Quotes from Shunryu Suzuki

The purpose of studying Buddhism is not to study Buddhism, but to study ourselves.

Those who can sit perfectly physically usually take more time to obtain the true way of Zen, the actual feeling of Zen, the marrow of Zen.

We should find perfect existence through imperfect existence. The basic teaching of Buddhism is the teaching of transiency, change. That everything changes is the basic truth of each existence. When we realize the everlasting truth of "everything changes" and find our composure in it, we find ourselves in Nirvana.

Bodhidharma said, "In order to see a fish you must watch the water.

are aware of this movement. You should not be absent-minded. But to be aware of the movement does not mean to be aware of your small self, but rather of your universal nature

In other restless positions you have no power to accept your difficulties, but in the zazen posture which you have acquired by long, hard practice, your mind and body have great power to accept things as they are, whether they are agreeable or disagreeable.

It is the people who are outside of the monastery who feel its atmosphere," writes the Zen master. "Those who are practicing actually do not feel anything.

You should not be surprised at whatever you see or hear...If you are ready to accept things as they are, you will receive them as old friends.

You know how to rest physically. You do not know how to rest mentally.

In your practice you should accept everything as it is, giving to each thing the same respect given to a Buddha.

Some people may say that Zen Buddhism is not religion. Maybe that is so, or maybe Zen Buddhism is religion before religion. So it might not be religion in the usual sense. But it is wonderful, and even though we do not study what it is intellectually, even though we do not have any cathedral or fancy ornaments, it is possible to appreciate our original nature. This is, I think, quite unusual.

But as long as you think you are practicing zazen for the sake of something, that is not true practice.

Try always to keep the right posture, not only when you practice zazen, but in all your activities.

TRANSIENCY    ââ'¬Å"We should find perfect existence through imperfect existence.

The best way to contorl people is to encourage them to be mischievous...To give your sheep or cow a large, spacious meadow is the way to control him. So it is with people: first let them do what they want, and watch them... To ignore them is not good; that is the worst policy. The second worst is trying to control them. The best one is to watch them, just to watch them, without trying to control them.

Strictly speaking, there is no such thing as an enlightened person. There is only enlightened activity.

But as long as you have some fixed idea or are caught by some habitual way of doing things, you cannot appreciate things in their true sense.

In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's mind there are few

The most important thing is to express your true nature in the simplest, most adequate way and to appreciate it in the smallest existence.

We must make some effort, but we must forget ourselves in the effort we make... So it is necessary for us to encourage ourselves and to make an effort up to the last moment, when all effort disappears.

But if sound did not already exist before you clapped, you could not make the sound. Before you make it there is sound. Because there is sound, you can make it, and you can hear it. Sound is everywhere.

When we practice zazen we just practice zazen, without any gaining idea. When we talk about something we just talk about something, ...without trying to express some intellectual, one-sided idea. And we listen without trying to figure or some intellectual understanding, without trying to understand from just a one-sided view.

The best way to control people is to encourage them to be mischievous...To give your sheep or cow a large, spacious meadow is the way to control him. So it is with people: first let them do what they want, and watch them... To ignore them is not good; that is the worst policy. The second worst is trying to control them. The best one is to watch them, just to watch them, without trying to control them.

If you discriminate too much, you limit yourself.