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Frederick Lenz

Frederick Lenz Quotes

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Frederick Lenz was an American author known for his profound understanding and unique insights into Zen Buddhism. His works blended Zen philosophy with modern life, resonating with readers worldwide.

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All Buddhism Ifs People Mind World Enlightenment Meditation Yoga Way Rama Awareness Self Teacher Thinking Light Energy Enlightened Inspirational States Karma

Famous Frederick Lenz Quotes

“Flaky devotionalism, bowing and scraping and sucking up to the teacher is very phony. It is counterproductive to enlightenment and spiritual development. What is necessary is mutual respect.”

Spiritual Teacher Buddhism Development Enlightenment Buddhist Mutual Etiquette Phony Spiritual Development Mutual Respect Counterproductive Scraping

Author:Frederick Lenz

“The more moral you pretend to be, the less moral you are; the less moral you try to be, the more moral you are.”

Trying Moral Buddhism Buddhist Etiquette

Author:Frederick Lenz

“Without humility, all spiritual progress stops.”

Spiritual Progress Humility Buddhism Buddhist Etiquette Spiritual Progress

Author:Frederick Lenz

“It takes tremendous self-restraint on the part of the student not to want to monopolize the teacher's attention, to live a very controlled life and a happy life, and of course, be dedicated to the cause.”

Want Self Courses Causes Attention Teacher Students Buddhism Buddhist Controlled Dedicated Happy Life Restraint Etiquette Self Restraint

Author:Frederick Lenz

“Studying with a teacher doesn't simply mean going to an occasional seminar or Zen retreat. It means fully applying yourself to what the teacher says, most of which is not verbal.”

Mean Study Teacher Buddhism Buddhist Retreat Etiquette Occasional Seminars

Author:Frederick Lenz

“Don't judge others. Always be open to them. Avoid the cult mentality, you know, the super-slick, "I'm superior because I meditate, because I'm on the pathway to enlightenment," the subtle ego nonsense, terrible trap.”

Knows Judging Buddhism Terrible Ego Enlightenment Superiors Buddhist Nonsense Subtle Mentality Traps Cult Etiquette Pathways Slick

Author:Frederick Lenz

“If one thinks of an enlightened person in a negative way, as it hits their aura, it returns very strongly.”

Ifs Thinking Way Persons Buddhism Return Negative Buddhist Enlightened Very Strong Etiquette Auras

Author:Frederick Lenz

“We must control the tendencies within our being that are destructive, when we want to slam somebody else, hurt them, injure them, or push them out of the way. A reverence for life needs to be developed, in which all things are sacred.”

Way Want Needs Hurt Buddhism All Things Sacred Tendencies Buddhist Destructive Reverence Etiquette Slam Reverence For Life

Author:Frederick Lenz

“If you can't think of an enlightened person positively, don't think of them at all.”

Ifs Thinking Persons Buddhism Buddhist Enlightened Positively Etiquette

Author:Frederick Lenz

“It is very important to always hold the thought of an enlightened teacher in your mind in a very positive way. When you direct negative energy towards someone who is powerful, it has a terrible bounce-back effect.”

Way Mind Important Energy Powerful Teacher Effects Buddhism Terrible Negative Direct Buddhist Enlightened Etiquette Bounce Very Positive Negative Energy

Author:Frederick Lenz

“There is enough room in eternity for everyone to be enlightened. We gain or lose nothing by the success of others.”

Enough Loses Rooms Buddhism Gains Eternity Buddhist Enlightened Etiquette Success Of Others

Author:Frederick Lenz

“If you become obsessive in spiritual practice, if you just try and try, you are not going to be happy. You are going to be obsessive.”

Ifs Trying Spiritual Practice Buddhism Buddhist Etiquette Obsessive Spiritual Practice

Author:Frederick Lenz

“Can you control your anger, lust, frustrations, and jealousies? Those are the only people worthy of the higher teachings. By worthy, I mean that they are the only ones capable of it.”

People Mean Teaching Buddhism Higher Capable Worthy Lust Buddhist Frustration Etiquette

Author:Frederick Lenz

“People over-focus on teachers as an excuse to avoid their own life, and that way they fail to take responsibility for themselves. They have this feeling that the teacher will just take care of them.”

People Way Feelings Care Responsibility Focus Teacher Failing Buddhism Excuse Take Care Buddhist Taking Responsibility Etiquette

Author:Frederick Lenz

“Emotional control is essential for attaining higher levels of mind. The thing that the teacher looks for in a student is the degree of self-control, not coldness that someone has.”

Mind Looks Self Levels Teacher Students Emotional Buddhism Higher Essentials Degrees Buddhist Self Control Etiquette Higher Level Coldness Emotional Control

Author:Frederick Lenz

“You need to have the humility to accept your limitations as long as they're there, and have the humility to accept their end when that time comes.”

Needs Long Ends Accepting Humility Buddhism Buddhist Limitation Etiquette

Author:Frederick Lenz

“Any individual is capable of realizing the truth at any time. No tradition is necessary, no chain, no lineage. Once you have realized the truth, once you have become consciousness itself, then you go beyond all such distinctions.”

Individual Realizing Consciousness Buddhism Capable Tradition Chains Buddhist Distinction Etiquette Lineage

Author:Frederick Lenz

“Simplify your life and your mind. Think more of infinity and less of yourself.”

Thinking Mind Buddhism Buddhist Infinity Etiquette Simplify

Author:Frederick Lenz

“As a student of enlightenment your attitude should not be to become enlightened. It should be to learn.”

Should Attitude Students Buddhism Enlightenment Buddhist Enlightened Etiquette

Author:Frederick Lenz

“Love makes you wise. Love unites. Pain divides. Hate divides even more. Hate separates and brings us down to a very physical plane. Love elevates us to a plane of spirit.”

Pain Spirit Hate Wise Buddhism Buddhist Planes Divides Etiquette Wise Love

Author:Frederick Lenz

“If someone is in the same state of mind and doesn't seek to block your success, you have a friend. Such friends are rare, and if you find such a friend, value them.”

Ifs Mind States Values Buddhism Block Buddhist State Of Mind Etiquette

Author:Frederick Lenz

“You have to come to the world of enlightenment with open hands, not clinched fists, without an agenda.”

World Hands Buddhism Enlightenment Buddhist Agendas Fists Etiquette

Author:Frederick Lenz

“An enlightened teacher simply expresses enlightenment in their life by living. It is the student's job to gain the teachings. The teacher's job is just to be perfectly enlightened.”

Jobs Teacher Teaching Students Buddhism Enlightenment Gains Buddhist Enlightened Etiquette

Author:Frederick Lenz

“In America people have this funny idea about enlightenment and money. Money expresses a level of commitment. Studying enlightenment is like going to a university.”

People Ideas America Levels Study Buddhism Enlightenment Commitment University Buddhist Etiquette

Author:Frederick Lenz

“In the esoteric teachings, a transference process takes place between teacher and student where knowledge is actually transmitted from one to the other. This requires that the student be receptive.”

Process Teacher Teaching Students Buddhism Buddhist Etiquette Receptive Esoteric Teacher And Student Transference

Author:Frederick Lenz

“Without balance and wisdom, power becomes very destructive. It creates unhappiness and not happiness. To simply see a teacher to gain power is a mistake.”

Mistake Teacher Buddhism Balance Gains Buddhist Destructive Unhappiness Etiquette

Author:Frederick Lenz

“You are a part of everything. You are like the guys in the bar and that gal on the corner with the red dress. We are a little bit of everyone. Let's not get too fancy here.”

Littles Guy Bits Buddhism Little Bit Red Dresses Corners Bars Buddhist Fancy Etiquette Gals

Author:Frederick Lenz

“Faithfulness, faith, all of the words that so few people live, you must live. Only then are you worthy of immortality.”

People Buddhism Worthy Buddhist Immortality Faithfulness Etiquette

Author:Frederick Lenz

“You must be accommodating with your teacher. You must have a sense of humor about your teacher and the impossible things they ask you to do.”

Asks Teacher Impossible Buddhism Buddhist Sense Of Humor Etiquette Impossible Things

Author:Frederick Lenz

“Self-honesty is absolutely necessary in the practice of Buddhism.”

Self Practice Honesty Buddhism Buddhist Etiquette

Author:Frederick Lenz

“As you become more aware of your own imperfections, you simultaneously become more aware of the overall perfection of the universe.”

Universe Buddhism Perfection Buddhist Imperfection Etiquette

Author:Frederick Lenz

“In the process of self-discovery you will learn to be kind when you could be harsh. You will learn to forgive, mostly yourself. You will learn to be patient because you may have to wait quite a while to become that which you will eventually be.”

Kind May Self Waiting Process Buddhism Discovery Forgiving Patient Self Discovery Buddhist Be Kind Harsh Be Patient Etiquette Learn To Forgive

Author:Frederick Lenz

“The purpose of enlightenment is certainly not the teacher, nor is it you. It doesn't have a purpose. Enlightenment simply exists.”

Purpose Teacher Buddhism Enlightenment Buddhist Etiquette

Author:Frederick Lenz

“All things are spiritual. It doesn't matter what you do or who you are or what kind of blue jeans you wear, or whether you wear an ochre robe or whether you're sober or asleep or dreaming. It's all the same.”

Kind Matter Dream Spiritual Buddhism All Things Blue Who You Are Buddhist Sober Jeans Etiquette Robes Blue Jeans Kind Of Blue

Author:Frederick Lenz

“Those who practice deserve your respect. If you respect them, you respect yourself. It's easy to be critical, but it does no good. What's important is to be supportive of all who practice.”

Ifs Doe Important Easy Practice Buddhism Deserve Critical Buddhist Supportive Etiquette What's Important Respect Yourself

Author:Frederick Lenz

“Select companions who are striving for enlightenment. They all have their imperfections, certainly, but at least their attention is moving in the right direction.”

Moving Attention Buddhism Enlightenment Strive Buddhist Companion Imperfection Etiquette Select Right Direction Moving In Moving In The Right Direction

Author:Frederick Lenz

“To know that these are people who for a moment, in glory, in light, were true warriors, and you had the chance to associate with them, to live with them, to share with them, words and moments of power - this is the nature of spiritual study.”

People Knows Moments Light Spiritual Chance Study Share Buddhism Glory Buddhist Warrior Associates Etiquette True Warrior

Author:Frederick Lenz

“If we don't get violent with ourselves, castigate ourselves, ostracize ourselves and excommunicate ourselves because we didn't live up to the standards we set down for ourselves, then maybe we don't have to do that with other people.”

People Ifs Buddhism Standards Violent Buddhist Etiquette

Author:Frederick Lenz

“Your mantrum is the awareness of the dream - to enjoy and appreciate and have gratitude for all; neither to condemn nor to liberate, but to observe.”

Dream Enjoy Awareness Buddhism Gratitude Appreciate Buddhist Etiquette

Author:Frederick Lenz

“You need to search your awareness and consider the limitless possibilities of existence in all things and not be so narrow-minded in your self-discovery.”

Needs Self Existence Awareness Possibility Buddhism Discovery All Things Self Discovery Buddhist Limitless Etiquette Narrow-minded Limitless Possibilities

Author:Frederick Lenz

“Perhaps you're not the next Buddha. Perhaps you're not the Maitreya. Perhaps that's not your job in this incarnation. Perhaps you have to enjoy life and learn about life through whatever way that you find yourself going.”

Way Jobs Next Enjoy Buddhism Buddhist Finding Yourself Enjoy Life Etiquette Incarnation

Author:Frederick Lenz

“If you are going to set out to develop mystical powers to impress your friends and do other things to your enemies, the difficulty with it is that you will not be moving towards enlightenment.”

Ifs Moving Enemy Buddhism Enlightenment Difficulty Buddhist Impress Mystical Etiquette

Author:Frederick Lenz

“People want to will their self realization. They want to know what the right thing to do all the time is. There is no right thing. There's no code. There are certain basic recommendations.”

People Knows Want Self Certain Buddhism Self Realization Realization Buddhist Code Things To Do Right Thing Etiquette Recommendations

Author:Frederick Lenz

“Do not feel that you are destined to enlightenment in this life. You have no idea. This is an illusion of selfhood. It's gross ignorance and egotism.”

Feels Ideas Ignorance Buddhism Enlightenment Illusion Buddhist This Life No Idea Destined Gross Etiquette Egotism

Author:Frederick Lenz

“Do not feel that you are destined not to make that final liberation in this life. This is egotism in a reverse form. Don't be concerned one way or the other.”

Way Feels Form Buddhism Concerned Finals Buddhist One Way This Life Liberation Reverse Destined Etiquette Egotism

Author:Frederick Lenz

“The way you succeed at all this stuff is by stopping trying to succeed and just working very hard without thinking about it, just trusting, completely. It's that faith that creates the bridge on which you walk across to eternity.”

Thinking Way Trying Hard Stuff Walks Buddhism Succeed Eternity Buddhist Bridges Stopping Etiquette Trying To Succeed Working Very Hard

Author:Frederick Lenz

“Self-hate doesn't create enlightenment. It just causes you to not enjoy the current moment.”

Self Moments Hate Causes Enjoy Buddhism Enlightenment Currents Buddhist Etiquette Self Hate

Author:Frederick Lenz

“As Buddhist monks, our task is to bring ourselves resolutely more and more into light, to forgive and forget, to forget those who create problems for us because to remember them is only to keep problems is mind.”

Mind Problem Light Remember Forget Buddhism Tasks Forgiving Buddhist Monk Etiquette Forgive And Forget Buddhist Monk

Author:Frederick Lenz

“Put the mind in alignment with the ten thousand radiances of enlightenment and experience them in various gradations forever. That's the total purpose of a monk.”

Mind Purpose Forever Buddhism Thousand Ten Enlightenment Various Buddhist Monk Etiquette Alignment Radiance

Author:Frederick Lenz

“Are you still carrying everyone who's insulted you, injured you or interfered with you? That's a lot of weight. I'd let it go, personally, and just move on and forget. Be in the moment. Don't even notice.”

Stills Moments Moving Forget Buddhism Weight Buddhist Let It Go Etiquette Injured Insulted Just Move On

Author:Frederick Lenz

About the Author

Born: February 9, 1950
Died: April 12, 1998
Known for: Author
Quotes: 4397

Related Topics

Buddhism Ifs People Mind World Enlightenment Meditation Yoga Way Rama Awareness Self Teacher Thinking Light Energy Enlightened Inspirational States Karma

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

Surfing the Himalayas: conversations and travels with Master FwapRelated source material

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