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How much 'ego' do you need? Just enough so that you don't step in front of a bus.

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
Need
Enough
Needs
Bus
Much
Ego
Fronts
Front
Step
Steps

More quotes by Shunryu Suzuki

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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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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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There is no connection between I myself yesterday and I myself in this moment
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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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Our mind should be free from traces of the past, just like the flowers of spring.
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Enlightenment is not a complete remedy.
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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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No matter what god or doctrine you believe in, if you become attached to it, your belief will be based more or less on a self-centered idea.
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Zen is everywhere.... But for you, Zen is right here.
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If you cannot bow to Buddha, you cannot be a Buddha. It is arrogance.
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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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Because all existence is founded upon the ever-present state of union, everything already exists in a state of tranquility. However, this state of tranquility is masked from us by our assumption that there is a separation, that there is a problem.
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A tiger does not ignore or slight any small animal. The way he catches a mouse and catches and devours a cow are the same.
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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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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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We must exist right here, right now!
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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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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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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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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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