Quote

To accept some idea of truth without experiencing it is like a painting of a cake on paper which you cannot eat.

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
Like
Paper
Painting
Accepting
Idea
Cannot
Truth
Experiencing
Ideas
Cake
Without
Accept

More quotes by Shunryu Suzuki

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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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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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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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The true practice to meditation is to sit as if you where drinking water when you are thirsty.
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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 your everyday life you always have opportunities for enlightenment. If you go to the rest room, there is a chance to attain enlightenment. When you cook, there is a chance to attain enlightenment. When you clean the floor, there is a chance to attain enlightenment.
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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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If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything it is open to everything.
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Nothing we see or hear is perfect. But right there in the imperfection is perfect reality.
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Take care of things, and they will take care of you.
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If you think your body and mind are two, that is wrong if you think that they are one, that is also wrong. Our body and mind are both two and one.
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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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We try, and we try, and we fail and then we go deeper.
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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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There is no connection between I myself yesterday and I myself in this moment
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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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We do not exist for the sake of something else. We exist for the sake of ourselves.
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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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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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Instead of criticizing, find out how to help.
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