Crooked Cucumber: The Life and Zen Teaching of Shunryu SuzukiSince the publication of the landmark "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind 25 years ago, the influence of Shunryu Suzuki has grown extensively. His followers have long hungered for a full portrait of the man whose wisdom touched so many, but until now no book has been published by or about this extraordinary individual. David Chadwick, who studied with Suzuki at the San Francisco Zen Center from 1966 until Suzuki's death in 1971, has interviewed his mentor's family, friends, and disciples and was granted full access to Japanese and American archives. "Crooked Cucumber begins with Suzuki's earliest days in Japan, where his teacher nicknamed him "Crooked Cucumber," claiming Suzuki was too absent-minded and dim-witted to ever become a successful priest. Chadwick follows Suzuki through his new life in San Francisco amid the cultural upheaval of the '60s, creating a context for his refreshing and profound teaching. Brief, illuminating chapters, with previously unpublished lecture quotes, convey the down-to-earth message of a man who continues to transform countless lives. |
Contents
Chapter One Childhood 19041916 | 3 |
Chapter Two Master and Disciple 19161923 | 16 |
Chapter Three Higher Education 19241930 | 39 |
Copyright | |
18 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
abbot Alan Watts altar Amano America Antaiji bell bowed boys buddha hall Buddhism called ceremony chanting Chie Claude congregation D. T. Suzuki danka dharma disciples Dogen's Eiheiji English enlightenment father feel felt friends gassho Grahame Heart Sutra Hoitsu idea Japan Japanese Jodo Shin Katagiri kinhin Kishizawa kitchen knew koans Kozo Kwong lecture living looked master McNeil mind Miss Ransom Mitsu monastery monk morning moved Obaa-san Ogui Okusan ordained Otohiro Otsubo Pauline Petchey Philip priest rice Richard Baker Rinso-in Rinzai robes Roshi San Francisco sesshin Shunryu Suzuki sit zazen So-on Sogaku Sokoji Soto Zen stay Sutra Suzuki asked Suzuki told Suzuki-roshi talk Tassajara tatami Tatsugami teacher teaching temple things thought Tokyo took Toshi train Trungpa understand walked wanted wife Yaizu Yasuko zafu zazen Zen Center zendo Zoun-in