Shunryu Suzuki quotes

In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, in the expert's there are few. (Shunryu Suzuki)
When you do something, you should burn yourself completely, like a good bonfire, leaving no trace of yourself. View quote
Shunryu Suzuki
Time goes from present to past. View quote
Shunryu Suzuki
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. View quote
Shunryu Suzuki
Nothing we see or hear is perfect. But right there in the imperfection is perfect reality. View quote
Shunryu Suzuki
There are, strictly speaking, no enlightened people, there is only enlightened activity. View quote
Shunryu Suzuki
The highest truth is daiji, translated as dai jiki in Chinese scriptures. This is the subject of the question the emperor asked Bodhidharma: "What is the First Principle?" Bodhidharma said, "I don't know." View quote
Shunryu Suzuki
It is a big mistake to think that the best way to express yourself is to do whatever you want, acting as you please. This is not expressing yourself. If you know what to do exactly, and you do it, then you can express yourself fully. View quote
Shunryu Suzuki
If you take pride in your attainment or become discouraged because of your idealistic effort, your practice will confine you by a thick wall. View quote
Shunryu Suzuki
All descriptions of reality are limited expressions of the world of emptiness. Yet we attach to the descriptions and think they are reality. That is a mistake. View quote
Shunryu Suzuki
Instead of respecting things, we want to use them for ourselves and if it is difficult to use them, we want to conquer them. (Shunryu Suzuki)
Real Freedom is to not feel limited when wearing this Zen robe, this troublesome formal robe. Similarly, in our busy life we should wear this civilization without being bothered by it, without ignoring it, without being caught by it. View quote
Shunryu Suzuki
Zazen practice is the direct expression of our true nature. Strictly speaking, for a human being, there is no other practice than this practice; there is no other way of life than this way of life. View quote
Shunryu Suzuki
You should rather be grateful for the weeds you have in your mind, because eventually they will enrich your practice. View quote
Shunryu Suzuki
When we do not expect anything we can be ourselves. That is our way, to live fully in each moment of time. View quote
Shunryu Suzuki
Whereever you are, you are one with the clouds and one with the sun and the stars you see. You are one with everything. That is more true than I can say, and more true than you can hear. View quote
Shunryu Suzuki
Treat every moment as your last. It is not preparation for something else. View quote
Shunryu Suzuki
If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything, it is open to everything. In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's mind there are few. View quote
Shunryu Suzuki
To have some deep feeling about Buddhism is not the point; we just do what we should do, like eating supper and going to bed. This is Buddhism. View quote
Shunryu Suzuki
What we call "I" is just a swinging door which moves when we inhale and when we exhale. View quote
Shunryu Suzuki
We do not exist for the sake of something else. We exist for the sake of ourselves. (Shunryu Suzuki)
Life is like stepping onto a boat which is about to sail out to sea and sink. View quote
Shunryu Suzuki
When something dies is the greatest teaching. View quote
Shunryu Suzuki
The basic teaching of Buddhism is the teaching of transiency or change. That everything changes is the basic truth for each existence. No one can deny this truth and all teaching of Buddhism is condensed within it. This is the teaching for all of us. Wherever we go this teaching is true. This teaching is also understood as the teaching of selflessness. Because each existence is in constant change, there is no abiding self. View quote
Shunryu Suzuki
A student, filled with emotion and crying, implored, "Why is there so much suffering?" Suzuki Roshi replied, "No reason. View quote
Shunryu Suzuki