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Nothing we see or hear is perfect. But right there in the imperfection is perfect reality.

Shunryu Suzuki

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Shunryu Suzuki
Age: 67 †
Born: 1904
Born: May 18
Died: 1971
Died: December 4
Bhikkhu
Leader
Missionary
Philosopher
Writer
Atlanta
Georgia
Nothing
Right
Imperfection
Hear
Perfect
Reality

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It is wisdom that is seeking for wisdom.
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When he bowed to all those buddhas, the buddhas he bowed to were beyond his own understanding. Again and again he did it.
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The secret of Soto Zen is just two words: not always so.... In Japanese, it's two words, three words in English. That is the secret of our practice.
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If you want to read a letter from the Buddha's world, it is necessary to understand Buddha's world.
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No matter what god or doctrine you believe in, if you become attached to it, your belief will be based more or less on a self-centered idea.
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You will always exist in the universe in one form or another.
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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.
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The goal of our life’s effort is to reach the other shore, Nirvana. Prajna paramita, the true wisdom of life, is that in each step of the way, the other shore is actually reached.
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If you take pride in your attainment or become discouraged because of your idealistic effort, your practice will confine you by a thick wall.
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In the zazen posture, your mind and body have, great power to accept things as they are, whether agreeable or disagreeable.
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To give your sheep or cow a large, spacious meadow is the way to control him.
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There should not be any particular teaching. Teaching is in each moment.
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Zen is everywhere.... But for you, Zen is right here.
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We try, and we try, and we fail and then we go deeper.
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Moment after moment, completely devote yourself to listening to your inner voice.
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Zen is not some kind of excitement, but concentration on our usual everyday routine.
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For Zen students a weed is a treasure. With this attitude, whatever you do, life becomes an art.
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When you do something, if you fix your mind on the activity with some confidence, the quality of your state of mind is the activity itself. When you are concentrated on the quality of your being, you are prepared for the activity.
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Whereever you are, you are one with the clouds and one with the sun and the stars you see. You are one with everything. That is more true than I can say, and more true than you can hear.
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Our practice should be based on the ideal of selflessness. Selflessness is very difficult to understand. If you try to be selfless, that is already a selfish idea. Selflessness will be there when you do not try anything.
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