Quotes from Shunryu Suzuki

An enlightened person does not ignore things and does not stick to things, not even to the truth.

In your very imperfections you will find the basis for your firm, way-seeking mind.

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.

When you do something, you should burn yourself up completely, like a good bonfire, leaving no trace of yourself.

There is no need to have a deep understanding of Zen.

It must be obvious...that there is a contradiction in wanting to be perfectly secure in a universe whose very nature is momentariness and fluidity.

Ego is a social institution with no physical reality. The ego is simply your symbol of yourself.

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.

It is wisdom that is seeking for wisdom.

What we call 'I' is just a swinging door, which moves when we inhale and when we exhale.

When you understand one thing through and through, you understand everything.

Zen is not some fancy, special art of living. Our teaching is just to live, always in reality, in its exact sense. To make our effort, moment after moment, is our way.

There will always be war, but we must always work to oppose it.

When you try to understand everything, you will not understand anything. The best way is to understand yourself, and then you will understand everything.

The best way to control cow and sheep is to give them a big grazing field.

You may say that things happen just by chance, but I don't feel that way.

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.

The world is its own magic.

The true purpose is to see things as they are, to observe things as they are, and to let everything go as it goes.

Preparing food is not just about yourself and others. It is about everything!