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Shunryu Suzuki and points of interest
in early SFZC Board Notes
with link to PDF of source and some brief notes on some made in 2013 on this page: SFZC board notes
1962-3 - 1964 - 1965 - 1966 - 1969 - 1970

1962

 

November 3

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

 

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Since the collection box wag stolen, 
whether or not it should be replaced, 
there was discussion as to 
how nmch the Center should 
spend for another one, and what kind of a box they would buy. It 
was decided an antique box at Cost Plus would be the one. 
Its cost Wag very reasonable.

 

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tion about the Center in an Album. The second point wag discussion 
about whether or not the Zen Center should have Its own telephone 
11 sting. The additional expense Of a commercial 11 sting 
weighed with the pos Of benefit�ng those who wanted to 
reach the Center, but did not Imow Rosh1 Suzuki or tm t the 
Center's telephone wag listed under his name. The final point

 

 

December 8, 1962

 

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

 

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Rich-rd Baker said he would like the group to deoide the amount 
to be donated to Rev. u 
and S0kogi temple Lifter each gesshin. 
Much discussion fill owed but it was decided that Richard should talk 
over the problem v,'ith Riv. Suzuki and decide thereof. 
3 ) He also 
$288.38 
income was$ 
stated that the total incorne for the month of September 
and the total expenditure $281 for November the total 
318.55 and expenditure 294. 20.

 

 

1963

 

January 5

 

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 too big," and comments like that.

 

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2) Gra.hame Petchey reported -that he had obtained copies Of the 
articles of Incorporation and the By—Laws from Mr. Mal loch. He 
said that Rev. 
had kept past co-cies of the Windbell and 
therefore his ous request for past copies wag unecesgary. 
He said he had started to rebuild the records.

  

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6 ) Reverend Suzuki said that Dr. 
rns would give z lecture on 
Psychiatry and Zen on W ednesday Aebruzry 6 and wednesday March 6th.

 

 

April 6, 1963

 

63-03-07 - longer note with info on Douglass Burns who Suzuki had speak at ZC occasionally.

 

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Reverend Suzuki. requested that we do not accept new member snip in 
Zen Center while he is in J CLpa.n. Associat,e membership will 
Suauki 
remain open and anyone may join us in sit i, ing- 
also requested Lha,t any newcomers co bbe temple be directed to 
either, Betty Warren, Bill Kwong, Gr Petchey, or Richard Baker 
for instruction. 
In Reverend Suzuki's Absence, 
t,he sundu,y lectures and service at 
a.m. Will be given by Dr. Wako 
wednesday evening lectures. 
wednesday from : CO p. m. No priest, 
Reverend. Suzuki for the t,heee months 
Kato . 
There will be no 
we will hold regular zazen on 
WI 11 come to replace 
he will be away.

 

 

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.

 

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

 

August 3, 1963

 

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.

 

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Reverend Susuki spoke the meeting planned by Bishop 
Yamada in Los Angel ep on Friday and August 16 17th. 
This meeting is for%hembers of Soto Zen Buddhlsm in the United 
States and will be concerned with the nature development of the 
Soto Zen Way. The meeting will stress importance of Sitting 
in Zazen for all members, Japanese ard American. 
Reverend SAsuki said that a good translator would be present to 
translate all speeches into English or Japanese

 

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Reverend ansuki told us a little about Middlebar, and the plans 
of Mr. MacDonald to build a monastery- there 0 Soto Zen Headquarters 
in Japan will be zinirw their permission as soon as the title to the 
land IS cleared. Meanwhile we Should help them in every possible way.

 

 

September 7, 1963

 

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.

 

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6) The next issue considered was whether or not to charge money 
for fhlture gegghing, and If so how much. Some people evidently did 
not come to the last one because they could not afford it, despite 
assuranoes from severel trustees that anyone who wants to should 
come even if they could not pay. 
Reverend 
felt that everyone should offer at I east some 
money, that is, that there should be some standard minimum charge 
(Of, say, one or two dollars) In addition there shouldbe a bulle tin 
board notice explaining the entire cost of the sesshin and Indicating 
amounts to be paid by those who can afford to do so, in order to 
helo towards covering the sesshin expenses. 
The three main alternatives to the problem of gegshin charge 
seem to be:

 

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I) 
2) 
3) 
welcoming all to the sesshin with no mention of any set fee, 
but requesting contribU tions of any amount the individual 
participant would like to give . 
Secondly, welcoming all, 'out specifying some low minimum fee, 
such as Reverend Suzuki suggested above, with an added note, 
explicitly exempting from payment those unable to afford i t. 
Thirdly, welcoming all, but specifying the full amount 
necessary for each person to pay in order adequately to 
costs, with an added note to the effect 
cover sesshin — 
that those unable to afford the full amount should pay 
what they were able, and that it was not obligatory to pay 
anything should a person be unable to do so. 
A further suggestion was made by Margaret Ikeda that the 
bulletin board notice should simply direct each participant 
personally to eon tact one Of the three head officers of Zen 
Center who would then explaiL to each the financial situation. 
It was agreed that the issue would be further didussed and 
decided upon at the next meeting.

 

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9) 
Zen Center is in the new phone book: in the white pages listed 
under "Zen Center" in the yellow pages under 'ISOkoji . 
10) Richard Baker suggested that a much —needed phone in the kitchen 
be installed for Mrs. S 
arrangements towards this end. 
and agreed to make further

 

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11) Ernie Davin suggested that perhaps tea ceremony studies could 
be instituted — gay every �riday night. 
It was felt that this 
would be good idea to keep in mind for the future, but that the 
time was not now ripe, what with the probability of vacating the 
present building in the near future. Reverend Suzuki said that 
when he gets an assistant priest here to help him, he will perhaps 
be able to develop more areas such as the tea ceremony practice 
and calligraphy. 
Reverend Suzuki said that there would be no Sunday services 
th 
in English on Sept. 15 and 22 
On the former date we all should 
come at 9 am to participate in a general hall — cleaning initiated 
by Rev. Suzuki with prime regard to the edification and instruction 
of a group of young boys connected with the temple, but not -as yet 
active perticipants. Afterwards there will be a meeting to discuss 
the problem of the Sokoji Temple Building. We are going to have to 
move as the city would require extensive repair — work to the present 
structure which would be very ex 
at the corner Of Laguna and 
office; 2nd — general hall: 3nd: 
The new location would be 
ensive . 
and would have 3 floors : 
1st: 
me ditation room.

 

 

October 5, 1963

 

63-10-05 - with a long note mainly on MacDonough

  

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3) 
Reverend S 
told us that {rchbishop 2akaghina is coming 
on Thursday, October 17th at 12 0 'clock noon. He will hold 
a gervice for World Peace and a special ceremony for the 
ancestors buried here at 7 : 30 p m that evening at the Sokoji 
Temple. He left Japan on Sept. 14 with a party of twelve, 
the "Messengers of Peace 2 They have Visited the Soviet Union 
and other counties through Europe and stopped at York to visit 
the Archbishop of Canterbury. In America they will stop at 
New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and perhaps 
Archbishop nakashina is trying to organize 
other places. 
one hundred religious peace workers scattered throughout 
the world in different countries and different religious 
groups, who would meet annually. 
The and his party will be in S. F. on Oct. 17th 
and 18th and will leave on the 19th at 11 am for Los Angeles. 
Betty Warren offered to spread the news of his visit to 
the Quakers and other groups interested in peace. 
Reverend Suzuki agreed to try and provide an English 
translator for the Archbishop's speech, or to translate himself. 
Reverend MacDonald v�,n-ts the Lrdhbishop to visit his 
property at Middlebar. But first, Reverend Suzuki felt, it 
should be made clear I). th� title to the , Ehd, 2) the suggested 
organization of the monastery which Rev. MacDonald proposes to 
build and 3 ) the name of the organization. It is particularly

 

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important that the title to the land -oe sure and clear before the 
Archbishop," g visit. After some discussion of the complex problems 
involved, Richard Baker agreed to call Rev. MacDonald today, in an 
attempt to clarify the situation. 
Reverend Suzuki said we should help Rev. NacDona1d all we can.

 

 

November 2, 1963

 

63-11-02 - Note the Susuki spelling. More on Takashina and McDonough

 

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5) Reverend MacDonald, who is trying to establish a monastery at 
Mic?dlebar, California, talked to Richard 'Baker about it, when the 
latter went to Sacramento to see him. Later Reverend MacDonald 
came Gown to San Francisco himself and talked with Reverend 
:heuki and Jean Ross. Reverend MacDonald agreed that it was not 
the time for Arch-Bishop Takaehina to visit Middlebar, ( which in 
fact t,he Archbishop Cid nut, do,) because title to the land 
was not yet clear. Reverend MacDonald felt that it v•jas fairly 
sure that the title would be cleared, but might be quite some 
time. he plans himself to study further with Bishop Yamada in Los 
Angleos. he invites us all to visit h!iddlebat as often as possible

 

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7) RicharC Baker, treasurer, reported that the income for October fell 
below the outgo, because only coven of the nineteen active pledges 
were forthcoming. The ses�in cost $20.50, plus probably some 
hidden coets for '.vhich individuals (epecifically Mrs. Susuki) , may 
not have been reimbursed. 
It v:as agreed that the Zen Center would 
pay $5.00 to Susuki and 05.00 to the Sokoji Temple for the 
eeeehin. Q he total unsolicited contributions towards the sesshin 
cane to $16. CC.

 

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8) Jean Rose suggested that Zen Center help pay Or the 
which will be built in the ar future '"ill cost 
?-ichard Eo,ker ZEE t Zen Centcr increase its 
new termle 
eeoo, oot.oc. 
monthly con— 
Z. -al rx zes of the ZYovember eecon�, 1363, bueiness rneeting cont.) 
Z.everenc_l eusuki 
�'ibut,ions to Sok_ojl 2empIe from . CO +.„o $1COaCC. 
that each of us coulc pay a dollar a r.onth each, ? s the J 4-•anese 
congregation is doing. It was decidec would wait to decide 
and how much we should give, until Reverend Susuki confers 
Perk-.acs 1 e-ter - :hen it is •finished, there 
lanning the teracle. 
those 
ill -ne some -new equipment, or furnishings for it that we could con- 
tribute .

 

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9) Villeon aekee if eonehow some the reeponeibilities 
beam ng upon Reverend Sueuki, especially r: uring critical Zimes, 
could not be shifted upon our shoulders. Phillip reported that it i e 
not at all urnrual for fieverend •asuki to stay up until twelve or 
one o'clock at night in oreer to finish his 'hi,zork for the day, anc 
that it toes not seem that he should get sick from overv,'ork. 
Phillip eugqeete� that he be ordered to refrain coming to early 
morning zazen. It seemed apparent that euch an injunction would pre— 
sent insuperable problems of' enforceroent. Reverend Susuki said that 
we could not directly 
assume any of his jobs, for they nearly all 
require his personal attention, •out that he hoped that for next year, 
an assistant priest would be coming to help him. Dixon suggest- 
ed that perhaps at parti cui arly busy times he ehoulc. not, give us 
nesday evening lectures; instead we could meet among ourselves at 
t nose times and Ciecusg tre stories in the Blue Cliff Records. Nothing 
Cefinite was decided upon, but it is sure that the problem is kept 
in tYE minds of all those present.

 

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11) 2he chant for morning breakfast is not yet ready to be printed, 
Reverent reported. He also 'O i Ehes to have printed the 'tshi— 
shogi!', one of Dogenrs chants recited at large eerem�nies.

 

 

December 7, 1963

 

63-12-07 - note

 

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2) Lixon and Du. er reported on a letter from Lonnie 
Slider of Charleston, Illinms, who hac requested information about 
becoming. a .2u��-hist. In reply to his letter, we sent him Reverend 
•usuki 's acvice to begin practicing mec,iation on 111 s own in order 
to become accustomed to the posture, to continue reading and studying 
and to concentrate on what he is presenuly engaged in. If ever 
he fines the opportunity 00 come to San Francisco, we will be glad to 
welcome him at the Sokoji 'i ernpxe. 
3) Reverend SAsuki reported on the prospective new temple. He said that 
next April the city will give information on places available to build 
the temple, and until then not much can be cone except to collect rnoney.

 


 

1962-3 - 1964 - 1965 - 1966 - 1969 - 1970