For Zen students, a weed is a treasure.
Shunryu SuzukiRead
The true purpose of Zen is to see things as they are, to observe things as they are, and to let everything go as it goes. Zen practice is to open up our small mind.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Zen encourages seeing reality clearly and releasing attachments. It emphasizes an open-minded approach to life.
This quote by Shunryu Suzuki highlights the essence of Zen practice, which is to cultivate a clear perception of reality without the distortions of our own preconceptions and judgments. It suggests that true understanding and peace come from letting go of our mental constraints and approaching life with an open mind, accepting things as they are rather than as we wish them to be.
Themes
ZenMindfulnessAcceptanceClarityRealityLetting Go
In practice
Example use cases
In a meditation retreat, the teacher reminded us that the true purpose of Zen is to observe our thoughts without judgment.
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.
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
Similar quotes
God removes the sin of the one who makes humble confession, and thereby the devil loses the sovereignty he had gained over the human heart.
Saint BernardRead
Ron: Why spiders? Why couldn't it be "follow the butterflies?
J. K. RowlingRead
For a while in my teens, I was sure I had it. It was about getting to heaven. If heaven existed and lasted forever, then a mere lifetime spent scrupulously following orders was a small investment for an infinite payoff. One day, though, I realized I was no longer a believer, and realizing that, I couldn't go back.
Alan AldaRead
Although it's the second largest country in the world, our useful area has been reduced. Our immigration policy is disgusting: We plunder southern countries by depriving them of future leaders, and we want to increase our population to support economic growth.
David SuzukiRead
But life is short: while one lives, everything is lacking; when one is dead, everything is superfluous.
Lope De VegaRead
Every man is tasked to make his life, even in its details, worthy of the contemplation of his most elevated and critical hour.
Henry David ThoreauRead