Quote

For Zen students a weed is a treasure. With this attitude, whatever you do, life becomes an art.

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
Whatever
Art
Life
Weed
Treasure
Students
Becomes
Attitude

More quotes by Shunryu Suzuki

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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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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 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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Life and death are the same thing. When we realize this fact, we have no fear of death anymore, nor actual difficulty in our life.
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There will always be war, but we must always work to oppose it.
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The world is its own magic.
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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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The highest truth is daiji, translated as dai jiki in Chinese scriptures. This is the subject of the question the emperor asked Bodhidharma: What is the First Principle? Bodhidharma said, I don't know. I don't know is the First Principle.
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If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything it is open to everything.
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The way that helps will not be the same it changes according to the situation.
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You can't make a date with enlightenment.
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The secret of zen is just two words: not... always... so.
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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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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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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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In the mind of the beginner, there are many possibilities. In the mind of the expert there are few.
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When you say, Wait a moment, you are bound by your karma when you say Yes I will, you are free.
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Discipline is creating the situation.
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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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There should not be any particular teaching. Teaching is in each moment.
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