For Zen students, a weed is a treasure.
Shunryu SuzukiRead
As long as you seek for something, you will get the shadow of reality and not reality itself.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that the pursuit of desires can lead to a distorted perception of reality.
Shunryu Suzuki's quote reflects the idea that when one is focused solely on seeking external goals or desires, what they experience is merely a reflection or 'shadow' of true reality. This pursuit can cloud one's ability to appreciate the present moment and the genuine nature of life, leading to a superficial understanding of existence rather than a deep connection with reality itself.
Themes
RealityDesirePerceptionTruthPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
In a mindfulness workshop, when discussing the importance of being present rather than always seeking more.
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.
Shunryu SuzukiRead
No teaching could be more direct than just to sit down.
Shunryu SuzukiRead
Everything is perfect, but there is a lot of room for improvement.
Shunryu SuzukiRead
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
Leave your front door and your back door open. _x000D_ Allow your thoughts to come and go. _x000D_ Just don't serve them tea.
Shunryu SuzukiRead
Similar quotes
Mathematics can remove no prejudices and soften no obduracy. It has no influence in sweetening the bitter strife of parties, and in the moral world generally its action is perfectly null.
Johann Wolfgang Von GoetheRead
Any religion which will sacrifice a certain set of human beings for the enjoyment or aggrandizement or advantage of another is no religion. It is a thing which may be allowed, but it is against true religion. Any religion which sacrifices women to the brutality of men is no religion.
Julia Ward HoweRead
I think one of the great historical contributions of science is to weaken the hold of religion. That's a good thing.
Steven WeinbergRead
It is the confession, not the priest, that gives us absolution.
Oscar WildeRead
My land is bare of chattering folk; / the clouds are low along the ridges, / and sweet's the air with curly smoke / from all my burning bridges.
Dorothy ParkerRead
There are certain things that we can deal with by following the rules. But at times, we find the rules restrict you from doing the right things. On such occasions, we have to rethink - either you change the rules or break the rules.
Mahathir MohamadRead