Occupation: Author Death: June 9, 2002
A student might ask, how long will it take to learn guitar..., the answer is, as long as you live - that short..
When mind and action are separate, zen is lost. We keep the two in sync by paying attention..
You can't be more alive than you are—but you can awaken to what living is..
For many of us, the computer is the means by which we earn a living. To give it a nod, then, is a way of thanking the tool for what it provides in li….
there is no yesterday or tomorrow; there is only this moment. Twenty-four hours a day. Seven days a week. Three hundred sixty-five days a year..
Maturity means learning the value of that which is hard-earned..
Put in an honest day's work. It is the building block of a spiritual life..
When we put our keys down, we should be conscious of putting them down. When we pick them up, we should be conscious of picking them up. That's all t….
Zen teaches that our approach to today determines our whole approach to life..
The further we travel down the path of enlightenment, the more humble we become. We shouldn't seek to impress others—or allow ourselves to be taken—w….
All things reflect the divine energy of nature—every flower, every rock, every sound, every sight. Once we realize that truth, we cannot help but smi….
Each moment is new. We have never lived it before and will never live it again. It is familiar and unfamiliar at the same time..
Stop thinking about the audience and what they may be thinking of your music. Just play the music..
Return to the beginning. Enter by form. Clean your dojo. As you have every day, tie on the white belt and empty your cup. Pick up your guitar, tune, ….
Do not analyze things to death. Sometimes the best strategy is, "Ready, fire, aim." Do it first , then make adjustments. The answer lies in action-no….
If you find your feet dragging, check your path. You are probably on the wrong one..
We take life for granted, sleepwalking until a shattering event knocks us awake. Zen says, don't wait until the car accident, the cancer diagnosis, o….
The only time and place to find enlightenment is in this moment. No need to check your watch. The time is now..
When in doubt, initiate. Say yes—to love, to life, to joining in with others. That is how we stay on the right path and, at the same time, elevate hu….
In zen, it is a cardinal sin to waste time. To waste time is to squander the here and now, which, if you think about it, is all that we have..
A final word on self-criticism: Do not beat up on yourself. Even if you think you know your flaws, there is no need to advertise them. Most people wo….