Quote

Instead of respecting things, we want to use them for ourselves and if it is difficult to use them, we want to conquer them.

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
Things
Respecting
Conquer
Instead
Use
Difficult

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There should not be any particular teaching. Teaching is in each moment.
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A flower falls, even though we love it and a weed grows, even though we do not love it....In this way our life should be understood. Then there is no problem.
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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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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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Each of you is perfect the way you are ... and you can use a little improvement.
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Zen is not some kind of excitement, but concentration on our usual everyday routine.
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Religion is not any particular teaching. Religion is everywhere.
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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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We do not exist for the sake of something else. We exist for the sake of ourselves.
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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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Take care of things, and they will take care of you.
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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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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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From True Emptiness The Wondrous Being Appears
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