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Each one of us must make his own true way, and when we do, that way will express the universal way.

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
Must
Way
Make
Individuality
Express
Universal
True

More quotes by Shunryu Suzuki

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You can't make a date with enlightenment.
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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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Discipline is creating the situation.
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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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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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The seed has no idea of being some particular plant, but it has its own form and is in perfect harmony with the ground, with its surroundings ... and there is no trouble. This is what we mean by 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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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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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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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.
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Someone was sitting in front of a sunflower, watching the sunflower, a cup of sun, and so I tried it too. It was wonderful I felt the whole universe in the sunflower. That was my experience. Sunflower meditation. A wonderful confidence appeared. You can see the whole universe in a flower.
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Nothing we see or hear is perfect. But right there in the imperfection is perfect reality.
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Nothing outside yourself can cause any trouble. You yourself make the waves in your mind. If you leave your mind as it is, it will become calm. This mind is called big mind.
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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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We ourselves cannot put any magic spells on this world. The world is its own magic.
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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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Life without zazen is like winding your clock without setting it. It runs perfectly well, but it dosen't tell time.
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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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