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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
Speaking
Activity
People
Strictly
Enlightened

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The secret of zen is just two words: not... always... so.
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In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, in the expert's mind there are few.
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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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For Zen students a weed is a treasure. With this attitude, whatever you do, life becomes an art.
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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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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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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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Religion is not any particular teaching. Religion is everywhere.
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It is only by practicing through a continual succession of agreeable and disagreeable situations that we acquire true strengths. To accept that pain is inherent and to live our lives from this understanding is to create the causes and conditions for happiness.
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We do not slight the idea of enlightenment, but the most important thing is this moment, not some day in the future. We have to make our effort in this moment. This is the most important thing for our practice.
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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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If you cannot bow to Buddha, you cannot be a Buddha. It is arrogance.
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Zen is everywhere.... But for you, Zen is right here.
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Zen is not some kind of excitement, but concentration on our usual everyday routine.
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Enlightenment is not a complete remedy.
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When you sit, everything sits with you.
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When you understand one thing through and through, you understand everything.
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If you want to study Zen, you should forget all your previous ideas and just practice zazen and see what kind of experience you have in your practice. That is naturalness.
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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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When you are fooled by something else, the damage will not be so big. But when you are fooled by yourself, it is fatal. No more medicine.
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