Shunryu Suzuki Stories

MEMORIES OF SUZUKI Roshi FROM WIND BELL AND DC FILES

Letters on Suzuki Index - with more on these letters

Alan Marlowe
Alan Marlowe cuke page

Straight Back Still Mind

One day I complained to Suzuki Roshi that my mind would not be still, but chattered at me constantly during zazen.

"When your back gets straight your mind will become quiet," he answered.

***

On another occasion, while serving as his anja, I came to his cabin at Tassajara and found him sitting in his underwear scrubbing out the toilet. "I should be doing that," I said, with some embarrassment. "Sit down and have some tea," he answered. I sat down in my robes and prepared two cups of green tea at his table. "Roshi, what is the difference between you and me?" I asked. "I have students and you don't," he answered without hesitation.

***

One day while working on the editing of a transcription of his first lecture on the San Do Kai, I came on the phrase, "Things as it is," and asked Suzuki Roshi if perhaps he had not meant to say things as they are, which I thought to be proper syntax. "No," he said, "what I meant is things as it is."

So much for syntax.

Alan 12/1/75