Shunryu Suzuki was a Japanese Zen master and the founder of the San Francisco Zen Center. He was born in 1904 in the village of Honda in Japan's Kanagawa Prefecture. His father was a Soto Zen priest, and Suzuki grew up in a temple where he was exposed to Zen teachings from a young age.

At the age of 13, Suzuki's father passed away, and he was sent to live with his older brother who was also a Soto Zen priest. Under his brother's guidance, Suzuki began to study Zen more seriously and eventually entered Komazawa University to study Buddhism.

After graduating, Suzuki became a priest and was assigned to a small temple in Japan's countryside. However, he felt a strong desire to deepen his understanding of Zen and decided to travel to China to study under a renowned Zen master, Kishizawa Ian. Suzuki spent the next six years studying and practicing Zen in China before returning to Japan.

In 1959, Suzuki was invited to the United States to serve as a priest at the Soko-ji temple in San Francisco. He quickly gained a following among Western students and decided to stay in the US to spread the teachings of Zen. In 1962, he founded the San Francisco Zen Center, which became one of the first and most influential Zen centers in the West.

Suzuki's teachings were heavily influenced by his experiences in China and his deep understanding of the traditional Soto Zen teachings. He emphasized the importance of zazen (meditation) and the concept of shikantaza, or "just sitting," as a way to cultivate mindfulness and awareness.

One of Suzuki's most famous books, "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind," is a collection of his talks and teachings at the San Francisco Zen Center. In it, he emphasizes the importance of approaching Zen practice with a beginner's mind, free from preconceptions and expectations.

Suzuki's background in Zen Buddhism, combined with his unique approach and ability to communicate complex teachings in a simple and accessible way, made him a highly influential figure in the spread of Zen in the West. He continued to teach and lead the San Francisco Zen Center until his passing in 1971, leaving a lasting legacy on the Western Zen community.