Cuke Audio Podcast

Michael Papas came to the San Francisco Zen Center in 1980 at the age of 25 ready to kill himself if Zen didn't work. Thus begins his  way-seeking mind story.

Follow Mark Foote's unique way-seeking mind story and thought. Delve into it at zenmudra.com and  at Zazen Notes on Facebook.

This is part 2 of the podcast with Eric Larsen who came to the SFZC in 1970. Aside from his Zen studies, he apprenticed with master sculptor, blacksmith, etc Alex Weygers, and learned chain saw sculpting etc from JB Blunk, and studied with Yurok shaman Harry Roberts. In recent years he's been immersed in Butoh dance in Japan and the US. See ericlarsendance.com. More at Eric's cuke.com page.

Eric Larsen came to the SFZC in 1970. Aside from his Zen studies, he apprenticed with master sculptor, blacksmith, etc Alex Weygers, and learned chain saw sculpting etc from JB Blunk, and studied with Yurok shaman Harry Roberts. In recent years he's been immersed in Butoh dance in Japan and the US. See ericlarsendance.com. More at Eric's cuke.com page. This is part one. Next week part two.

Robert Shuman was a student of Shunryu Suzuki in the San Francisco and at Tassajara  and then a student of Joshu Sasaki in LA and at Mt. Baldy and then of Philip Kapleau in Rochester.  He and his wife Hennie went to Raleigh to lead a Zen group long ago and they're still there now though their group hasn't met since Covid began.

Micah Sawyer was born at Green Gulch Farm. He talks about growing up in and around the farm and the SF Zen Center but mainly about Micah's Hugs which he and his wife Michelle founded after their son, Micah Jr. tragically died at  22 of a Fentanyl overdose. Check out micahshugs.org.

Jim Mussman came to Zen Center in 1970 via Japan where he attended his third year of medical school and got close to Suzuki students Carl Bielefeldt and Fred Stoeber. We hear about his Buddhist life and his anti-nuclear activity. He's a doctor now in New Rochelle, New York, and practices there with the Empty Hand Zen Center.

This is the 2nd podcast with Alan Senauke. It picks up where we left off on the last one, #91. He is the abbot of the Berkeley Zen Center and author of the recently published Turning Words, Transformative Encounters with Buddhist Teachers. He has a long involvement with  Buddhist peace work and  music. 

Leland Smithson was a logger from Vancouver who came to the SF Zen Center in 1972 while still a teenager and practiced there for a number of years. He's written some books in the fantasy realm - check him out on Amazon etc - and has a few neat pieces on cuke.com as well.  I, DC, talk about what's going on with us here in Bali for a while and then at 21 minutes  get ready to calll Leland into the podcast.

Laura Burges, in her 2nd appearance as a podcast guest, talks about her latest book,  The Zen Way of Recovery: An Illuminated Path Out of the Darkness of Addiction. Laura is a retired school teacher and current Zen teacher who specializes in recovery. Her prior books are Buddhist Stories for Kids and Zen for Kids.