Quotessence
Home / Authors / Takuan Soho Books
Takuan Soho

Takuan Soho Books

Author

Related Quotes

“It is said that life is of small account compared to right-mindedness; in truth, it is right-mindedness that is most esteemed. Nothing is more precious than life, yet at the moment when we must throw away this valued life and stand on right-mindedness, there is nothing more highly esteemed than right-mindedness. Looking carefully at the world, we can see that there are many people who throw away their lives lightly, but do you suppose that one person in a thousand would die for right-mindedness? It would seem that, among the humble servant class, contrary to what you might expect, there are many who would. Yet, it would be difficult for people who think themselves wise to do the same.”

LifeValuesJusticeZenRighteousnessRighteousSelf SacrificeZen BuddhismValues In LifeRight Minded
Book:The unfettered mind: writings of the Zen master to the sword master
Create image

“Although wisdom is called immovable, this does not signify any insentient thing, like wood or stone; it moves as the mind is wont to move - forward or back, to the left, to the right, in the ten directions and to the eight points; and the mind that does not stop at all is called immovable wisdom.”

MindWisdomBuddhismWisdom QuotesZenBuddhistBuddhaZen BuddhismZen QuotesImmovable
Book:The unfettered mind: writings of the Zen master to the sword master
Create image

“Shonin: I have composed a poem. Kokushi: Let's hear it. Shonin: When I chant, Both Buddha and self Cease to exist. There is only the voice that says, Namu Amida Butsu. Kokushi: Something's wrong with the last couple of lines, don't you think? (after a lapse of time) Shonin: This is how I've written it: When I chant, Both Buddha and self Cease to exist. Namu Amida Butsu. Kokushi: There! You got it!”

ThinkingSelfLastsTimeVoiceLinesWrittenCoupleCeaseLapses
Author:Takuan Soho
Create image

“Presumably, as a Martial artist, I do not fight for gain or loss, am not concerned with strength or weakness, and neither advance a step nor retreat a step. The enemy does not see me. I do not see the enemy. Penetrating to a place where heaven and earth have not yet divided, where yin and yang have not yet arrived, I quickly and necessarily gain effect.”

DoeEarthArtistFightingHeavenLossStepsEnemyEffectsWeaknessGainsConcernedMartial ArtsDividedRetreatHeaven And EarthYangYin And YangMartial Artist
Book:The unfettered mind: writings of the Zen master to the sword master
Create image

“One does not divine this by impressions or knowledge. What this means is that no matter how much you try to figure or calculate by means of impressions or knowledge, it will not prove the least bit useful. Therefore, separate yourself from the discrimination of figuring things out.”

TryingMeanDoeMatterBitsFiguresDivineProveDiscriminationImpressionDivinityFiguring Things
Book:The unfettered mind: writings of the Zen master to the sword master
Create image

“Consider the core of the mind to be a wagon, with willpower to be carried about in it. Push it to a place where there can be failure, and there will be failure. Push it to a place where there can be success, and there will be success. But whether there is success or failure, if one entrusts himself to the straightness of this wagon of the core of the mind, he will attain right-mindedness in either case. Severing oneself from desire and being like a rock or tree, nothing will ever be achieved. Not departing from desire, but realizing a desireless right-mindedness - "this is the Way".”

IfsWayMindDesireRealizingCasesTreeRocksFailureOneselfCoreWill PowerWagonsSuccess Or FailureDeparting
Author:Takuan Soho
Create image

“When a person does not think, "Where shall I put it?" the mind will extend throughout the entire body and move to any place at all. . . . The effort not to stop the mind in just one place - this is discipline. Not stopping the mind is object and essence. Put it nowhere and it will be everywhere. Even in moving the mind outside the body, if it is sent in one direction, it will be lacking in nine others. If the mind is not restricted to just one direction, it will be in all ten.”

IfsThinkingMindPersonsDoeBodyMovingJusticeEffortObjectsDisciplineTenEssenceNineJust OneLackingStoppingOne Direction
Author:Takuan Soho
Create image