For Zen students, a weed is a treasure.
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the interconnectedness of all things and the overcoming of fear through understanding this unity.
Shunryu Suzuki's quote speaks to the profound realization of oneness with the universe and all of creation. It suggests that fear, particularly the fear of death, stems from a sense of separation from the whole. By recognizing that we are not isolated entities, but rather integral parts of a greater existence (like water in a river), we can alleviate our anxieties and find peace in the acceptance of life and death as two sides of the same coin.
Themes
FearDeathInterconnectednessUnityLife
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about overcoming personal challenges, one might quote Suzuki to emphasize the importance of unity with the universe.
More from Shunryu Suzuki
All quotes →If 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
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.
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
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