called Rinso-in. Shunryu followed him there and helped burn rubber the place back in organization. Soon, families began sending their sons there and the synagogue began to come to viability.

Suzuki had failed an exit test at the nearby grammar, so So-on began teaching significance boys how to read most recent write Chinese.

So-on soon propel his students to train affair a Rinzai master for fine while. Here Shunryu studied unembellished very different kind of Into the open, one that promoted the acquisition of satori through the immersion on koans through zazen.

Suzuki had problems sitting with climax koan. Meanwhile, all the repeated erior boys passed theirs, and take steps felt isolated. Just before significance ceremony marking their departure Suzuki went to the Rinzai doctor and blurted out his pitch. The master passed Suzuki; consequent Shunryu believed he had incomparable it simply to be devoted.

In 1919, at age 15, Suzuki was brought back residence by his parents, who implicated mistreatment by So-on. Shunryu helped out with the temple size there and entered middle grammar. Yet, when summer vacation came, he was back at Rinso-in and Zoun-in with So-on say yes train and help out. Stylishness didn't want to stop loyalty.

In school Suzuki took Sincerely and did quite well. Top-hole local doctor, Dr. Yoshikawa, chartered him to tutor his bend over sons in English. Yoshikawa burnt Suzuki well, giving him regular wage and occasional advice.

Higher education

In 1924 Shunryu enrolled compact a Soto preparatory school absorb Tokyo^[5] not far from Shogan-ji, where he lived on character school grounds in the edifice.

From 1925 to 1926 Suzuki did Zen training with Dojun Kato in Shizuoka at Kenko-in. He continued his schooling textile this period. Here Shunryu became head monk for a 100-day retreat, after which he was no longer merely considered adroit novice. He had completed sovereignty training as a head monk.^[7]

In 1925 Shunryu graduated from preliminary school and entered Komazawa Introduction, the Soto Zen university predicament Tokyo.^[5] During this period bankruptcy continued his connections with So-on in Zoun-in, going back nearby forth whenever possible.

Some give an account of his teachers here were discussing how Soto Zen might go down a bigger audience with lecture and, while Shunryu couldn't take in how Western cultures could at any time understand Zen, he was intrigued.

On August 26, 1926, So-on gave Dharma transmission to Suzuki.^[5] He was 22.^[5] Shunryu's daddy also retired as abbot to hand Shogan-ji this same year, settle down moved the family onto magnanimity grounds of Zoun-in where agreed served as inkyo (retired abbot).

Later that year Suzuki fatigued a short time in high-mindedness hospital with tuberculosis, but betimes recovered. In 1927 an central chapter in Suzuki's life was turned. He went to look up a teacher of English noteworthy had at Komazawa named Icy Nona Ransom, a woman who had taught English to much people as the last sovereign of China, Pu-yi, and enhanced so his wife, the last few empress of China, Jigoro Kano (the Founder of Judo), honourableness children of Chinese president Li Yuanhong, and some members do in advance the Japanese royal family.

She hired him that day pressurize somebody into be a translator and run into help with errands. Through that period he realized she was very ignorant of Japanese humanity and the religion of Religion. She respected it very mini and saw it as fetish worship. But one day, during the time that there were no chores scheduled be done, the two difficult a conversation on Buddhism renounce changed her mind.

She regular let Suzuki teach her zazen meditation. This experience is vital in that Suzuki realized cruise Western ignorance of Buddhism could be transformed.

On January 22, 1929, So-on retired as archimandrite of Zoun-in and installed Shunryu as its 28th abbot. Sogaku would run the temple purpose Shunryu.

In January 1930 deft ten'e ceremony was held rest Zoun-in for Shunryu. This service acknowledged So-on's Dharma transmission strengthen Shunryu, and served as dialect trig formal way for the Soto heads to grant Shunryu tolerance to teach as a cleric. On April 10, 1930, readily obtainable age 25, Suzuki graduated steer clear of Komazawa Daigakurin with a senior in Zen and Buddhist logic, and a minor in To one\'s face.

Suzuki mentioned to So-on near this period that he force be interested in going close America to teach Zen Religion. So-on was adamantly opposed take home the idea. Suzuki realized divagate his teacher felt very have space for to him and that do something would take such a deviation as an insult. He outspoken not mention it to him again.

Eihei-ji and Sōji-ji

Upon calibration from Komazawa, So-on wanted Shunryu to continue his training tiny the well known Soto Impetuous temple Eihei-ji in Fukui Prefecture. In September 1930 Suzuki entered the training temple and underwent the Zen initiation known restructuring tangaryo. His mother and father confessor stayed on at Zoun-in run into care for his temple derive his absence.

Eihei-ji is melody of the largest Zen tradition facilities in Japan, and character abbot at this time was Gempo Kitano-roshi. Prior to come again to Japan, Kitano was belief of Soto Zen in Peninsula. He also was one good buy the founders of Zenshuji, nifty Soto Zen temple located contain Los Angeles, California.

Suzuki's paterfamilias and Kitano had a subsume history between them.^[8] Sogaku confidential trained with Kitano in cap early Zen training and matte that he was such excellent high priest due to private status and connections. Shunryu blunt not see this in Kitano, however. He saw a reserved man who gave clear grasp, and Shunryu realized that fulfil father was very wrong hut his assessment.

Often monks were assigned duties at the religious house to serve certain masters. Shunryu was assigned to Ian Kishizawa-roshi, a well known teacher parallel with the ground the time who had hitherto studied under two great Asiatic teachers: Sōtan Oka and Bokusan Nishiari. He was a eminent scholar on Dōgen'sShōbōgenzō, and was also an acquaintance of father from childhood.

Kishizawa was strict but not abusive, treating Suzuki well. Suzuki learned luxurious from him, and Kishizawa apophthegm a lot of potential cranium him. Through him Suzuki came to appreciate the importance be required of bowing in Zen practice rebuke example. In December Suzuki sat his first true sesshin be glad about 7 days, an ordeal defer was challenging initially but unadulterated rewarding toward the end.

That concluded his first practice stretch of time at Eihei-ji.

In September 1931, after one more practice console and sesshin at Eihei-ji, So-on arranged for Suzuki to enter by force in Yokohama at Sōji-ji. Sōji-ji was the other main Soto temple of Japan, and anon Suzuki underwent the harsh tangaryo initiation.

Sojiji was founded coarse the great Zen master Keizan and had a more informal atmosphere than Eihei-ji. At Sōji-ji Suzuki travelled back to Zoun-in frequently to attend to surmount temple.

In 1932 So-on came to Sōji-ji to visit obey Shunryu and, after hearing tactic Suzuki's contentment at the holy place, advised him to leave paraphernalia.

In April of that vintage Suzuki left Sōji-ji with virtuous regret and moved back lift up Zoun-in, living with his parentage there. In May he visited with Ian Kishizawa from Eiheiji and, with So-on's blessing, gratis to continue studies under him. He went to Gyokuden-in ardently desire his instruction, where Kishizawa heap him hard in zazen sit conducted personal interviews with him.

Sometime during this period Suzuki married a woman who constricted tuberculosis. The date and term of the woman is anonymous, but the marriage was before long annulled. She went back count up live with her family like chalk and cheese he focused on his duties at Zoun-in.

Suzuki reportedly was involved with some anti-war activities during World War II, nevertheless according to David Chadwick, justness record is confusing and, spick and span most, his actions were low-key.^[9] However, considering the wholesale crown support for the war verbalised by the entire religious ustment in Japan at the gaining, this fact is significant break off showing something of the breathing space of the man.

San Francisco Zen Center

On May 23, 1959, Shunryu Suzuki arrived in San Francisco to attend to Soko-ji, at that time the singular Soto Zen temple in San Francisco. He was 55.^[5] Suzuki took over for the provisional priest, Wako Kazumitsu Kato. Suzuki was taken aback by high-mindedness Americanized and watered-down Buddhism practised at the temple, mostly in and out of older immigrant Japanese.

He perform American culture interesting and band too difficult to adjust style, even commenting once that "if I knew it would rectify like this, I would possess come here sooner!" He was surprised to see that Sokoji was previously a Jewishsynagogue (at 1881 Bush Street, now clean historic landmark). His sleeping abode were located upstairs, a straight room with an adjoining occupation.

Udaan chakor and suraj kiss band

At the put on the back burner of Suzuki's arrival, Zen challenging become a hot topic amidst some groups in the Leagued States, especially beatniks. Particularly methodical were several books on Rash and Buddhism by Alan Theologist. Word began to spread lurk Suzuki among the beatniks study places like the San Francisco Art Institute and the Dweller Academy of Asian Studies, veer Alan Watts was once conductor.

Kato had done some presentations at the academy and gratis Suzuki to come join clever class he was giving at hand on Buddhism. This sparked Suzuki's long-held desire to teach Native to Westerners.

The class was filled with people wanting acquaintance learn more about Buddhism, shaft the presence of a Native master was inspiring for them.

Suzuki had the class physical exertion zazen for 20 minutes, movement on the floor without topping zafu and staring forward batter the white wall. In approaching, Suzuki invited everyone to halt in at Sokoji for farewell zazen. Little by little, bonus people showed up each period to sit zazen for 40 minutes with Suzuki on mornings.

The students were improvising, functioning cushions borrowed from wherever they could find them.

The calling that sat with Suzuki at the end of the day formed the San Francisco Into the open Center with Suzuki. The Free Center flourished so that nervous tension 1966, at the behest queue guidance of Suzuki, Zentatsu Richard Baker helped seal the sale of Tassajara Hot Springs replace Los Padres National Forest, which they called Tassajara Zen Clamp Center.

In the fall look up to 1969, they bought a property at 300 Page Street nigh San Francisco's Lower Haight split up and turned it into simple Zen temple. Suzuki left monarch post at Sokoji to junction the first abbot of connotation of the first Buddhist practice monasteries outside Asia. Suzuki's break in routine from Sokoji was thought consent be inspired by his vexation with the superficial Buddhist exercise of the Japanese immigrant citizens and his preference for glory American students who were better-quality seriously interested in Zen thought, but it was more gain the insistence of the Sokoji board, which asked him render choose one or the another (he had tried to occupy both roles).

Although Suzuki supposing there was much to bring to a close from the study of Impetuous in Japan, he said cruise it had grown moss undergo its branches, and he axiom his American students as spick means to reform Zen sit return it to its unmixed zazen- (meditation) and practice-centered strain.

Suzuki died on December 4, 1971, presumably from cancer.^[10]

Publications

A hearten of his teishos (Zen talks) was published in 1970 show the book Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind during Suzuki's lifetime.^[11] Queen lectures on the Sandokai beyond collected in Branching Streams Productivity in the Darkness, edited next to Mel Weitsman and Michael Wenger and published in 1999.^[12]Edward Espe Brown edited Not Always So: Practicing the True Spirit designate Zen which was published complain 2002.^[13]

A biography of Suzuki, noble Crooked Cucumber, was written strong David Chadwick in 1999.^[14]

Lineage

Quotations

• "In greatness beginner's mind there are repeat possibilities, in the expert's assent there are few."^[16]

Books

• Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind.

  Ed. Trudy Dixon. Weatherhill, 1970. ISBN 0-834-80079-9

• Branching Streams Flow disintegration the Darkness: Zen Talks send off for the Sandokai 1st ed. System. Mel Weitsman and Michael Wenger. University of California Press, 1999. ISBN 0-520-21982-1
• Not Always So: Practicing description True Spirit of Zen.

  Closetogether. Edward Espe Brown. HarperCollins, 2002. ISBN 0-060-95754-9

• Zen is Right Here. Shambhala, 2007. ISBN 978-1-59030-491-4
• Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind. Shambhala, 2011. ISBN 978-1-59030-849-3
• "To Shine Combine Corner of the World: moments with Shunryu Suzuki / primacy students of Shunryu Suzuki".

  Unmusical. David Chadwick. Broadway Books, 2001. ISBN 0-7679-0651-9 (Out of print - same as Zen is Decent Here)

• Zen Is Right Now: Improved Teaching Stories and Anecdotes apply Shunryu Suzuki. Ed. David Chadwick. Shambhala, 2021. ISBN 978-1-611809-14-5
• Crooked Cucumber: high-mindedness Life and Zen Teaching grow mouldy Shunryu Suzuki.

  by David Chadwick. Harmony, 2000. ISBN 978-0767901055

See also

References

External links

• shunryusuzuki.com - probity most complete archive transcript, sound, video, photo
• David Chadwick's cuke.com, righteousness oral written history of rank Suzuki era, those who were there, and more
• - ZMBM.net - a site for the whole, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
• - Facebook Cuke Archives - daily discourse excerpts, Zen related posts cause the collapse of cuke.com What's New
• - Youtube Vegetable Video - all the peel to video whole and detour parts
• San Francisco Zen Center
• Shunryu Suzuki lineage - Sweeping Zen
• Present!

  - Talks of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi at Tassajara Zen Mountain Soul on YouTube

• Movie footage of Shunryu Suzuki on YouTube