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Did he have any notable students?
Shunryu Suzuki, the founder of the San Francisco Zen Center, had numerous notable students who went on to become influential figures in the world of Zen Buddhism. Some of his most well-known students include Tenshin Reb Anderson, Zentatsu Baker, and Mel Weitsman.
Tenshin Reb Anderson, also known as Shokaku Jinsen, was one of Suzuki's earliest American students and became his successor as abbot of the San Francisco Zen Center. He is known for his compassionate and inclusive teaching style, and has written several books on Zen practice.
Zentatsu Baker, also known as Ryushin Paul Haller, was another one of Suzuki's early American students. He went on to become the abbot of the San Francisco Zen Center's Green Gulch Farm Zen Center and has also written several books on Zen practice.
Mel Weitsman, also known as Tenshin Zenki, was a close student of Suzuki's and became the first abbot of the Berkeley Zen Center. He is known for his down-to-earth teaching style and has been instrumental in establishing Zen practice in the West.
Other notable students of Suzuki include Richard Baker, the second abbot of the San Francisco Zen Center, and Charlotte Joko Beck, who founded the Ordinary Mind Zen School. Both Baker and Beck have written influential books on Zen practice and have had a significant impact on the development of Zen in the West.
Suzuki's teachings also influenced many other prominent figures in the world of Zen, such as Philip Kapleau, founder of the Rochester Zen Center, and Taizan Maezumi, founder of the White Plum Asanga. His teachings continue to inspire and guide countless practitioners around the world.
In addition to his students in the West, Suzuki also had many notable students in Japan, including Shohaku Okumura, founder of the Sanshin Zen Community, and Shunryu Suzuki II, who succeeded his father as abbot of Rinso-in Temple in Japan.
Overall, Shunryu Suzuki's teachings have had a profound impact on the development of Zen Buddhism in the West and his students continue to carry on his legacy through their own teachings and practice. His humble and compassionate approach to Zen has touched the lives of many and his teachings continue to resonate with people from all walks of life.