Celebrate the Unearthing of a Lost Treasure
Hear the teachings of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi in his own voice.
In recent years, San Francisco Zen Center has worked to preserve its extensive archive of recorded talks. As part of this work, recordings of SFZC's founder Shunryu Suzuki Roshi have come to light which were thought to be lost or had simply disappeared from the records.
This four part video series—recorded in January of 2022—is guided by Abbot Ed Sattizahn, who shares his personal experiences with Suzuki Roshi, and Shundo David Haye, who was deeply involved in the audio restoration process.
Listen to talks given in the mid-Sixties when Suzuki Roshi was establishing his style of teaching for the "beginners" in the Bay Area. They are the basis of his much-loved book Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind.
“One of the most inspiring classes I’ve ever taken at San Francisco Zen Center.” —Rev. Shosan Victoria Austin, Zen Teacher
“It’s so wonderful to close my eyes and be in the room with him. Thank you.” — Marcia Lieberman, Artist, Photographer, Zen practitioner
“Endearing. His sense of humor was just delightful for me. Adorable.” — Nancy Yamahiro, Zen practitioner
Discover the Lost Talks that Inspired Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
Abbot Rinso Ed Sattizahn introduces the four newly recovered talks Suzukui Roshi gave that are the background for this series.
Curriculum
- Introduction: The Suzuki Roshi Archive and Historical Context (15:21)
- Description of Tape #1 by Shundo David Haye
- Shunryu Suzuki: "Beginner’s Mind" - Talk and Transcripts (17:08)
- Draft manuscript of "Beginner's Mind" from Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
- Group Commentary and Reflection by Ed and Shundo (19:25)
- Practice Suggestions and Closing Verses (4:22)
- BONUS: Extended Commentary on Beginner's Mind by Ed Sattizahn (23:35)
- BONUS: Ed Sattizahn on Suzuki and Dogen, Kaz Tanahashi (5:28)
- Experiential Group Sharing and Reflection by Ed and Shundo (10:23)
- Description of Tape #2 by Shundo David Haye
- Shundo Reflects on Beginner's Mind; Ed Introduces "Wisdom Seeks for Wisdom" (4:17)
- Shunryu Suzuki: "Wisdom Seeks For Wisdom" - Talk and Transcript (34:14)
- Group Commentary and Reflection by Ed and Shundo (21:19)
- Closing Comments, Practice Suggestions, and Verses (5:46)
- BONUS: Shundo David Haye on What Suzuki Roshi Achieved as a Founder (2:53)
- BONUS AUDIO: Lew Richmond on Sitting Zazen, Eating, and Studying with Suzuki Roshi (11:33)
- Experiential Group Sharing and Reflection by Ed and Shundo (22:19)
- Description of Tape #3 by Shundo David Haye
- Shundo Introduces "Calmness" (3:01)
- Shunryu Suzuki: "Calmness" - Talk and Transcripts (18:55)
- Draft manuscript of "Calmness" from Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
- Group Commentary, Reflection, Practice Suggestions, and Closing Verses (20:06)
- BONUS AUDIO: Yvonne Rand on Receiving Suzuki Roshi's Teachings (18:23)
- Experiential Group Sharing and Reflection by Ed and Shundo (6:06)
- Description of Tape #4 by Shundo David Haye
- Ed introduces "Study Yourself" (1:19)
- Shunryu Suzuki: "Study Yourself" - Talk and Transcript (25:42)
- Draft manuscript of "Study Yourself" from Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
- Dogen's Five Part Harmony: The Koan of the Present Moment (Shundo and Ed) (4:55)
- Group Commentary (14:15)
- Closing Remarks (Shundo and Ed) (5:38)
- Gratitude for the Archive Project (Shundo)
- BONUS AUDIO: Sojun Mel Weitsman on Suzuki Roshi (26:18)
Rinso Ed Sattizahn
Senior Dharma Teacher
After meeting Suzuki Roshi in 1970, Rinso Ed Sattizahn lived at Tassajara from 1973 to 1977. He spent the next five years at City Center, serving as Zen Center’s Vice President and President.
From 1983 to 2000 Ed held various executive positions in the microcomputer software industry and developed familiarity with how the world works.
In 2003, he served as Shuso (Head Student) at Green Gulch Farm, and in the same year co-founded Vimala Sangha in Mill Valley with Lew Richmond. Vimala Sangha is named after Vimalakirti, the famous householder disciple of the Buddha, and is dedicated to the practice of householder Zen in the tradition of Suzuki Roshi.
Ed received Lay Entrustment in 2005, was ordained as a Zen priest in 2010, and received Dharma Transmission in 2012, all from Lew Richmond. Ed previously served on the Zen Center Board for six years (2006-2011) and as board chair for three years (2009-2011). In March 2014, Ed became Abiding Abbot at City Center, and in March 2019 stepped into the role of Central Abbot, from which he stepped down in March 2023. He remains the guiding teacher at Vimala Sangha Mill Valley.
Shundo David Haye
Engage Wisdom
Shundo David Haye lived at City Center and Tassajara for 15 years. He received priest ordination in 2009, served as Shuso (Head Monk) at Tassajara in 2012, and received dharma transmission in 2026. He held many of the traditional temple administrator roles at Tassajara and City Center. Recently, he has worked on San Francisco Zen Center’s audio archive, and is proud to have helped rediscover lost talks by its founder Shunryu Suzuki Roshi. For more, see engagewisdom.com and shundo.org.