Buddhism in The West changed forever the day in 1959 when an obscure Zen priest named Shunryu Suzuki landed in California. As word spread in the vibrant world of San Francisco bohemia of a true Zen master in their midst, students who wanted more than just the words of Zen gathered around the small Soto monk to learn the practice of meditation. Through the outstanding students [...]
About David Chadwick
Alan Watts at 101
Watts in 1938, shortly before moving to America. Through his bestselling books and popular broadcasts, Alan Watts did as much as anyone to introduce Americans to Buddhism. David Chadwick recalls his friend, the unconventional philosopher who uncovered The Way for so many. What good fortune it was to know Alan Watts. The first time I met him was at a party, shortly after I [...]
Teaching of the Day: Suzuki Roshi on Peace and War
Author David Chadwick is taking good care to preserve the teachings and world of the late Suzuki Roshi via Cuke.com—a vast and playful space replete with stories, photos, anecdotes and "whatever else DC feels like" (to quote Chadwick). Here's an excerpt from Chadwick's biography of Roshi, Crooked Cucumber: The Life and Zen Teaching of Shunryu Suzuki: On Peace and War: After [...]
Intoxicants: Name Your Poison
I like to get a little out of it now and then, but I don't like to get too out of it too much, and thus my rule is to do as little as possible of any intoxicants, including caffeine. I do tend to do too much, though I don't beat myself on the head for my excesses. I just pick myself up and keep going. I see the precepts, including the fifth one, Refrain from taking [...]
Profile: San Francisco Zen Center
Half a century ago, if an American was interested in practicing Zen Buddhism—or any kind of Buddhism—there wasn't much they could do, other than travel to the other side of the world and learn a new language. A few did that with mixed results. Back then, there was a little zazen happening at the First Zen Institute in New York City, at the Cambridge Buddhist Society in [...]