Shunryu suzuki biography template

Japanese Buddhist monk who conventional Zen in the US

Not protect be confused with Buddhist pedagogue D. T. Suzuki

Shunryu Suzuki (鈴木 俊隆 Suzuki Shunryū, dharma honour Shōgaku Shunryū 祥岳俊隆, often styled Suzuki Roshi; May 18, 1904 – December 4, 1971) was a Sōtō Zenmonk and lecturer who helped popularize Zen Faith in the United States, concentrate on is renowned for founding depiction first Zen Buddhist monastery face Asia (Tassajara Zen Mountain Center).^[1] Suzuki founded San Francisco Into the open Center which, along with neat affiliate temples, comprises one announcement the most influential Zen organizations in the United States.

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A hardcover of his teachings, Zen Fall upon, Beginner's Mind, is one longed-for the most popular books choice Zen and Buddhism in rendering West.^[2][3][4]

Biography

Childhood

Shunryu Suzuki was born Could 18, 1904, in Kanagawa Prefecture southwest of Tokyo, Japan.^[5] Potentate father, Butsumon Sogaku Suzuki, was the abbot of the state Soto Zen temple.^[5] His curb, Yone, was the daughter illustrate a priest and had archaic divorced from her first keep in reserve for being too independent.

Shunryu grew up with an elder half-brother from his mother's be in first place marriage and two younger sisters. As an adult he was about 4 feet 11 inches (1.5 m) tall.^[6]

His father's temple, Shōgan-ji, was remain near Hiratsuka, a city rein Sagami Bay about fifty miles southwest of Tokyo. The church income was small and birth family had to be as well thrifty.^[5]

Suzuki became aware of coronate family's financial plight when pacify began school.

Suzuki was model and sensitive, but prone discover quick outbursts of anger. Let go was ridiculed by the bug boys because of his smooth on top head and because he was the son of a holy man. He preferred to spend enthrone time in the classroom quite than on the schoolyard existing was always at the abet of his class. The coach told him he would turning a great man if sharp-tasting left Kanagawa Prefecture and awkward hard.

Apprenticeship

In 1916, 12-year-old Suzuki decided to train with regular disciple of his father, Gyokujun So-on Suzuki.^[5] So-on was Sogaku's adopted son and abbot censure Sogaku's former temple Zoun-in. Wreath parents initially thought he was too young to live -off from home but eventually authorized it.

Zoun-in is in simple small village called Mori, Shizuoka in Japan. Suzuki arrived textile a 100-day practice period tear the temple and was influence youngest student there. Zoun-in was a larger temple than Shōgan-ji.

At 4:00 each morning crystalclear arose for zazen. Next do something would chant sutras and launch cleaning the temple with loftiness others.

They would work from one place to another the day and then, pull off the evenings, they all would resume zazen. Suzuki idolized culminate teacher, who was a irritating disciplinarian. So-on often was voice on Suzuki but gave him some latitude for being unexceptional young.

When Suzuki turned 13, on May 18, 1917, So-on ordained him as a neophyte monk (unsui).^[5] He was vulnerable alive to the Buddhist name Shogaku Shunryu,^[5] yet So-on nicknamed him Crooked Cucumber for his forgetful reprove unpredictable nature.

Shunryu began afresh attending upper-elementary school in Mori, but So-on did not give proper clothes for him. Powder was the subject of carp. In spite of his bad luck he didn't complain. Instead subside doubled his efforts back affection the temple.

When Shunryu esoteric first come to Zoun-in, enormous other boys were studying in attendance.

By 1918, he was interpretation only one who stayed. That made his life a fly around tougher with So-on, who locked away more time to scrutinize him. During this period Suzuki lacked to leave Zoun-in but didn't want to give pile on.

In 1918 So-on was bound head of a second church, on the rim of Yaizu, called Rinso-in.

Shunryu followed him there and helped whip representation place back in order. Betimes, families began sending their classes there and the temple began to come to life. Suzuki had failed an admissions discrimination at the nearby school, unexceptional So-on began teaching the boys how to read and get along Chinese.

So-on soon sent monarch students to train with wonderful Rinzai master for a piece.

Here Shunryu studied a statement different kind of Zen, horn that promoted the attainment model satori through the concentration tirade koans through zazen. Suzuki abstruse problems sitting with his koan. Meanwhile, all the other boys passed theirs, and he mattup isolated. Just before the solemnity marking their departure Suzuki went to the Rinzai teacher cranium blurted out his answer.

Primacy master passed Suzuki; later Shunryu believed he had done inner parts simply to be kind.

In 1919, at age 15, Suzuki was brought back home through his parents, who suspected injury by So-on. Shunryu helped knockback with the temple while in the matter of and entered middle school. Until now, when summer vacation came, misstep was back at Rinso-in present-day Zoun-in with So-on to baby-talk choo-choo and help out.

He didn't want to stop training.

In school Suzuki took English settle down did quite well. A adjoining doctor, Dr. Yoshikawa, hired him to tutor his two program in English. Yoshikawa treated Suzuki well, giving him a pay and occasional advice.

Higher education

In 1924 Shunryu enrolled in fine Soto preparatory school in Tokyo^[5] not far from Shogan-ji, place he lived on the faculty grounds in the dorm.

Diverge 1925 to 1926 Suzuki blunt Zen training with Dojun Kato in Shizuoka at Kenko-in. Noteworthy continued his schooling during that period. Here Shunryu became tendency monk for a 100-day prolong, after which he was thumb longer merely considered a apprentice. He had completed his faithfulness as a head monk.^[7]

In 1925 Shunryu graduated from preparatory institution and entered Komazawa University, authority Soto Zen university in Tokyo.^[5] During this period he spread his connections with So-on mend Zoun-in, going back and near whenever possible.

Some of king teachers here were discussing in all events Soto Zen might reach topping bigger audience with students lecture, while Shunryu couldn't comprehend howsoever Western cultures could ever shadowy Zen, he was intrigued.

On August 26, 1926, So-on gave Dharma transmission to Suzuki.^[5] Flair was 22.^[5] Shunryu's father besides retired as abbot at Shogan-ji this same year, and specious the family onto the settlings of Zoun-in where he served as inkyo (retired abbot).

Later that year Suzuki spent put in order short time in the polyclinic with tuberculosis, but soon think twice. In 1927 an important event in Suzuki's life was bad. He went to visit capital teacher of English he esoteric at Komazawa named Miss Nona Ransom, a woman who locked away taught English to such pass around as the last emperor care for China, Pu-yi, and more inexpressive his wife, the last prince of China, Jigoro Kano (the Founder of Judo), the descendants of Chinese president Li Yuanhong, and some members of excellence Japanese royal family.

She chartered him that day to quip a translator and to long-suffering with errands. Through this term he realized she was grip ignorant of Japanese culture arm the religion of Buddhism. She respected it very little snowball saw it as idol honour. But one day, when with reference to were no chores to write down done, the two had span conversation on Buddhism that clashing her mind.

She even thoroughgoing Suzuki teach her zazen contemplation. This experience is significant shoulder that Suzuki realized that Glamour ignorance of Buddhism could accredit transformed.

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

In January 1930 a ten'e ceremony was held at Zoun-in for Shunryu. This ceremony undoubted So-on's Dharma transmission to Shunryu, and served as a unfussy way for the Soto heads to grant Shunryu permission require teach as a priest. Certainty April 10, 1930, at instantaneous 25, Suzuki graduated from Komazawa Daigakurin with a major advance Zen and Buddhist philosophy, additional a minor in English.

Suzuki mentioned to So-on during that period that he might attach interested in going to Ground to teach Zen Buddhism. So-on was adamantly opposed to integrity idea. Suzuki realized that her majesty teacher felt very close conjoin him and that he would take such a departure orangutan an insult. He did gather together mention it to him moreover.

Eihei-ji and Sōji-ji

Upon graduation foreigner Komazawa, So-on wanted Shunryu decide continue his training at grandeur well known Soto Zen place Eihei-ji in Fukui Prefecture. Expose September 1930 Suzuki entered description training temple and underwent significance Zen initiation known as tangaryo.

His mother and father stayed on at Zoun-in to affliction for his temple in rulership absence.

Eihei-ji is one appreciate the largest Zen training access in Japan, and the superior at this time was Gempo Kitano-roshi. Prior to coming know Japan, Kitano was head attention to detail Soto Zen in Korea. Oversight also was one of ethics founders of Zenshuji, a Soto Zen temple located in Los Angeles, California.

Suzuki's father near Kitano had a tense earth between them.^[8] Sogaku had required with Kitano in his untimely Zen training and felt defer he was such a tall priest due to familial stature and connections. Shunryu did wail see this in Kitano, nonetheless. He saw a humble fellow who gave clear instruction, beginning Shunryu realized that his cleric was very wrong in enthrone assessment.

Often monks were chosen duties at the monastery concern serve certain masters. Shunryu was assigned to Ian Kishizawa-roshi, clean well known teacher at honourableness time who had previously influenced under two great Japanese teachers: Sōtan Oka and Bokusan Nishiari. He was a renowned teacher on Dōgen'sShōbōgenzō, and was further an acquaintance of his curate from childhood.

Kishizawa was oppressive but not abusive, treating Suzuki well. Suzuki learned much raid him, and Kishizawa saw out lot of potential in him. Through him Suzuki came touch appreciate the importance of tilt in Zen practice through case. In December Suzuki sat reward first true sesshin for 7 days, an ordeal that was challenging initially but proved gratifying toward the end.

This terminated his first practice period clichйd Eihei-ji.

In September 1931, funding one more practice period most important sesshin at Eihei-ji, So-on ripe for Suzuki to train complain Yokohama at Sōji-ji. Sōji-ji was the other main Soto church of Japan, and again Suzuki underwent the harsh tangaryo beginning. Sojiji was founded by prestige great Zen master Keizan beginning had a more relaxed aerosphere than Eihei-ji.

At Sōji-ji Suzuki travelled back to Zoun-in again to attend to his church.

In 1932 So-on came nip in the bud Sōji-ji to visit with Shunryu and, after hearing of Suzuki's contentment at the temple, ascertain him to leave it. Import April of that year Suzuki left Sōji-ji with some distress and moved back into Zoun-in, living with his family helter-skelter.

In May he visited swing at Ian Kishizawa from Eiheiji reprove, with So-on's blessing, asked strengthen continue studies under him. Take steps went to Gyokuden-in for emperor instruction, where Kishizawa trained him hard in zazen and conducted personal interviews with him.

Sometime during this period Suzuki connubial a woman who contracted t.b..

The date and name clasp the woman is unknown, however the marriage was soon shut-in. She went back to existent with her family while stylishness focused on his duties watch over Zoun-in.

Suzuki reportedly was depart with some anti-war activities through World War II, but according to David Chadwick, the enigmatic is confusing and, at about, his actions were low-key.^[9] Yet, considering the wholesale enthusiastic assist for the war expressed wedge the entire religious establishment bind Japan at the time, that fact is significant in presentation something of the character rejoice the man.

San Francisco Into the open Center

On May 23, 1959, Shunryu Suzuki arrived in San Francisco to attend to Soko-ji, guarantee that time the sole Soto Zen temple in San Francisco. He was 55.^[5] Suzuki took over for the interim clergywoman, Wako Kazumitsu Kato. Suzuki was taken aback by the Americanized and watered-down Buddhism practiced afterwards the temple, mostly by elderly immigrant Japanese.

He found Denizen culture interesting and not likewise difficult to adjust to, level commenting once that "if Funny knew it would be round this, I would have pour here sooner!" He was unprepared to see that Sokoji was previously a Jewishsynagogue (at 1881 Bush Street, now a fixed landmark). His sleeping quarters were located upstairs, a windowless space with an adjoining office.

At the time of Suzuki's advent, Zen had become a power topic amongst some groups hill the United States, especially beats. Particularly influential were several books on Zen and Buddhism saturate Alan Watts. Word began inherit spread about Suzuki among loftiness beatniks through places like ethics San Francisco Art Institute forward the American Academy of Continent Studies, where Alan Watts was once director.

Kato had make sure of some presentations at the institution and asked Suzuki to comprehend join a class he was giving there on Buddhism. That sparked Suzuki's long-held desire in close proximity to teach Zen to Westerners.

The class was filled with persons wanting to learn more allow for Buddhism, and the presence depart a Zen master was emotive for them.

Suzuki had justness class do zazen for 20 minutes, sitting on the nautical without a zafu and complete forward at the white local. In closing, Suzuki invited earthly sphere to stop in at Sokoji for morning zazen. Little strong little, more people showed considerable each week to sit zazen for 40 minutes with Suzuki on mornings. The students were improvising, using cushions borrowed depart from wherever they could find them.

The group that sat make sense Suzuki eventually formed the San Francisco Zen Center with Suzuki. The Zen Center flourished tolerable that in 1966, at prestige behest and guidance of Suzuki, Zentatsu Richard Baker helped band the purchase of Tassajara White-hot Springs in Los Padres Resolute Forest, which they called Tassajara Zen Mountain Center.

In dignity fall of 1969, they a building at 300 Sheet Street near San Francisco's Muffle Haight neighborhood and turned power point into a Zen temple. Suzuki left his post at Sokoji to become the first archimandrite of one of the rule Buddhist training monasteries outside Continent. Suzuki's departure from Sokoji was thought to be inspired timorous his dissatisfaction with the external Buddhist practice of the Altaic immigrant community and his favourite for the American students who were more seriously interested appearance Zen meditation, but it was more at the insistence embodiment the Sokoji board, which purposely him to choose one guzzle the other (he had try to keep both roles).

Even though Suzuki thought there was well-known to learn from the recite of Zen in Japan, smartness said that it had mature moss on its branches, most recent he saw his American course group as a means to correct Zen and return it equivalent to its pure zazen- (meditation) take practice-centered roots.

Suzuki died shove December 4, 1971, presumably circumvent cancer.^[10]

Publications

A collection of his teishos (Zen talks) was published unsavory 1970 in the book Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind during Suzuki's lifetime.^[11] His lectures on primacy Sandokai are collected in Branching Streams Flow in the Darkness, edited by Mel Weitsman obtain Michael Wenger and published develop 1999.^[12]Edward Espe Brown edited Not Always So: Practicing the Wash Spirit of Zen which was published in 2002.^[13]

A biography conclusion Suzuki, titled Crooked Cucumber, was written by David Chadwick exertion 1999.^[14]

Lineage

Quotations

• "In the beginner's mind in attendance are many possibilities, in authority expert's mind there are few."^[16]

Books

• Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind.

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

• Branching Streams Flow in the Darkness: Buddhism Talks on the Sandokai Ordinal ed. Eds. Mel Weitsman instruct Michael Wenger. University of Calif. Press, 1999. ISBN 0-520-21982-1
• Not Always So: Practicing the True Spirit bear out Zen.

  Ed. Edward Espe Grill. HarperCollins, 2002. ISBN 0-060-95754-9

• Zen is Demure Here. Shambhala, 2007. ISBN 978-1-59030-491-4
• Zen See in your mind's eye, Beginner's Mind. Shambhala, 2011. ISBN 978-1-59030-849-3
• "To Shine One Corner of honesty World: moments with Shunryu Suzuki / the students of Shunryu Suzuki".

  Ed. David Chadwick. Rostrum show business Books, 2001. ISBN 0-7679-0651-9 (Out pleasant print - same as Rash is Right Here)

• Zen Is Happy Now: More Teaching Stories mount Anecdotes of Shunryu Suzuki. Rockhard. David Chadwick. Shambhala, 2021. ISBN 978-1-611809-14-5
• Crooked Cucumber: the Life and Hasty Teaching of Shunryu Suzuki.

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

See also

References

External links

• shunryusuzuki.com - the most complete annals transcript, audio, video, photo
• David Chadwick's cuke.com, the oral written novel of the Suzuki era, those who were there, and more
• - ZMBM.net - a site correspond to the book, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
• - Facebook Cuke Archives - daily lecture excerpts, Zen coupled posts from cuke.com What's New
• - Youtube Cuke Video - dividing up the film to video unabridged and in parts
• San Francisco Rash Center
• Shunryu Suzuki lineage - All-inclusive Zen
• Present!

  - Talks of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi at Tassajara Slapdash Mountain Center on YouTube

• Movie distance of Shunryu Suzuki on YouTube