Quote

Life without zazen is like winding your clock without setting it. It runs perfectly well, but it dosen't tell time.

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
Without
Runs
Well
Settings
Time
Perfectly
Life
Clock
Like
Setting
Running
Tell
Wells
Winding

More quotes by Shunryu Suzuki

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If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything it is open to everything.
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People say that practicing Zen is difficult, but there is a misunderstanding as to why. It is not difficult because it is hard to sit in the cross- legged position, or to attain enlightenment. It is difficult because it is hard to keep our mind pure and our practice pure in its fundamental sense.
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In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, in the expert's mind there are few.
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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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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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You can't make a date with enlightenment.
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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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Each one of us must make his own true way, and when we do, that way will express the universal way.
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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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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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Take care of things, and they will take care of you.
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To cook is not just to prepare food for someone or to cook for yourself it is to express your sincerity. So when you cook you should express yourself in your activity in the kitchen. You should allow yourself plenty of time.
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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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There should not be any particular teaching. Teaching is in each moment.
Shunryu Suzuki
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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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Enlightenment is not a complete remedy.
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If you want to enjoy the movie, you should know that it is the combination of film and light and white screen, and that the most important thing is to have a plain, white screen.
Shunryu Suzuki
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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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The more you practice zazen, the more you will be able to accept something as your own, whatever it is.
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