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Zen Quotes

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Zen Quotes

“Give yourself freedom to grow through love, as love is the most natural direction for humans to grow, just as every tree grows upward towards the sky. Don’t try to control the way that love moves, as any attempt will be futile, for love grows like the branches, wildly growing by the laws of nature, rather than by human rational. Let love grow by her own nature.”

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Book:Purple Buddha Project: Purple Book of Self-Love
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“Acknowledge and accept that there will be chaotic times while being on your raft from being lost in true freedom. Engulfed by darkness at sea, we are consumed by a great loneliness that has consistently existed even when people surrounded us, and that is when we must throw all that is heavy into the water, and float independently through to the present.”

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Book:Purple Buddha Project: Purple Book of Self-Love
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“Apples to oranges, the act of comparing your life to another’s is more like comparing an elephant to an apple, it makes no sense to compare someone’s life that you have no knowledge about to that of your own, of which in all earnest is not something that you completely understand yourself.”

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Book:Purple Buddha Project: Purple Book of Self-Love
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“There is a specific feeling that comes about during the dying embers of a relationship. Different from the Monday morning quarrels before work because you two are tired, different from the “I’m not going to talk to you for a while because I am mad at you” silences. Breaks ups happen instantly, yet the process occurs over a gradual period of time, with tear by tear until what was once whole, rips into two. Breakups are the disappointment we feel when we wanted our lover to finish the story with an exclamation mark, but instead are left with a question mark.”

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Book:Purple Buddha Project: Purple Book of Self-Love
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“Without the fear of occasional gaffes, the willingness to be perfectly imperfect, and the heart of a child who creates chaos first thing in the morning for a parent; you are not allowing our inner child to grow. You grow in pain, not in years, and you must cross the bridge without knowing of the pain, the tears, or the trials and tribulations that you will come to have to face, but sweet child of mine, stay the happy child of mine.”

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Book:Purple Buddha Project: Purple Book of Self-Love
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“Morality and righteousness is based on intent, love, and in giving; yet, how is it that we as humans have come to view the act of sex with a different set of arbitrary laws? Specifically pigeonholed as an act between man and women, and with righteousness based on an unsystematic number of people we have slept with; as a civilization we have come to bind society with a set of laws largely advantageous to a specific sex, with the minority heavily antagonized and chastised. The universe knows not what sexual morality is, only what is right and wrong. The same principles that dictate morals also command the virtues of sex. Is it with the right intent? Is it based on love? Is it based on giving?”

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Book:Purple Buddha Project: Purple Book of Self-Love
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“Wisdom comes from not only in the understanding that often times we say no to things too easily and quickly, but also in knowing that that ‘no’ for the sake of your physical and mental wellbeing can also be a reasonable and grounded decision for which you shouldn’t feel the need to feel guilty.”

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Book:Purple Buddha Project: Purple Book of Self-Love
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“Not basing your principles of sex based on the judgment of other or on hearsay, uphold yourself to virtues that you believe in. Before any laws created by man, religion, and culture; the universe has always held us under the principles of love in all endeavors in life, and this applies to sex as well. Sex is a very personal experience and the morals you follow under this act are a personal notion that you create yourself for the sake of your personal happiness.”

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Book:Purple Buddha Project: Purple Book of Self-Love
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“The Lotus in Buddhism is a sacred symbol that represents purity and resurrection as attributes that develop through a spiritual awakening of the self. With humble beginnings in swamplands, the Lotus flower exquisitely blooms, pure and untainted, from this murky world it thrives in. The Lotus flower represents a higher state of mind, a strong spirit cultivated far from the suffering and temptations of this muddied world that personifies beauty through the present moment.”

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Book:Purple Buddha Project: Purple Book of Self-Love
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“Hell is not a place, but a state of mind born from stress. Hell holds our insecurities, our fears, and it is ultimately the domicile of the devil within. The devil breathes and thrives in the fragment of our hearts that we dare not visit; yet, we can only make peace with ourselves by diving into the pits of hell and having an honest conversation with the devil himself.”

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Book:Purple Buddha Project: Purple Book of Self-Love
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“I wonder if the world’s fascination has less to do with the flower itself, and more with the muck that it flourishes in. The Lotus flower is of an unparalleled beauty in its elegance and grace, yet its’ origins are of an environment that is a stark contrast. We cannot help but ponder such strange juxtaposition. However, there is something telling in this natural contrast between the flower and its environment: we are meant to grow, like the Lotus, and not dirty our hands in the mud that surrounds us.”

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Book:Purple Buddha Project: Purple Book of Self-Love
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“Plunging into the depths of hell, re-opening the gates to wounds and emotions that we have long tried to keep sealed and locked within, we discover that that the devil is not the Herculean ruler of darkness that we had imagined, but only a vulnerable and devastated child. With honesty and without judgment, we must muster the courage to meet this innocent child with whom we have come to label as the devil.”

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Book:Purple Buddha Project: Purple Book of Self-Love
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“Although at times you might want to detract from the path, realize that how you treat yourself becomes the foundation as to how you treat others; although we may want to resort to violence in words during conflict, understand that how you speak to others becomes the basis of how you speak to yourself; although we may want to give up; do not be fooled in the idea that ease and comfort is where your true path lies.”

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Book:Purple Buddha Project: Purple Book of Self-Love
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“When it comes down to it, government is simply an abandonment of responsibility on the assumption that there are people, other than ourselves, who really know how to manage things. But the government, run ostensibly for the good of the people, becomes a self-serving corporation. To keep things under control, it proliferates law of ever-increasing complexity and unintelligibility, and hinders productive work by demanding so much accounting on paper that the record of what has been done becomes more important than what has actually been done. [...] The Taoist moral is that people who mistrust themselves and one another are doomed.”

PhilosophyGovernmentPoliticsDemocracyZenTaoKrishnaEsotericism
Author:Alan W. Watts
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“Om is the things, Om is the ingredient, Om is the container and the content of this universe.”

InspirationalMindRealPhilosophyWisdomInspirationMotivationalTruthHappinessSpiritualMotivationSpiritualityPeaceInspiringConsciousnessMeditationAwarenessSelf HelpInspireMindfulnessSelf ImprovementEnlightenmentYogaEmpowermentExperienceTransformationAwakeningZenContemporaryGiftOnenessBlissWellnessSpiritual GrowthNonfictionNondualityAdvaitaRelaxationReadTranscendenceNon FictionWellbeingIllustrationVisionaryContentPower Of NowNon DualityMind Body And SoulOmBuddismUpanishadsPure AwarenessIllustratedMind And SoulContainer
Book:Glory of OM: A Journey to Self-Realization
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“Om is that God of love. Like a loving mother Om cleans us of our clutters collected through many incarnations.”

InspirationalMindRealPhilosophyWisdomInspirationMotivationalTruthHappinessSpiritualMotherMotivationSpiritualityPeaceInspiringConsciousnessMeditationAwarenessSelf HelpInspireSpiritual QuotesMindfulnessSelf ImprovementEnlightenmentYogaEmpowermentTransformationAwakeningZenContemporarySelf RealizationOnenessWellnessSpiritual GrowthHinduismSpiritual LifeSpiritual WisdomLovingNondualityAdvaitaRelaxationReadTranscendenceWellbeingIllustrationVisionarySpiritual SayingsPower Of NowSpiritual InsightsNon DualitySpiritual TeachersMind Body And SoulOmBeingnessSpiritual TeachingsBuddismUpanishadsPure AwarenessIllustratedMind And SoulSpiritual PathsClutters
Author:Banani Ray
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“Two monks were once travelling together down a wet and muddy road. The rain was torrential, making it almost impossible to walk along the path. As the two men were trudging along, a beautiful girl dressed in silk appeared. She was unable to cross the path and looked distressed. “Let me help you”, said the older monk. He picked her up and carried her over the mud. His younger male companion did not utter a word that night until they reached their lodging temple. Then after hours of restrained conversation, the younger monk exclaimed: “We monks do not touch females; it is too tempting for us and can create a bad outcome”. The older monk looked into the younger monks eyes and said, “I left the girl on the road. Are you still carrying her?” This ancient Zen story illustrates beautifully how so many of us are trapped in the habit of constantly “re-living” the past in our minds, thus dishonouring the present moment. The young monk wasted hours distressing himself with judgment, speculation, anxiety, resentment and ultimately self-perpetuated unhappiness as a direct result of not being mindful.”

AnxietyMindfulnessZenChristopher Dines
Book:Mindfulness Meditation: Bringing Mindfulness into Everyday Life
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“As a soul, you have the freedom – and earned responsibility – to transpose your personal process of evolution, to manifest your greatest talents and vision, into the work that matters to you most as a means to personal redemption.”

LoveArtWisdomHumorInspirationTruthSpiritResponsibilityCompassionBeautyCreativityHumilityBuddhismEvolutionForgivenessConscienceIntuitionZenRedemptionWell BeingTaoismMysticismSelf ExpressionCobaltsaffronDarrell CalkinsAsian PhilosophyPersonal Skills DevelopmentSelf ForgivenessPersonal EvolutionCobalt SaffronRetreat Darrell Calkins
Author:Darrell Calkins
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“Mountains like these and travelers in the mountains and events that happen to them here are found not only in Zen literature but in the tales of every major religion. This allegory of a physical mountain for the spiritual one that stands between each soul and its goal is an easy and natural one to make. Like those in the valley behind us, most people stand in sight of the spiritual mountains all their lives and never enter them, being content to listen to others who have been there and thus avoid the hardships. Some travel into the mountains accompanied by experienced guides who know the best and least dangerous routes by which they arrive at their destination. Still others, inexperienced and untrusting, attempt to make their own routes. Few of these are successful, but occasionally some, by sheer will and luck and grace, do make it. Once there they become more aware than any of the others that there's no single or fixed number of routes. There are as many routes as there are individual souls.”

ReligionZenMountainsPhilosophy Of ReligionFinding Your WayReligious Paths
Book:Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values
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“There’s surprising relief and regeneration in finding ourselves within a moment of genuine grace, however small or temporary it may be.”

InspirationJoyGraceBuddhismForgivenessZenMeaningMeaning Of LifeMysticismTranscendenceWellbeingStress ManagementComparative ReligionCobaltsaffronDarrell CalkinsAsian PhilosophyCobaltsaffron RetreatDarrell Calkins RetreatDarrell Calkins SeminarPersonal Skills DevelopmentCobaltsaffron Darrell CalkinsWellbeing SeminarDarrell Calkins Workshop
Author:Darrell Calkins
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“*Breathing in, I know this is my in-breath. Breathing out, I know this is my out-breath.* It's very simple, but very effective. When we bring our attention to our in-breath and our out-breath, we stop thinking of the past; we stop thinking of the future; and we begin to come home to ourselves...Don't think this practice doesn't apply to you. If we don't go home to ourselves, we can't be at our best and serve the world in the best way... Our quality of being is the foundation for the quality of our actions. *Breathing in, I'm aware of my whole body. Breathing out, I'm aware of my whole body.* Breathing mindfully brings us back to our bodies. We have to acknowledge our bodies first because tension and suffering accumulate in the body. Breathing in this way, we create a kind of family reunion between mind and body. The mind becomes an embodied mind. ...We can't do our best if we don't know to release the tension and pain in ourselves. *Breathing in, I'm aware of the tension in my body. Breathing out, I'm aware of the tension in my body.* When we look at the suffering around us, at poverty, violence, or climate change, we may want to solve these things immediately. We want to do something. But to do something effectively and ethically, we need to be our best selves in order to be able to handle the suffering... *Breathing in, I am aware of a painful feeling arising. Breathing out, I release the painful feeling.* This is a nonviolent and gentle way to help our bodies release tension and pain. It is possible to practice mindful breathing in order to produce a feeling of joy, a feeling of happiness. When we are well-nourished and know how to create joy, then we are strong enough to handle the deep pain within ourselves and the world.”

MeditationZen
Book:Good Citizens: Creating Enlightened Society
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“The title of this Chautauqua is "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance," not "Zen and the Art of Mountain Climbing," and there are no motorcycles on the tops of mountains, and in my opinion very little Zen. Zen is the "spirit of the valley," not the mountaintop. The only Zen you fin on the tops of mountains is the Zen you bring up there.”

ZenMountainsSpiritual JourneyMountain ClimbingSpiritualismMotorcycles
Book:Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values
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“Before we were born we had no feeling; we were one with the universe. This is called "mind-only," or "essence of mind," or "big mind," After we are separated by birth from this oneness, as the water falling from the waterfall is separated by the wind and rocks, then we have feeling. You have difficulty because you have feeling. You attach to the feeling you have without knowing just how this kind of feeling is created. 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, and we have no actual difficulty in our life.”

WaterZenFear Of DeathZen BuddhismWaterfallShunryu Suzuki
Author:Shunryu Suzuki
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“Life is very simple. Just sometimes put your head away, sometimes behead yourself, sometimes look with no clouds in the eyes - just look. Sometimes sit by the side of a tree - just feel. By the side of a waterfall - listen. Lie down on the beach and listen to the roar of the ocean, feel the sand, the coolness of it, or look at the stars, and let that silence penetrate you. Or look at the dark night and let that velvety darkness surround you, envelop you, dissolve you. This is the way of the simple heart.”

BuddhismMindfulnessZenDhamma
Book:The Buddha Said...: Meeting the Challenge of Life's Difficulties
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