A rock is set
landscape deepens
late-autumn rain

The one who used to trim trees
no longer
a young maple

CONVERSATIONS WITH SUZUKI ROSHI

In Shizuoka, one day he showed up and asked me, "Please come to the Tokiwa Kindergarten in Yaizu (to become the head teacher)."

"I am a Christian. I cannot take care of children in a Buddhist way."

"Much better than someone who has no faith."

In Yaizu he said, "There is going to be Kishizawa Roshi’s teisho at Gyokuden-in today. Please attend. You don’t need to work at the kindergarten."

I said, "Yes." I attended and was very moved. It took place once a month.

I asked him, "Hojo-sama, tell me what Buddhism is in one sentence."

"Well, perhaps, to accept things as they are and let them live in a better way."

At Soko-ji

When I was complaining about something, he just said, "Clean the toilets."

So I cleaned the three toilets beginning with the one in the basement. I felt so good, all the complaints went away. Very curious. (Maybe doing samu rather than chanting sutras?)

At Zen Center I said to him, "Hojo-sama, after you die what shall I do?"

"Well, how about staying here and helping these people?"

"I cannot speak English well. Do you think I can do it?"

"You are honest and fair. So you can do it."

I have been living together with Hojo-sama until now with these words in my heart.

Gassho.