Brief
Memoriesof Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Center back then, etc.
Interviews
Suzuki Basic Info
Suzuki Stories
Brief Memories
photo by Lisa Law
Fil Lewitt writes from Japan on 12/12/07
The only story I can tell you about Suzuki-roshi is of the very first time I came to SFZC, maybe 1970. I stayed for dinner, and wanting to see what a real Zen Master was like, went and took the chair next to Suzuki-roshi at dinner. I was amazed to see him sitting on his chair in the dining room in full lotus. I'm a fast eater, so I was chowing down, and watching him out of the corner of my eye, when he suddenly finished his rather large meal and got up and bowed and walked away. I was only half finished with mine. Then I realized that while I was spending time watching him, he had been totally concentrated on eating. This was my very first lesson in Real Zen, as opposed to my reading.