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We do not exist for the sake of something else. We exist for the sake of ourselves.

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
Sake
Exist
Else
Something

More quotes by Shunryu Suzuki

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Bowing is a very serious practice. You should be prepared to bow, even in your last moment. even though it is impossible to get rid of our self-centered desires, we have to do it. Our true nature wants us to.
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To express yourself as you are, without any intentional, fancy way of adjusting yourself, is the most important thing.
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If you continue this simple practice every day, you will obtain some wonderful power. Before you attain it, it is something wonderful, but after you attain it, it is nothing special.
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When you try to understand everything, you will not understand anything. The best way is to understand yourself, and then you will understand everything.
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The way that helps will not be the same it changes according to the situation.
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To be different is to have value. In this sense all things have equal, absolute value. Each thing has absolute value and thus is equal to everything else.
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Nothing we see or hear is perfect. But right there in the imperfection is perfect reality.
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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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True communication depends upon our being straightforward with one another... But the best way to communicate may be just to sit without saying anything.
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Each of you is perfect the way you are ... and you can use a little improvement.
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In the mind of the beginner, there are many possibilities. In the mind of the expert there are few.
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In the Lotus Sutra, Buddha says to light up one corner - not the whole world. Just make it clear where you are.
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Zazen practice and everyday activity are one thing. We call zazen everyday life, and everyday life zazen.
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People say that practicing Zen is difficult, but there is a misunderstanding as to why. It is not difficult because it is hard to sit in the cross- legged position, or to attain enlightenment. It is difficult because it is hard to keep our mind pure and our practice pure in its fundamental sense.
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Zen is everywhere.... But for you, Zen is right here.
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Things are always changing, so nothing can be yours.
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To have some deep feeling about Buddhism is not the point we just do what we should do, like eating supper and going to bed. This is Buddhism.
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When you sit, everything sits with you.
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To cook is not just to prepare food for someone or to cook for yourself it is to express your sincerity. So when you cook you should express yourself in your activity in the kitchen. You should allow yourself plenty of time.
Shunryu Suzuki
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The true practice to meditation is to sit as if you where drinking water when you are thirsty.
Shunryu Suzuki