Shunryu Suzuki Roshi

Shunryu Suzuki Roshi (1904-1971) was a Soto Zen monk and teacher who helped popularize Zen Buddhism in the United States, and is renowned for founding the first Buddhist monastery outside Asia, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, and founding the San Francisco Zen Center. A book of his teachings, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, is one of the most popular books on Zen and Buddhism in the West.

Magazine Teachings

A Swinging Door

A brief teaching from a Soto Zen master

By Shunryu Suzuki Roshi

Fall 2020

Trike Daily Meditation & Practice

Small Mind, Big Mind

Thoughts in the mind are like waves in the ocean: you can never fully stop them from arising, explains Zen master Shunryu Suzuki.

By Shunryu Suzuki Roshi

Mar 09, 2018

Buddhism lessons for Beginners; mahayana/vajrayana practice and right speech

Magazine Buddhism for Beginners

Practicing Zazen Meditation

Zen practice, zen life

By Shunryu Suzuki Roshi

Magazine Teachings

Brown Rice Is Just Right

As it turns out, emptiness can be understood perfectly while chewing rice.

By Shunryu Suzuki Roshi

Summer 2002

Magazine Meditation & Practice

Breathing

When we practice zazen our mind always follows our breathing. When we inhale, the air comes into the inner world. When we exhale, the air goes out to the outer world. The inner world is limitless, and the outer world is also limitless. We say “inner world” or “outer world,” but actually there is just […]

By Shunryu Suzuki Roshi

Spring 1995

Magazine Meditation & Practice

Bowing

Shunryu Suzuki Roshi on learning to transcend dualistic ideas through the practice of bowing.

By Shunryu Suzuki Roshi

Fall 1994

Magazine Meditation & Practice

Breathing

What we call “I” is just a swinging door which moves when we inhale and when we exhale. When we practice zazen our mind always follows our breathing. When we inhale, the air comes into the inner world. When we exhale, the air goes out to the outer world. The inner world is limitless, and […]

By Shunryu Suzuki Roshi

Spring 1994