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If you cannot bow to Buddha, you cannot be a Buddha. It is arrogance.

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
Cannot
Buddha
Bows
Arrogance

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Although we have no actual written communications from the world of emptiness, we have some hints or suggestions about what is going on in that world, and that is, you might say, enlightenment. When you see plum blossoms or hear the sound of a small stone hitting bamboo, that is a letter from the world of emptiness.
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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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Zazen practice and everyday activity are one thing. We call zazen everyday life, and everyday life zazen.
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Our way is to practice one step at a time, one breath at a time, with no gaining idea.
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When you do something, if you fix your mind on the activity with some confidence, the quality of your state of mind is the activity itself. When you are concentrated on the quality of your being, you are prepared for the activity.
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You will always exist in the universe in one form or another.
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A Master who cannot bow to a disciple cannot bow to Buddha.
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Instead of criticizing, find out how to help.
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In the zazen posture, your mind and body have, great power to accept things as they are, whether agreeable or disagreeable.
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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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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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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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When we become truly ourselves, we just become a swinging door, and we are purely independent of, and at the same time, dependent upon everything.
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Meditation opens the mind to the greatest mystery that takes place daily and hourly it widens the heart so that it may feel the eternity of time and infinity of space in every throb it gives us a life within the world as if we were moving about in paradise.
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We ourselves cannot put any magic spells on this world. The world is its own magic.
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There should not be any particular teaching. Teaching is in each moment.
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Things are always changing, so nothing can be yours.
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