For Zen students, a weed is a treasure.
Shunryu SuzukiRead
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
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of recognizing the intrinsic value of all things and treating everything with respect.
Shunryu Suzuki highlights the idea that within a broad and open mindset, everything holds equal significance. By cultivating a practice of acceptance and respect towards all beings and things, we can cultivate a sense of interconnectedness that reflects the essence of Buddhahood. This perspective encourages a compassionate approach to life, suggesting that enlightenment comes from recognizing the inherent worth in everything around us.
Themes
MindAcceptanceRespectBuddhismValue
In practice
Example use cases
Sharing this quote at a meditation retreat to inspire participants to adopt a more compassionate view.
More from Shunryu Suzuki
All quotes βIf you take pride in your attainment or become discouraged because of your idealistic effort, your practice will confine you by a thick wall.
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As long as you seek for something, you will get the shadow of reality and not reality itself.
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No teaching could be more direct than just to sit down.
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Everything is perfect, but there is a lot of room for improvement.
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When you do not realize that you are one with the river, or one with the universe, you have fear. Whether it is separated into drops or not, water is water. Our life and death are the same thing. When we realize this fact, we have no fear of death anymore.
Shunryu SuzukiRead
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