Quote

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.

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
Goal
Nirvana
Actually
Shore
True
Reached
Way
Reach
Life
Step
Steps
Effort
Wisdom

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Things are always changing, so nothing can be yours.
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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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Concentration comes not from trying hard to focus on something, but from keeping your mind open and directing it at nothing.
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The purpose of our practice is just to be yourself.
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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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You can't make a date with enlightenment.
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The world is its own magic.
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We ourselves cannot put any magic spells on this world. The world is its own magic.
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How much 'ego' do you need? Just enough so that you don't step in front of a bus.
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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 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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Zen is everywhere.... But for you, Zen is right here.
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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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After you have practiced for a while, you will realize that it is not possible to make rapid, extraordinary progress. Even though you try very hard, the progress you make is always little by little.
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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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A Master who cannot bow to a disciple cannot bow to Buddha.
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There is no connection between I myself yesterday and I myself in this moment
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When the restrictions you have do not limit you, this is what we mean by practice.
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Enlightenment is not a complete remedy.
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It is easy to have calmness in inactivity, it is hard to have calmness in activity, but calmness in activity is true calmness.
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