December

12-31-13 - Farewell Steve Stucky who died at home this morning at 4:03. A life well lived. A man who will be missed. Love and condolences to Lane.

Subtle Eye - the Great  Leap

Facebook Page for Steve.

Cuke page for Steve

12-31-13 - Happy New Year or in Indonesian, Salemat Tahun Baru which I remember by thinking of Town Bar. Selamat is congratulations, tahun year, baru new.  - posted in Saunters

September - October 2013 Correspondence between Bob Watkins an DC

12-30-13 - Andy Ferguson on Climate Change and What He's Doing About It

Andy Ferguson cuke page

2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Early ZC board and biz meeting notes with DC comments

65-06-05 - Suzuki wants to send $50 to Eiheiji to take a departed person's ashes. Name misspellings continue: Silas Hoads = Silas Hoadley, Pat Harreschoff = Herreshoff, Chick Reed = Reeder

Crooked Cucumber: the Life and Zen Teaching of Shunryu Suzuki - part one, JAPAN 1904–1959 - Chapter Four--Great Root Monasteries - 1930-1932

12-29-13 - Interview with Bob Watkins done in 1993 - one of the first. Recent emails from Bob to follow the day after tomorrow.

And then there's overpopulation - at the root. - thanks Michael Katz - posted in Climate Change species threat

Python kills security guard near here. Just getting ready to walk down that way. - thanks Jeffrey Trotter for the heads up.  - dc - posted in Saunters

12-28-13 - 2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Wind Bells - - - Volume XXI-2 - fall, 1987 (Misnumbered XXXII on the front but not the back.)

2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Early ZC board and biz meeting notes with DC comments

65-04-10 - Hmm. Jean Ross was interviewed on KCBS program Viewpoint on April 9th. Wonder if that's available. Discussion about preserving Suzuki's lectures, recording them. Turns out there's a tape recorder on the premises.

Raining a lot.

Fixed the link to the The Indonesian killings of 1965–1966 mentioned on 12-22 - thanks Kat

12-23-13 - The Coming ‘Instant Planetary Emergency’ - from the Nation which got it from Tom's Dispatch which comes with an intro by Tom. Sorta puts everything else in an interesting perspective. - DC - Thanks Kelly. - posted in  - Engaged Buddhism/Current Events

Elizabeth Sawyer on Haridas Baba

On yesterday's posting of the film Tassajara 68.

Directions to our place

12-22-13 - A NEW film release -

Tassajara 68 - A 4.5 minute film by Larry Cooper made in the spring of 1968 at Tassajara with Suzuki Roshi, students working, bells, han, and creek. So far just a big file: almost half a Gigabyte. More on this film tomorrow. - dc

To see the film go to shunryusuzuki.com.

Katharine Cook Resume [withdrawn]

Where are the Chinese? More

12-21-13 - 2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Wind Bells - - - Volume XX-2 - fall, 1986.

Who's to Blame for Climate Change?

Another comment on the life after death thing.   - posted in dc misc 4

Gaps in the sidewalks. More

12-20-13 - 2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Early ZC board and biz meeting notes with DC comments

65-03-06 - Lots of Suzuki comments, the last one being he wants more ads to bring people in. Shocking.

More on the near death and life after death thoughts from yesterday.  - posted in dc misc 4

We could go to a cremation on Monday. More in Saunters today's date

12-19-13 - SFZC Central Abbot Steve Stucky steps down

Received this link with the Subject: Materialists Not Giving Up. - thanks Andrew Main - It sometimes seems to me that most people's views on stuff like this are fixed, maybe from birth - or early childhood. The article has typical narrow assumptions about what life after death means, like that it includes the concept of soul which Buddhism doesn't. But lots of Buddhists don't believe in life after death - like, when I last checked, Stephen Batchelor and Richard Baker. I told Baker I couldn't conceive of not believing in reincarnation - my mother was into it. He said, "Oh, that's the best reason." - posted in dc misc 4

Acknowledgements for Zen Is Right Here.

A sprayed behind is a clean behind. - posted on the Saunters page

12-18-13 - Cuke Archives is gonna send a few bucks to Titus. Maybe you too?:

I've created a Fundly campaign to raise money to help establish Soto Zen practice in my new home of Albuquerque, New Mexico, at the request of my teacher, Rev. Taigen Dan Leighton, PhD. The long-term hope is to create the possibility of a group affiliated with his temple in Chicago, Ancient Dragon Zen Gate.

I hope you can take a moment to look at the link, and consider making a small donation to help. If even a few dozen people donated a few dollars, we'd be well on our way to achieving our goal. I already have some substantial contributions, but I have a ways to go and not much time to meet my deadline.

I know you all have many demands for your resources in these challenging times, and I appreciate your considering this request at the year's end. Please feel free to forward to anyone else you think might be able to help.

Many bows of thanks! 

Titus O'Brien

(Keizan Hoshiki)

Introduction to Zen Is Right Here. Working on an introduction to a Japanese translation of Zen Is Right Here and noticed that the regular old intro wasn't included here on cuke with the whole book. Will post and link to another neglected part, the Acknowledgements, tomorrow. Oh the suspense. - dc

A guy who sells tours to tourists from a stand on the street in Kuta. Name something like Herman, pronounced hair-mahn. From the isle of Flores on the other side of Lombock. He'd been a ranger on Komodo with the dragons. Said he carried a forked stick to poke them in their sensitive nose if they attacked. Also said they run straight so you can zig-zag and they won't get you. Check em out on your own. I'm too scared to Google them. - posted on the Saunters page

12-17-13 - 2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Wind Bells - - - Volume XX-1 - spring, 1986.

Excellent tooth picks here. They stay hard much longer. Maybe they're teak. - posted on the Saunters page

12-16-13 - 2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Early ZC board and biz meeting notes with DC comments

65-02-06 - Discussion at the end Dick Baker suggests students contribute $1 a month toward the new temple. Claude Dalenberg asks what role the Zen Center would play in the new temple and Shunryu Suzuki says it might be best to have a separate building then Dick suggests they start a building fund for the ZC and the motion carried.

The Zen Buddhist Forum is up and running again.

There are four basic given names in Bali and they don't use family names as far as I can tell. - Saunters page

12-15-13 - Joanie and Yehudah (Alan Winter) are back in Uganda. Check out their Fundraising for Compassionate Listening Trainings in Rwanda and Uganda!

Their travel blog

2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Wind Bells - - - Volume XIX-2 - fall, 1985.

Today we were driven to Ubud, the culture and art capitol of Bali. - Saunters page - BAD URL fixed. Thanks Kelly.

12-14-13 - True Nature Zendo in Nevada City, CA

2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Early ZC board and biz meeting notes with DC comments

65-01-16 - "Also with respect to the Wind Bell, Dick suggested that we publish Reverend Suzuki's lectures contained therein as a book." This is the earliest reference I know of to creating a book. Prior to reading this, the first was Marian Derby telling Suzuki she'd like to record his lectures to make a book. The first known transcript from Los Altos recordings is July 8, 1965.

Crooked Cucumber: the Life and Zen Teaching of Shunryu Suzuki - part one, JAPAN 1904–1959 - Chapter Three--Higher Education - 1924-1930

12-13-13 - 2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Wind Bells - - - Volume XIX-1 - summer, 1985.

Earliest Buddhist shrine discovery claim looks shaky. From Tricycle - thanks Andrew Main

Looking forward to a month from today when I can write 13-13-13. - dc

12-12-13 - 2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Early ZC board and biz meeting notes with DC comments

65-11-20 - I was wrong. Advertising did happen. $20 a month to Prof. Masunaga for Shobogenzo translation. Also Prof. Masunaga will send a lecture each month. Wonder where they are.

Opps. Just noticed that these meeting notes aren't in exact chronological order due to a zero not being inserted in front of single digits in the file names (like 65-9-11 instead of 65-09-11). Will start with next one going back to early 1965 and paying attention.

Electrical adaptors these days make life easier for the plugged-in.

12-11-13 - 2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Wind Bells - - - Volume XVIII-2 - fall, 1984

Crooked Cucumber: the Life and Zen Teaching of Shunryu Suzuki - part one, JAPAN 1904–1959 - Chapter Two--Master and Disciple--1916-1923

New Bali airport wow.

12-10-13 - 2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Early ZC board and biz meeting notes with DC comments

65-09-11 - Elsie Mitchell's check for Katagiri's family might be because she was grateful to him for his assistance to her in recording the Sounds of Eiheiji six years before. Discussion of advertising locally and nationally that I think never happened.

Last day in Singapore.

 12-09-13 - 2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Wind Bells - - - Volume XVIII-1 - spring, 1984

Rev. Steve Frost of the Nepsis site writes about the Son of God and sauntering.

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes. - Marcel Proust - posted on the New Saunters page

12-08-13 - Happy Buddha's Enlightenment Day

When Trungpa Rinpoche met Suzuki Roshi  More on CTR Chronicles from Sam Bercholz with Hazel Bercholz

12-07-13 - Teaching Stories: In this seven minute audio clip, Sam Bercholz describes the events surrounding Suzuki Roshi's funeral, including Rinpoche's comments about appointing a dharma heir, and the coming of the future buddha, Maitreya.

Sam Bercholz cuke page

Chogyam Trungpa cuke page

Want to get transcript of this and other Bercholz audio. - dc

photo is of Suzuki in Japan at his temple, Rinsoin - looks like he's dressed as a pilgrim or takuhatsu (monk's begging). Used here cause it was on the CTR site. Guess it's with the photo archive at shunryusuzuki.com - dc

Center of Gravity - a Buddhist practice site - thanks Howie Klein

Spent a while correcting a few misspellings of Dorothy Schalk's name from shalk and Alan and Jeri Marlowe from marlow - Alan's name came up about sixty times, a few for his sister-in-law Jeri who pointed this out to me.

Keep up with us in Asia by friending Katrinka on Facebook. She takes photos. Yesterday we spent hours walking around the splendid Singapore Botanical Gardens. - dc

Changed my mind about starting a Those Who Were Around section because that's what the People section is with a few exceptions. So the Alan Watts page was moved there. I still have in mind to do a book that focuses on some of the people who were around - with Suzuki Roshi being in the background - the hub around which we all spun in and out and around. So maybe I'll keep that section now for messing around with this idea. One thing for sure is I have no intention of spending the amount of time on this book that I did on Crooked Cucumber (five years) and the earlier Thank You and OK (four years). I guess I can do it. I'm so addicted to just throwing stuff up on cuke in an undisciplined mess. Can't do that with a book or shouldn't anyway. - dc

12-06-13 - Last week Katrinka and I saw screening of Mark Watts' film Why Not Now? about his father, Alan. Read more.

Alan Watts dot org

Mark Watts YouTube page

Mark Watts interviewed on People Speak Radio

2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Early ZC board and biz meeting notes with DC comments

65-10-02 - Rev. Suzuki report on trip to Mass. where Schalks (not Shalk-gotta fix this here and there) propose to build Buddhist temple. Felt that Soto school should have center there. Need to be more effective drum and bell. Bill Kwong to study kinds and prices with him. Claude Dalenberg and Dick Baker to look for real estate possibilities. Gatha by Suzuki in Middle Way report on funeral service for Hazel Paget.

12-05-13 - 2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Wind Bells - - - Volume XVII-2 - winter, 1983

It's all too vast for firmly held opinions. - Kabumpkan

12-04-13 - 2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Early ZC board and biz meeting notes with DC comments

64-09-12 - "Rev. Suzuki suggested as another way of raising money the possibility of Z.C. sponsoring a movie benefit, but he also felt that the primary concern of ZC was not to raise more money but to study more Buddhism. That was where our time and effort should go."

"Notice by Reverend Suzuki of his forthcoming trip to Boston to visit Elsie Mitchell in Cambridge."

Arrived with Katrinka in Singapore past 1am time here. Got any suggestions what to do or where to stay before we depart which will be in five or so days? Brought lots of work to do in my Zenbook, in a couple of HDs, in the sky. Plan to spend no more in Asia than in Marin, hope less. Will be posting. -dc

12-03-13 - 2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Wind Bells - - - Volume XVII-1 - summer, 1983

Soon in the air. - dc

12-02-13 - 2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Early ZC board and biz meeting notes with DC comments

64-08-01 - As for the number of Buddhists at the time, I tend to agree with the article in the paper which said there were 4000 in San Francisco. This was doubted by some at the meeting but think of all the Asians and non-affiliated. I'd guess more than 4k.

Thailand: Uprooting Wall Street's Proxy Regime - Eric Arnow sends this which he says is more accurate than what's coming out of US news media.

12-01-13 - All People Are Chosen; All Lands Are Holy: Interfaith Dialog for Peace & Sustainability — Hozan Alan Senauke [This talk featured now on Alan's Clear View Project site where Alan's new CD Everything Is Broken, his book The Bodhisattva's Embrace: Dispatches from Engaged Buddhism's Front Lines, and news of his engaged Buddhist work are all available.

2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Wind Bells - - - Volume XVI-1 - winter, 1978-79

Moving out of our San Rafael apartment today. Have loved it here. Great walking town. Katrinka walked to work (8 minutes) at the Panama Hotel and Restaurant. I'd walk to bookstores, coffee shops, library to work. We could be up in the woods in ten minutes. Probably won't come back. Expensive. Time to move on.

November

11-30-13 - In case you missed it: Steve Stucky's Thanksgiving Day Message.

2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Early ZC board and biz meeting notes with DC comments

64-06-14

11-29-13 - 2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Wind Bells - - - Volume XV-1 - summer, 1976

Voices from Solitary Confinement - thanks to NRCAT the National Religious Campaign Against Torture - posted in Engaged Buddhism/Current Events

An Antaiji Style Rohatsu Sesshin at Jikoji

“Burning incense, reverent bowing before Buddha, 
reciting sutras…are unnecessary. It is enough just to do zazen.” 

11-28-13 - Happy Thanksgiving.

Not sure what this historian is getting at other than debunking the debunkers of the origins of that holiday. Anyway, whatever happened in the past, we can make today whatever we wish. So thanks with no subject and no object.

In that spirit, here's a song for today: Thank You

2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Early ZC board and biz meeting notes with DC comments

64-05-02 - Discussion on sesshin meal prep.Comments by Shunryu Suzuki. Suggestion men be included. ------ Second page doesn't follow.

11-27-13 - Another bit of interesting Buddhist trivia that doesn't really make any difference one way or another: Discovery at Lumbini possibly sets back date of Siddhārtha Gautama's birth. - thanks Jackee Cox

2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Wind Bells - - - Volume XIV-1 - 1975 - with a photo of Steve Stucky on the cover when he, who had worked horses as a boy, was in charge of the horses at Green Gulch farm.

11-26-13 - 2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Early ZC board and biz meeting notes with DC comments

64-04-11 - East Wind Printers to do Wind Bells from then on. The SFZC had a long relationship with East Wind.

11-25-13 - Baba Haridas health update

2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Wind Bells - - - Volume XIII-1-2  -  1974

Eight days till take off. Stuff to storage. Archive madness. Remain calm. - dc

11-24-13 - My experience around Kennedy's assassination - from my almost finished recollections of that year and the next. - thanks MK

2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Early ZC board and biz meeting notes with DC comments

64-03-07 - I've no time to look at this now. Notes if any later. Two days later - Katagiri is there. Will stay with [Ira] Price, Jodo Shin Shu priest as I recall. Umada = Yamada; Susuki = Suzuki. 64-03-21 and 22 meeting notes are included. Suzuki announces Katagiri is definitely staying on as his assistant.

11-23-13 - Thank You and OK!: an American Zen Failure in Japan is now available as an eBook.

Shambhala link

Thank You and OK! cuke page

2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Wind Bells - - - Volume X - summer,1971 - Dainin Katagiri only.

As for yesterday -

Chomsky Weighs in on Kennedy Assassination Anniversary
Chomsky on the assassination
Chomsky on the assassination - You Tube

Oliver Stone and American University historian Peter J. Kuznick a have a much more positive take on Kennedy as portrayed in Oliver Stone's Untold History of the United States

 - posted in Engaged Buddhism/Current Events

11-22-13 - A short Zen bio of Dale McKenzie who showed up at Sokoji in 67 and now sits with Mt. Source Sangha in San Rafael.

Buddhist Extremist Cell Vows To Unleash Tranquility On West - thanks Seth Eppes

11-21-13 - A message from Steve Stucky on deciding to quit chemotherapy and enter into hospice care.

2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Early ZC board and biz meeting notes with DC comments

64-02-01

11-20-13 - 2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Wind Bells - Resuming this. Clare Hollander did all but two of the first thirteen years and now the rest have been scanned by Warren Lynn in Fort Worth. These will be posted one every other day or so, alternating with the early ZC biz and board notes. Here's Volume VIII - 3-4 - spring 69. This is one I'd accidentally not given to Clare. It's all Shunryu Suzuki lectures on the Lotus Sutra edited by Tim Buckley.

Here is the same material transcribed and posted previously which might be why that Wind Bell wasn't scanned earlier.

Ten days till we leave our apartment. Thirteen till we fly off. Things to do. - dc

11-19-13 - Congratulations to Elizabeth Sawyer on receiving Lay Entrustment from Steve Stucky.

Read about it and see photos here.

2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Early ZC board and biz meeting notes with DC comments

64-12-12

Crooked Cucumber: the Life and Zen Teaching of Shunryu Suzuki - part one, JAPAN 1904–1959 - Chapter One--Childhood--1904–1916.

11-18-13 - 2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Early ZC board and biz meeting notes with DC comments

64-11-07 - Chick Reeder is at the meeting. In response to a query for something from Chick for cuke, he responded with this which is posted in cuke interviews. Mike Dixon does the minutes and makes mistakes in the spelling of his own name more than once.

Tom Silk points out a bit of errata in Chadwick and Roehl's magnificent poetry anthology about fungi, Decomposition which I gave to him and Marion Weber to share yesterday after a charming lunch in Stinson Beach. Here's a link to the page for that book - go to the bottom left of that page to read Tom's offering. (Didn't load that link till the evening. Forgot.)

Tom is one of my inspirations. Read an interview with Thomas Silk by Huey Johnson on Forces of Nature: Environmental Elders Speak.

And here's an interview with Marion Weber

11-17-13 - The Zen Predator of the Upper East Side on Eido Shimano by NYTimes religion writer Mark Oppenheimer - thanks Lor

Review of this book: The Shocking Scandal at the Heart of American Zen - By Jay Michaelson in the Daily Beast - with some good qualifying comments

2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Early ZC board and biz meeting notes with DC comments

64-01-11 - First mention of Dave Haselwood. Maybe should go back and do the same for others.

First mention of four and nine days being days of no zazen - except Sundays. When I arrived in 66 that rule no longer applied. It comes from the Soto Zen monastic practice of having a reduced schedule on days with a four or nine in them - the 4th, 9th, 14th, 19th, 24th, and 29th. Don't know the history or extent of this practice which allowed monks time to do their laundry and so forth. We have more of an idea of personal space etc here so to us it is a day off but it wasn't billed as that by our Japanese teachers. At Tassajara we'd have one zazen instead of two in the mornings and evenings and no work period. We could go on hikes and miss lunch.

Also noted that George Hagiwara threw a party for Grahame Petchey when he returned from doing a practice period at Eiheiji in Japan. I saw George as the most prestigious member of the Japanese congregation and the zazen group's best friend. Until the Japanese internment in the early 40s, his family home was in the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park, his father the founding gardener sent over by Emperor Meiji.

Happy Birthday Katrinka on this full moon day my love!

Here's a song for you (and MLK on his day).

And this --- and this --- plus fifty

another from Sir Paul and from BB

and this punk one - another punker and another and another and another and another

plus a rap happy birthday and another

These songs for you and more coming.....

Katrinka on the right with her most cool son Seth

11-16-13 - Erik Storlie’s new memoir: Go Deep & Take Plenty of Root:  A Prairie-Norwegian Father, Rebellion in Minneapolis, Basement Zen, Growing Up, Growing Tender - Amazon link

about this book on beginner zen dot com and on Eric Storlie's cuke page

2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Early ZC board and biz meeting notes with DC comments

64-10-03

11-15-13 - 2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Early ZC board and biz meeting notes with DC comments

63-09-07 - Letter of support for Vietnamese Buddhists sent to US government. Grahame Petchey leaving on Pan American for Japan and Eiheiji Sept. 14 at 10am to return Dec. 15th.

Crooked Cucumber: the Life and Zen Teaching of Shunryu Suzuki - Introduction

Sex, God, Rock and Roll - click on the Spirituality and Religion link on the right. Stuart's got it down. - thanks Lor

11-14-13 - Invisible Idylls by Philip Whalen released a few months ago by Big Bridge Press - thanks Howie Klein

A great page for Philip on the Big Bridge Press site which also published Philip's collected poems.

Cuke main page for Philip Whalen

2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Early ZC board and biz meeting notes with DC comments

63-08-03 - Discussion of Soto Zen meeting stressing zazen for all, support for Vietnamese Buddhists, MacDonough's Middlebar Monastery. Trudy still spelling Suzuki as Susuki.

Emissions of CO2 driving rapid oceans 'acid trip' -  - posted in Engaged Buddhism/Current Events

11-13-13 - Opps. Forgot the deep significance of yesterday's date of 11-12-13 thus missing out on the magical potential therein. - thanks MK

2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Early ZC board and biz meeting notes with DC comments

63-07-06 - Not much to say about this meeting.

To make up for that, how about this:

Crooked Cucumber: the Life and Zen Teaching of Shunryu Suzuki - Front Matter (that's what goes on at the front of a book). This is a section of cuke to put in notes on the book, something that's been planned for years. So far hardly any notes in this section though the whole website is like one big note. But I still plan to do lots here - if not in this lifetime then in the previous. - dc

11-12-13 - Citizens Reach Out - accounts of the human cost of war on innocent civilian populations. Thanks Ruth Friend, President and Founder - posted in Engaged Buddhism/Current Events

2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Early ZC board and biz meeting notes with DC comments

63-05-04 - Ah - we see that sometime between the last meeting and this, the ZC got listings in the phone book under Zen Center, Soto Zen Mission, and Reverend Suzuki. This clears up the conflicting reports of it was and wasn't in the phone book.

11-11-13 - 2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Early ZC board and biz meeting notes with DC comments

63-03-07 - Shunryu Suzuki soon going to Japan for three months. He names four students to give zazen instruction; Betty Warren, Bill Kwong, Grahame Petchey, and Richard Baker. Dr Wako Kato (Kazemitsu Kato) will give lectures in his absence.

Dr. Douglass Burns and his Neo Dharma Group are mentioned again and into the nineties on web

Buddhist Meditation and Depth Psychology by Dr. Douglass Burns

Burns in Religion in America Directory and mentioned in this article on Eric Fromm

Bro Lor suggests this Red, Hot, and Holy album promo video from Sera Beak

11-10-13 - 2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Early ZC board and biz meeting notes with DC comments

63-01-05 - I love reading these minutes. I remember how when I interviewed students from back in these days, they tended to miss these simple intimate times. Suzuki Roshi expressed a bit of that himself at times saying "Zen Center is getting to big," or something like that. The Dr. Burns mentioned is Douglass Burns who spoke there a number of times. I see he's mentioned in three Suzuki lectures.  - on Theravadan Buddhism as I recall. More on him later.

Twenty days till we vacate our apartment. Twenty three till we fly off. Going through archive boxes looking for more material to scan so I can work with it and share it from anywhere, organize, recycle. Organizing and backing up files on hard discs and in the cloud. Mainly cuke archives but songs too and some other personal stuff. Doing work with Shunryu Suzuki audio tapes on the side. Katrinka returns from Mexico Tuesday eve. Trying to get as much done as can before then. Meanwhile a voice whispers to me go on and do what you think you must but all will disappear before long and none of this matters more than the clouds passing by. - dc

11-09-13 - 2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Early ZC board and biz meeting notes with DC comments

63-12-07 - The new temple they're talking about is for the Japanese congregation which moved there around the corner in 1972. Here it is. Here's their Facebook page. Here's the Wikipedia page for Sokoji. Here's the cuke page for Sokoji. I've got a folder on Sokoji, the building, with materials copied from the San Francisco Library which should get on cuke at some point. The Dr. Kato who was mentioned is the priest who was in charge of Sokoji when Shunryu Suzuki arrived. He's still involved with Zenshuji in LA. Here's his cuke interview. Bishop Umada should be Bishop Yamada.

11-08-13 - 2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Early ZC board and biz meeting notes with DC comments

63-11-02 - It says Archbishop Takashina didn't visit Middlebar but Middlebar publications say he did and I don't think he had more than one trip to the US. Note the Susuki typo. Typical. The Shishogi is the Shushogi and it's not one of Dogen's chants. It was published in 1890. "The Shushogi is mainly comprised of extracts taken directly from the Shobogenzo." - That from Global Soto Zen dot net which has more on it at that link. Here's one of the translations on the Internet: Shushogi translation on Stanford site.

Katrinka and I are moving out of our apartment here in wonderful San Rafael at the end of this month then we leave for Asia in three days. Work on cuke dot com, shunryu suzuki dot com, zmbm dot net and on the Crooked Cucumber Archives will continue on that side of the world (and a bit of cuke-annex dot com stuff sometimes). The rest of this month I plan to add a ZC board note daily and postpone as much as possible till later. Thanks for all the work that Peter Ford and Warren Lynn are doing and to all the others who donate time and money to keep the cuke machines oiled and running. - DC - posted in What We're Doing

11-07-13 - Made a page for influential master calligrapher Reed College prof Lloyd Reynolds with a mp3 of a talk he gave at the City Center in the 70s - with an intro by Rick Levine.

2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Early ZC board and biz meeting notes with DC comments

63-10-05 - These are called business meetings. Anyway, they were with the board notes. I guess there was a board in 63. Might not have had much to meet about or do. As can be seen by these notes, there weren't many big decisions being made. Interesting the peace purpose for the visit of Archbishop Takashina, the head of the Soto Zen sect in Japan. If I remember correctly, he died in American on that trip. Also the mentions of Rev. MacDonough (not MacDonald) of Middlebar Monastery in Stockton. He was Dan Welch's first teacher. Dan met Suzuki when MacDonough asked Dan to visit Sokoji and pay his respects back in 62 or so. Takashina did go to Middlebar on that trip I think and if I recall right MacDonough said he got transmission from him then. I remember driving Suzuki Roshi to a meeting of Japanese Soto priests at Rev. Ueno's temple in Monterrey and meeting MacDonough there, the only Caucasian. He had priest's robes on. I don't think he spoke any Japanese. More on this later maybe if I get around to it. Write his name in the cuke search box and read more about him in what comes up.

11-06-13 - Emma Bragdon on Shunryu Suzuki and more. Made additions and changes to Emma Bragdon cuke page. Impressive. - dc

2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Early ZC board and biz meeting notes with DC comments

62-12-08 - Interesting type: Sogoki for Sokoji. Love the budget figures.

11-05-13 - Yesterday posted a note to Silas from Marge Bragdon. Her daughter Emma was a student of Shunryu Suzuki. Here now is Emma Bragdon cuke page to learn what she's been up to since then from spiritual Emergency to Spiritual Healing.

2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Early ZC board and biz meeting notes with DC comments

62-11-03 - scrapbook album being kept. Surprised to see "Roshi Suzuki."

Net Neutrality in danger

Parents provide our first opportunity to express gratitude and also to learn to forgive. - Kabumpkan

11-04-13 - 2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Group G

1969 Letter to ZC prez Silas Hoadley about funding sabbatical for Abbot Suzuki

C 1969 anti-war Letter from Marge Bragdon to Silas Hoadley

Doctors aided US torture at military prisons, report says - BBC

CIA made doctors torture suspected terrorists after 9/11, taskforce finds - from the Guardian

Wonder what NRCAT has to say about that.

Torture Doctors of Grenada - a DC song from the 80s

posted in Engaged Buddhism/Current Events

11-03-13 - Fall back - in the USA except HI and AZ.

2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Group G

1990 article co-authored by Rick Levine and Steven Lane on caring for HIV homeless

Rick Levine cuke page

Early copy of photo from Rinsoin scrapbook with Shunryu Suzuki containing notes by Bill Shurtleff - think there are better scans of this like with a whole bunch of Bill's notes.

In Japanese section added a scroll from Silas (Silas Hoadley interview), this poorly scanned (by DC) collection of we think memorial envelopes, and this official looking calligraphed document.

Climate Change Report Sees Violent, Sicker, Poorer Future - Are we including possible scenarios of climate change in our long term planning? Are we preparing for various eventualities? Or are we marching along with the governments, corporations, masses, ignoring the warnings? That's what we here at cukeville do. What, us worry? - Engaged Buddhism/Current Events

Cuke Archives report: Today am picking up decades of letters from Marian (Derby Mountain) Wisberg from Frances Thompson (memories from her to come), tapes to digitize (returning others), a few Wind Bells to scan, and with the help of Sassy, getting back to work in the archive room organizing and identifying what material remains to be scanned so it can be shipped off to Warren in Fort Worth so we can have even more such posts here on cuke and mainly so this material will be available to work with wherever I am and I am leaving with Katrinka one month from today for six in Asia thus focusing now on work that can only be done here. - DC

11-02-13 - Tozen Akiyama interview on Sweeping Zen

More from Tozen on cuke

2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Group G

Niels Holm various

Niels Holm cuke page

11-01-13 - 2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Group G

Dr. Albert (Mickey) Stunkard on DT Suzuki, the war, and more.

(Stunkard interview on cuke with other links)

Letter to DC

After the War - 2nd time this posted with a handwritten note

DT Suzuki

Here's the fascinating talk Malcolm Margolin gave at the New School at Commonweal a few weeks ago. From post on 10-08 - Malcolm Margolin of Heyday Books (30 years specializing in California history and culture) will join with host Michael Lerner of Commonweal and Steve Hellig of the Bolinas Hearsay News. - thanks Ken Adams and HK

A reminder: Daughters of Fire - Hawaii novel - deep rifts in paradise - published by Arnie Kotler's Koa Books. Look up author Tom Peek's book signings like November 1 - 12 in Northern CA.

October

10-31-13 - Cuke Retraction:

The note on the 29th: Workshop at the Chaple Hill Zen Center: Suzuki Roshi's Commentary on Dogen Zenji's Receiving the Marrow by Bowing -  was true - but all that stuff about Shunryu Suzuki's thesis being translated was not true, a misunderstanding.  Oh - remember now - Gil Fronsdal has been raising money to get that translated. Wonder if it's done. He mentioned to me about how much the Sati Center had spent on it four years ago or so. A copy is here in our archives. Our apologies here at cuke industries. - dc

2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Group G

Lew Welch on Dan Welch - Lew Welch on Wiki - Dan on cuke - no one link for Dan - write his name in quotes in the site search box on the What's New and Home pages and see what comes up. That's how we get to things on our own site. - dc

10-30-13 - 2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Group G

Sati Center for Buddhist Studies and Stanford Center for Buddhist Studies brochure for 1998 conference on the Life, Times, and Teachings of Shunryu Suzuki. Now there's a Ho Center for Buddhist Studies at Sanford

1995 letter to DC from Janwillem Van der Wetering

Check out Yafiya Susan Deikman's site for her songs (Delving into the mystery of sound). She sang one at her father Arthur's memorial recently which alluded to the Song of Songs, also known as the Song of Soloman, ascribing to it the highest praise and arousing my interest. - dc

10-29-13 - Richard Jaffe and his grad student, Michael Yoshiharu Quick, have translated Suzuki Roshi's thesis. [not true - retracted Oct. 31st]

Workshop at the Chaple Hill Zen Center: Suzuki Roshi's Commentary on Dogen Zenji's Receiving the Marrow by Bowing

On Sunday 17 November at 11:00, Michael Quick will lead a discussion on Suzuki Shunryu Roshi’s unpublished 1930 thesis, written while he was a young student at Komazawa University. The thesis attempts an interpretation of Dogen Zenji that situates him within both Soto tradition and then-current research on the concept of religion, with a focus on the Raihai Tokuzui (Receiving the Marrow by Bowing) fascicle of the Shobogenzo (Treasury of the True Dharma Eye). This workshop will go from 11:00-2:00 and will include lunch. Suggested donation is $20. Michael is a third-year doctoral student in the Department of Religion at Duke University.

 Chaple Hill Zen Center website events page

2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Group G

Shunryu Suzuki datebook for 1959 - the one he arrived with. May 1st was a Friday but even if the book was for another year we know from his entries made on the flight over. There is a complete scan of this book including the cover and blank pages. I like this one because the first thing we see is the name of Sam Lewis, Sufi Sam, whom I didn't know he'd ever met. - dc

10-28-13 - 2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Group G

Original of story called "Crooked Brim" written about Shunryu Suzuki by David Barrow - 1927 - 30 - Harry Rose letter on this story with transcription.

Even if the world were to end today, we'd all continue - you can't make Samsara go away. - Kabumpkan

10-27-13 - 2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Group G

Kanji for basic names - faxes between DC and Otohiro Suzuki

DC notebook for 1994 trip to Japan to do research for Crooked Cucumber

Rene Pittet letter - one of many - Rene (RIP) cuke page

Kato Taro letter in Japanese Group - He's the guy who at the age of 12 or so accompanied Suzuki to Manchuria in 1945.

National Religious Campaign Against Torture is promoting Human Rights Day on Dec. 10

10-26-13 - 2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Group G

Dharma West by David Wise - a 1971 paper for UCB Dept. of Sociology, a study of the SFZC

Note from John King to interview tea teacher Ueda Sensei, one of many missed opportunities.

Scribbles by DC 15 years ago or so motivated by Kelly's comment on emptiness

Howie Klein's photo of Katrinka and me DC walking in the Petaluma Corn Maze yesterday with profound comments.  -  - posted in dc misc

10-25-19 - The Passing of Shibata Sensei

2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Group G

Note on possible location of missing Los Altos tapes that led to ZMBM

DC notes on dope history

Del Carlson - DC notes

Arctic Temperatures Reach Highest Levels In 44,000 Years, Study Finds - This is placed last as item 3 in today's posts because my brain is ill equipped to deal with such a slow moving threat, especially one that doesn't focus on a smaller group and demands so many changes in the money flow and in our habits. By smaller group how about our tribe or my child or my teacher as a subject that could grab my attention. But a threat to the species, to higher forms of life, to the biosphere as we know it? And some ice melting far away? All too vague. Too bad. - dc  - posted in Species Threats

10-24-19 - 2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - introducing Group G

Aiko Uchiyama memorial program - Shunryu Suzuki's little sister

Marilyn Riley article on vision quest with Betty Warren - Betty Warren cuke page

Betty Warren vision quest letters

Betty Warren anti-war letter

Honest beer ad - on the Cracked site which is a nice complement to the Onion for your web humor viewing pleasure

10-23-13 - Jikoji Newsletter

A cuke suggestion: revisit Persimmon

10-22-13 - 2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Group F

1962 - SFZC (just ZC back then) financial statement, meeting minutes, proposed constitution

Fil Lewitt's Killer Picture Postcards - now Kindle as well as paperback

Fil Lewitt cuke page

10-21-13 - 2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Group F

Note found with Shunryu Suzuki lectures from Los Altos in City Center library closet. They were not in digital archive at the time. Stayed up all night making copies. I only see 14 listed on shunryusuzuki.com as coming from the Los Altos Box but there were more like sixty as I recall. Anyway, they're now all entered into digital archive at shunryusuzuki.com and will possibly note which ones they are later.

Letter from Mickey Stunkard about his book - Stunkard cuke interview [The manuscript for this book is on the scan docket). Added some links to Stunkard's interview page.

Letter, part of letter, draft of part of letter to Suzuzki from Takashina Rosen at Soto Zen headquarters. I think posted in Shunryu Suzuki letters

The Shunryu Suzuki page on Wikipedia has a pretty thorough lineage list. Wonder if it's complete.

10-20-13 - 2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Shunryu Suzuki letters and other writing (which there's not a lot of) - Adding some letters and drafts in his hand or someone's to be figured out later.

Shunryu Suzuki maybe various writing in Japanese on Sokoji stationary in Japanese scan group

Added a couple of photos of Steve Stucky to his cuke page thanks to M Katz and E Sawyer

Pseudo Dionysius Mystical Theology - from Pseudo Dionysius: The Complete Works (Classics of Western Spirituality). This is the 1988 translation which I prefer over the one found on the Internet though I have no criticism of, nor am qualified to criticize, the latter which I have posted a link to a few times over the years. Jim Wilson of Many Rivers Books and Tea in Sebastopol CA turned me on to Pseudo Dionysius, calling his Mystical Theology the Heart Sutra of Christianity. The pseudo in his name means that the Dionysius was a pseudonym, a common practice for monks. - DC

10-19-13 - Reading draft of a chapter of David Schneider's upcoming book on Philip Whalen, Crowded by Beauty; A Biography of Poet and Zen Teacher Philip Whalen, forthcoming from University of California Press - did a couple of hours of work on the Philip Whalen cuke page which has mucho amount on Philip. Also wrote more on him at the bottom of his page.

With Joanna Macy help the Buddhist Peace Fellowship reach their goal. - posted in Engaged Buddhism/Current Events

10-18-13 - Cuke page for SFZC abbot Steve Stucky with links to pages with news on his condition and more.

2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Group F

Shinsanshiki (Mt. Seat Ceremony) installing Shunryu Suzuki as abbot at Sokoji 1962

Shinsanshiki installing Richard Baker as abbot 1971

Wealth Inequality in America - thanks Christina Eppes

Almost anything I see these days about the state of life on this earth is dwarfed in my mind by what I see as looming disaster from climate change. The disparity of wealth shown in this video is still disconcerting and it seems that maybe the forces that are ever concentrating wealth have led to what appears to me to be our mutual demise on planet earth. Maybe I'm wrong though. I've noticed everything I believe eventually turns out to be seen as mistaken. I hope so. - dc - posted in Engaged Buddhism/Current Events

10-17-13 - Steve Stucky talk given at Green Gulch Farm on Wednesday October 2.

Architect carves niche in 'spiritual design' - SF Chron Oct. 5 article on architect Helen Degenhardt's for the SFZC.

2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Group F

Sankon Zazen Setsu - Zazen for three general types (Guess this was something for students to read in early sixties ZC)

Yesterday made six months of doing Bikram Yoga every other day or so - sometimes more, sometimes less. One of the founding teachers led a sesshin the other day and said the purpose of doing yoga wasn't to be in shape but to be able to stand in line without getting impatient. - dc

10-16-13 - Facebook page for SFZC abbot Steve Stucky

Sweeping Zen's Alan Tebbe's kickstarter fundraising for a film Zen in America

2013 Scans from Cuke Archives - Reviews of Crooked Cucumber and other CC related scans

Group F - Brian Power brief bio

10-15-13 - Update page (on SFZC.org) for SFZC Abbot Steve Stucky who is now in the hospital. All our prayers for Steve's well being and for Lane in this most difficult and challenging time.

 Messages can be sent to Steve through that page and private messages should be sent to Steve's assistant: Mary Stares<centralabbotassist[at]sfzc.org> - dc

Two articles from local paper report what we already know and were always told

You can always eat more fruits and veggies

Eating fruits and vegetables tied to longer life

A Bridge Between Western Science and Eastern Faith - NY Times article on joint study of science and Buddhism involving Dalai Lama, Tibetan monks, and Emory U. - thanks JR

It's founded by Gregory Yates who says: All people of any denomination or experience are welcome in the zendo. We sit with our microphones muted so the zendo is silent. Autsit.net gives information about our mountain sittings for adults on the autism spectrum. - posted in Links

Wendell Berry on his hopes for humanity - with Bill Moyers - thanks Brit Pyland - posted in Engaged Buddhism/Current Events

10-04-13 - Seems to be true but memories morph and myths are made.

SR and CTR both said:

Just do it

Don't go on any trips

First thought best thought

SR = Suzuki Roshi, CTR = Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche

CTR cuke page

Source: Howie Klein and DC (As in What? That's what SR said. Really?)

On 9-26 posted "New Abbot Selected for the SFZC City Center: Rinso Edward Sattizahn." Was asked what's up with that. There's nothing about it on the SFZC site. They'll get around to some explanation there. Here's what we know.

Kiku Christina Lehnherr (City Center Abiding Abbess) is resigning due to a health issue. A while ago, Christina had a fall in which she hit her head. She has not fully recovered. She has given talks since then which one can access via the above link to her SFZC page - but she feels she cannot properly fulfill her duties as abbot so she is stepping down and Ed Sattizahn is stepping up. Praying for Christina's well being. - dc

9-09-00 B - "Stand Up by the Ground/ We have been talking about-- discuss-- discussing about reality, actually, and ..."

69-09-00 C - Sesshin, Third Night Lecture - "We are talking about our practice. What is the practice, and what is enlightenment..."

69-09-14  - get rid of modified audio because it was not of the whole lecture. Pure Silk, Sharp Iron - "Sunday school-- a Sunday-school girl saw me in sitting, and she said..."

70-07-13 - Ekō Lecture 5 -  "Morning Service Patriarch Hall Sutra Line 1. May Buddha observe us and may ...…"

69-09-16 - had the wrong audio. Got the right one on there: Why I became a priest - "I have not much chance to think about why I came to America or why I became a ...…"

Lecture titles and quotes from the Title/First Line column of the Compact Media List

Zen in America documentary by Adam Kō Shin Tebbe fundraising drive

Two events nearby in CA's Marin County today:

Climate Action: Draw the Line on the Keystone XL Pipeline in San Anselmo, Saturday, September 21st,1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.

and

Got this strange message: Read your Jr Hi article.  Try pickleball.  You'd b a natural.  Good conditioner, low stress & sociable sport.  You can play anywhere in country.  Great low impact exercise for old(and young) monks and Zen priests.  Check out in your area.  "Have paddle, will travel". Searched and found this: Pickleball is a highly contagious, progressive and incurable disease. How could I resist with a come-on like that?

Brett writes his band Everest Cale wrote a song about Nuclear War titled 'Fossils'.  It is their newest single. You can stream 'Fossils' on Soundcloud. Here's their Facebook page and here's more on these folks. Posting this on the What's New and Species Threats sections

We can play Pickleball as we wait to see which threat gets us first. Good luck human race. - dc

Encourage Jerry Brown to release more elderly, infirm, non violent, minor drug charge prisoners into rehab etc instead of spending a half billion a year to keep them locked up in awful conditions.