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Shunryu Suzuki Quotes

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Shunryu Suzuki, born on May 18, 1904, was a renowned Zen master from Japan. He played a significant role in spreading Zen culture in the Western world.

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All Ifs Mind Practice Way Zen Should Trying Moments Ideas Meditation Enlightenment Thinking Activity Accepting Buddhism Self World Beginners Important Teaching

Famous Shunryu Suzuki Quotes

“When you try to attain something, your mind starts to wander about somewhere else. When you do not try to attain anything, you have your own body and mind right here. In Buddhism it is a heretical view to expect something outside this world. We do not seek for something besides ourselves.”

World Trying Mind Body Views This World Buddhism Wander Mind And Body Somewhere Else

Author:Shunryu Suzuki

“Meditation opens the mind to the greatest mystery that takes place daily and hourly; it widens the heart so that it may feel the eternity of time and infinity of space in every throb; it gives us a life within the world as if we were moving about in paradise.”

Ifs World Giving Feels Mind Heart May Moving Space Meditation Mystery Eternity Paradise Infinity

Author:Shunryu Suzuki

“If you were not born in this world, there would be no need to die. To be born in this world is to die, to disappear [laughing].”

Ifs World Needs Would Be Dies Born Laughing This World Disappear

Author:Shunryu Suzuki

“If you want to read a letter from the Buddha's world, it is necessary to understand Buddha's world.”

Ifs World Want Letters

Author:Shunryu Suzuki

“In the Lotus Sutra, Buddha says to light up one corner - not the whole world. Just make it clear where you are.”

World Whole Light Clear Corners Whole World Where You Are Light Up Lotuses

Author:Shunryu Suzuki

“So it is not a matter of whether it is possible to attain Buddhahood, or if it is possible to make a tile a jewel. But just to work, just to live in this world with this understanding is the most important point, and that is our practice. That is true zazen.”

Ifs World Important Matter Understanding Practice This World Jewels Tiles

Author:Shunryu Suzuki

“Although we have no actual written communications from the world of emptiness, we have some hints or suggestions about what is going on in that world, and that is, you might say, enlightenment. When you see plum blossoms or hear the sound of a small stone hitting bamboo, that is a letter from the world of emptiness.”

World Might Sound Written Communication Enlightenment Stones Letters Emptiness Hitting Suggestions Hints Plums Bamboo Plum Blossoms

Author: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.”

Thinking World Reality Mistake Expression Emptiness Description

Author:Shunryu Suzuki

“We ourselves cannot put any magic spells on this world. The world is its own magic.”

World Magic This World Spells

Book:Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind

Source: Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind

“When we inhale, the air comes into the inner world. When we exhale, the air goes out to the outer world. The inner world is limitless, and the outer world is also limitless. We say "inner world" or "outer world" but actually, There is just one whole world.”

World Whole Justice Air Wind Clouds Whole World Just One Limitless Inner World Inhale Outer Worlds

Book:Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice

Source: Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice

“The world is its own magic.”

World Magic

Book:Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind

Source: Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind

About the Author

Born: May 18, 1904
Died: December 4, 1971
Known for: Author
Quotes: 245

Books & Sources

Zen Mind, Beginner's MindRelated source material

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and PracticeRelated source material

Branching Streams Flow in the Darkness: Zen Talks on the SandokaiRelated source material

Not Always So: Practicing the True Spirit of Zen – The Final Teachings of Shunryu Suzuki to Empower Your FreedomRelated source material

Zen Mind, Beginners MindRelated source material

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