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There are, strictly speaking, no enlightened people, there is only enlightened activity.

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
People
Strictly
Enlightened
Speaking
Activity

More quotes by Shunryu Suzuki

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Zen is not some fancy, special art of living. Our teaching is just to live, always in reality, in its exact sense. To make our effort, moment after moment, is our way.
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If you were not born in this world, there would be no need to die. To be born in this world is to die, to disappear [laughing].
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Only when you understand people, they may understand you. So even though you do not say anything, if you understand people there is some communication.
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It is a big mistake to think that the best way to express yourself is to do whatever you want, acting as you please. This is not expressing yourself. If you know what to do exactly, and you do it, then you can express yourself fully.
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Take care of things, and they will take care of you.
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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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When the restrictions you have do not limit you, this is what we mean by practice.
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Our mind should be free from traces of the past, just like the flowers of spring.
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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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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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Things are always changing, so nothing can be yours.
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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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An enlightened person does not ignore things and does not stick to things, not even to the truth.
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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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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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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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Let your ears hear without trying to hear. Let the mind think without trying to think and without trying to stop it. That is practice.
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Because all existence is founded upon the ever-present state of union, everything already exists in a state of tranquility. However, this state of tranquility is masked from us by our assumption that there is a separation, that there is a problem.
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Instead of respecting things, we want to use them for ourselves and if it is difficult to use them, we want to conquer them.
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Instead of criticizing, find out how to help.
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