22 quotes
There are, strictly speaking, no enlightened people, there is only enlightened activity.
You may say you attained some stage in your practice. But that is just a trivial event in your long life.
When you do something, you should burn yourself completely, like a good bonfire, leaving no trace of yourself.
Enter the Heart of the Fire : A collection of Mystical Poems (1981)
If the mind is empty, it is always ready for anything; it is open to everything. In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, in the expert's mind there are few.
Zazen practice is the direct expression of our true nature. Strictly speaking, for a human being, there is no other practice than this practice; there is no other way of life than this way of life.
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind (1970)
You should rather be grateful for the weeds you have in your mind, because eventually they will enrich your practice.
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind (1970)
Communication is — start by understanding — your own understanding about people. Even though you want them to understand you, you know, it is — unless you understand people, it is almost impossible.
If you take pride in your attainment or become discouraged because of your idealistic effort, your practice will confine you by a thick wall.
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind (1970)
Without accepting the fact that everything changes, we cannot find perfect composure.
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind (1970)
Nothing we see or hear is perfect. But right there in the imperfection is perfect reality.
Not Always So: Practicing the True Spirit of Zen (2002)
Instead of respecting things, we want to use them for ourselves and if it is difficult to use them, we want to conquer them.
Not Always So: Practicing the True Spirit of Zen (2002)
In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, in the expert's there are few.
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind (1970)
All descriptions of reality are limited expressions of the world of emptiness. Yet we attach to the descriptions and think they are reality. That is a mistake.
Not Always So: Practicing the True Spirit of Zen (2002)
When we do not expect anything we can be ourselves. That is our way, to live fully in each moment of time.
Not Always So: Practicing the True Spirit of Zen (2002)
What is true zazen? What do you mean by Zen becomes Zen and you become you? You become you is a very important point. You become you.
The true purpose of Zen is to see things as they are, to observe things as they are, and to let everything go as it goes. Zen practice is to open up our small mind.
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind (1970)
Doing something is expressing our own nature. We do not exist for the sake of something else. We exist for the sake of ourselves. This is the fundamental teaching expressed in the forms we observe.
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind (1970)
When you start to do this kind of thing you are alright. Don’t worry a bit. It means when you become you, yourself, and when you see things as they are, and when you become at one with your surrounding, in its true sense, there is true self.
Real Freedom is to not feel limited when wearing this Zen robe, this troublesome formal robe. Similarly, in our busy life we should wear this civilization without being bothered by it, without ignoring it, without being caught by it.
Not Always So: Practicing the True Spirit of Zen (2002)
We must have beginner's mind, free from possessing anything, a mind that knows everything is in flowing change. Nothing exists but momentarily in its present form and color. One thing flows into another and cannot be grasped.
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind (1970)