What is this true meditation? It is to make everything: coughing, swallowing, waving the arms, motion, stillness, words, action, the evil and the good, prosperity and shame, gain and loss, right and wrong, into one single koan.
Hakuin EkakuRead
At this moment, is there anything lacking? Nirvana is right here now before our eyes. This place is the lotus land. This body now is the Buddha.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the idea that enlightenment and fulfillment are found in the present moment, not in some distant future.
Hakuin Ekaku's quote encourages us to recognize that everything we need for enlightenment and contentment is already available to us in the present moment. It suggests that nirvana, or a state of ultimate peace and understanding, is not a distant goal but is already present in our everyday experiences, where we can find beauty and connection in the 'lotus land' of our current existence. By acknowledging that our current body and experiences are already manifestations of the divine, we are urged to shift our perspective and appreciate the here and now.
Themes
NirvanaEnlightenmentPresentMindfulnessBuddhism
In practice
Example use cases
During a meditation session, a teacher may use this quote to encourage students to focus on their current experience.
More from Hakuin Ekaku
All quotes βMeditation in the midst of activity is a thousand times superior to meditation in stillness.
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What is the sound of one hand?
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All beings are by nature are Buddhas, as ice by nature is water. Apart from water there is no ice; apart from beings, no Buddhas.
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