San Francisco Zen Center Shunryū Suzuki

on may 23, 1959 shunryu suzuki arrived in san francisco attend soko-ji, @ time sole soto zen temple in san francisco. 55. suzuki took on interim priest, wako kazumitsu kato. suzuki taken aback americanized , watered-down buddhism practiced @ temple, older immigrant japanese. found american culture interesting , not difficult adjust to, commenting once if knew this, have come here sooner! surprised see sokoji jewish synagogue (at 1881 bush street, historic landmark). sleeping quarters located upstairs, windowless room adjoining office.

at time of suzuki s arrival, zen had become hot topic amongst groups in united states, beatniks. particularly influential several books on zen , buddhism alan watts. word began spread suzuki among beatniks through places san francisco art institute , american academy of asian studies, alan watts once director. kato had done presentations @ academy , asked suzuki come join class giving there on buddhism. sparked suzuki s long-held desire teach zen westerners.

the class filled people wanting learn more buddhism, , presence of zen master inspiring them. suzuki had class zazen 20 minutes, sitting on floor without zafu , staring forward @ white wall. in closing, suzuki invited stop in @ sokoji morning zazen. little little, more people showed each week sit zazen 40 minutes suzuki on mornings. students improvising, using cushions borrowed wherever find them.

the group sat suzuki formed san francisco zen center suzuki. zen center flourished in 1966, @ behest , guidance of suzuki, zentatsu richard baker helped seal purchase of tassajara hot springs in los padres national forest, called tassajara zen mountain center. in fall of 1969, bought building @ 300 page street near san francisco s lower haight neighborhood , turned zen temple. suzuki left post @ sokoji become first abbot of 1 of first buddhist training monasteries outside asia. suzuki s departure sokoji thought inspired dissatisfaction superficial buddhist practice of japanese immigrant community , preference american students more interested in zen meditation, more @ insistence of sokoji board, asked him choose 1 or other (he had tried keep both roles). although suzuki thought there learn study of zen in japan, said had grown moss on branches, , saw american students means reform zen , return pure zazen- (meditation) , practice-centered roots.