Beau's Blog

11 months ago, I purchased a book. A paper book. A companion for a few months of digital nomading. A companion to educate and entertain.

A couple months ago I finished that book. It served me well, both on the road and afterwards while established in Tokyo. So well that I feel compelled to share thoughts on it.

What I Thought

This book was very good. At least, very good for me in the past year. I am optimistic its ideas will continue to serve me.

To be clear, this was not nonstop game changing wisdom. But some sections I reread several times. No, not struggling to parse a cryptic tome. Of course I wanted to return to this comforting stew. A treat packed with plentiful hidden treasures on each foray of allegedly familiar ground.

Quotes I Keep Chewing On

• “Forget this moment and grow into the next”
• “Zazen practice is necessary to know the kind of screen you have and to enjoy your life as you enjoy movies in the theater”
• “be like a boatman. Although he is carried by the boat, he is also handling the boat”
• “When you empty your mind, when you give up everything and just practice zazen with an open mind, then whatever you see, you meet yourself”
• “Before you accept the problems you have in your position, you cannot accept yourself as you are”

My Top Takeaways

• Flow/lack of resistance is key in life – balance with some intention
• Perspective is important. It allows you to enjoy your life.
• Empty your mind and accept your situation
• Our problems help us

What Is This Book Really?

This book is a series of lectures that Suzuki Roshi gave. Wait, who? Shunryu Suzuki was a zen master, born in Japan in 1904, came to California in 1959 and died in 1971. Lectures eh? Yes, the editor took transcripts of lectures and edited them for clarity.  Each lecture AKA chapter is a short digestible read.

I thought the format was effective. Chapters that resonated could be easily reread without major commitment. Chapters that didn’t could be skipped without fear of missing out on major ideas.

Thanks

I appreciate Wade and Dan, my inspiring friends who encouraged my zen curiosity. Thank you Suzuki Roshi and the editor Edward Espe Brown for enriching my life with these ideas.