Shundo David Haye – Zen Priest

‘Question: In my practice, I find there is part of me that stubbornly doesn’t want to see or to realize my true nature. How can I work with resistance rather struggle against it in order to become a more sincere student?

Suzuki Roshi: “How to” is the way. How to, how to, how to. That is continuity of ‘how to’ is Buddhism. Our way is nothing but that continuity of “how to, how to, how to.” Whatever scripture you read, what is written in it is how to help all sentient beings attain enlightenment and liberation, how to, how to, how to. You are one of the sentient beings and you’re trying to save them, save all sentient beings including yourself. That is how to, how to, how to. You see? “How to” is very valuable word.’ (from the Suzuki Roshi Archive)

This is another exchange from the first shosan at Tassajara. As we have been discussing in the Monday group, these unscripted answers are incredibly illuminating in terms of understanding how Suzuki Roshi reflected his students’ practice back to them at this very historic time.

It would be remiss of me not to mention that David Chadwick and Edward Brown, who were both present in the zendo that day almost sixty years ago, are discussing the first year of Tassajara in an online event for SFZC in a couple of weeks. I have my ticket.