Zen Buddhist

Explore 11 quotes by Zen Buddhists

The whole moon and the entire sky are reflected in one dewdrop on the grass.

Dogen

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Topic

Interconnectedness of all things The moon The sky

Author

Dogen

Source

Genjo Koan Shōbōgenzō

Statement Type

Zen koan

Language

Japanese

Time

1253 1250s 13th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Dogen. "Genjo Koan [Actualizing the Fundamental Point]." Shobogenzo, c. 1253.

Muddy water is best cleared by leaving it alone.

Alan Watts

The Way of Zen

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Topic

Stillness Inaction Patience

Author

Alan Watts

Source

The Way of Zen

Genre

Religious literature Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Proverbs, aphorisms and adages Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

English

Time

1957 1950s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Watts, Alan. The Way of Zen. Vintage Books, 1957.

The more a thing tends to be permanent, the more it tends to be lifeless.

Alan Watts

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Topic

Nature of life Life Permanence Impermanence

Author

Alan Watts

Source

Play to Live

Genre

Religious literature Philosophical literature

Language

English

Time

1982 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Watts, Alan. Play to Live: Selected Seminars. And Books, 1982.

What we call "I" is just a swinging door which moves when we inhale and when we exhale.

Shunryu Suzuki

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Topic

The self Ego Consciousness

Author

Shunryu Suzuki

Source

Zen Mind, Beginnner's Mind

Genre

Philosophical literature Religious literature

Language

English

Time

1970 1970s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Suzuki, Shunryu. Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind. Weatherhill, 1970. Originally a talk given at his Zen center in c. 1969, Los Altos, CA, USA.

Whether we like it or not, change comes, and the greater the resistance, the greater the pain.

Alan Watts

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Topic

Resistance to change Change Acceptance

Author

Alan Watts

Source

Become What You Are

Genre

Religious literature Philosophical literature

Language

English

Time

1995 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Watts, Alan. Become What You Are. Shambhala, 1995.

Seekers of the Way. In Buddhism no effort is necessary. All one has to do is to do nothing except to move his bowels, urinate, put on his clothing, eat his meals, and lie down if he is tired. The stupid will laugh at him, but the wise will understand.

Linji Yixuan

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Topic

Letting go Simple living Slowing down

Author

Linji Yixuan

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Chinese

Time

886 880s 9th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Linji Yixuan [I-Hsuan]. Recorded conversation with Zen Master I-Hsuan. c. 866 AD.

Current Citation

Linji Yixuan. Quoted in A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, translated and compiled by Wing-tsit Chan. Princeton University Press, 2008.

For things to reveal themselves to us, we need to be ready to abandon our views about them.

Thich Nhat Hanh

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Topic

Open-mindedness Revelation Acceptance

Author

Thich Nhat Hanh

Source

Being Peace

Genre

Religious literature

Statement Type

Paradox

Language

English

Time

1987 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Hanh, Thich Nhat. Being Peace. Parallax Press, 1987.

Zen is a liberation from time. For if we open our eyes and see clearly, it becomes obvious that there is no other time than this instant, and that the past and the future are abstractions without any concrete reality.

Alan Watts

The Way of Zen

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Topic

Being present The present Time

Author

Alan Watts

Source

The Way of Zen

Genre

Religious literature Philosophical literature

Language

English

Time

1957 1950s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Watts, Alan. The Way of Zen. Vintage Books, 1957.

In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's mind there are few.

Shunryu Suzuki

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Topic

Open-mindedness Clean slate Possibility

Author

Shunryu Suzuki

Source

Zen Mind, Beginnner's Mind

Genre

Philosophical literature Religious literature

Language

English

Time

1970 1970s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Suzuki, Shunryu. Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind. Weatherhill, 1970. Originally a talk given at his Zen center in c. 1969, Los Altos, CA, USA.

The mind of the beginner is empty, free of the habits of the expert, ready to accept, to doubt, and open to all the possibilities.

Shunryu Suzuki

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Topic

Open-mindedness Clean slate Possibility Acceptance

Author

Shunryu Suzuki

Source

Zen Mind, Beginnner's Mind

Genre

Philosophical literature Religious literature

Language

English

Time

1970 1970s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Suzuki, Shunryu. Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind. Weatherhill, 1970. Originally a talk given at his Zen center in c. 1969, Los Altos, CA, USA.

A mind full of preconceived ideas, subjective intentions, or habits is not open to things as they are.

Shunryu Suzuki

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Topic

Closed-mindedness Open-mindedness Habits Acceptance

Author

Shunryu Suzuki

Source

Zen Mind, Beginnner's Mind

Genre

Philosophical literature Religious literature

Language

English

Time

1970 1970s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Suzuki, Shunryu. Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind. Weatherhill, 1970. Originally a talk given at his Zen center in c. 1969, Los Altos, CA, USA.