Quotes About Mindfulness

The present moment is the only reality we experience because the past is already gone and the future has not yet come.

The worm in the radish doesn't think there is anything sweeter.

Speak less, listen deeply.

Fools only crib about what they do not have. They do not count their blessings.

Live every day as if it is a festival. Turn your life into a celebration

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

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

Without accepting the fact that everything changes, we cannot find perfect composure. But unfortunately, although it is true, it is difficult for us to accept it. Because we cannot accept the truth of transience, we suffer.

Now it is raining, but we don't know what will happen in the next moment. By the time we go out it may be a beautiful day, or a stormy day. Since we don't know, let's appreciate the sound of the rain now.

But as long as you think, "I am doing this," or "I have to do this," or "I must attain something special," you are actually not doing anything... when you do not try to do anything special, then you do something. When there is no gaining idea in what you do, then you do something.

There is no connection between I myself yesterday and I myself in this moment

When you bow, you should just bow; when you sit, you should just sit; when you eat, you should just eat.

In your big mind, everything has the same value...In your practice you should accept everything as it is, giving to each thing the same respect given to a Buddha. Here there is Buddhahood

When the restrictions you have do not limit you, this is what we mean by practice.

We should not attach to some fancy ideas or to some beautiful things. We should not seek for something good. The truth is always near at hand, within your reach.

When you are practicing zazen, do not try to stop your thinking. Let it stop by itself. If something comes into your mind, let it come in, and let it go out. It will not stay long. When you try to stop your thinking, it means you are bothered by it. Do not be bothered by anything... if you are not bothered by the waves, gradually they will become calmer and calmer.

Just continue in your calm, ordinary practice and your character will be built up.

You should rather be grateful for the weeds, because eventually they will enrich your practice.

Whether you have a problem in your life or not depends upon your own attitude, your own understanding.

You do not say, "This is enlightenment," or "That is not right practice." Even in wrong practice, when you realize it and continue, there is right practice.

Moment after moment, everyone comes out from nothingness. This is the true joy of life.

If you think you will get something from practicing zazen, already you are involved in impure practice.

Not to be attached to something is to be aware of its absolute value. Everything you do should be based on such an awareness, and not on material or self-centered ideas of value.

We must have beginner's mind, free from possessing anything, a mind that knows everything is in flowing change. Nothing exists but momentarily in its present form and color. One thing flows into another and cannot be grasped. Before the rain stops we hear a bird. Even under the heavy snow we see snowdrops and some new growth. In the East I saw rhubarb already. In Japan in the spring we eat cucumbers.