Awareness Quotes

To know the road ahead, ask those coming back.

- Chinese Proverb -

Whatever is material shape, past, future, present, subjective or objective, gross or subtle, mean or excellent, whether it is far or near — all material shape should be seen by perfect intuitive wisdom as it really is: "This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self." Whatever is feeling, whatever is perception, whatever are habitual tendencies, whatever is consciousness, past, future, present, subjective or objective, gross or subtle, mean or excellent, whether it is far or near — all should be seen by perfect intuitive wisdom as it really is: "This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self." Zen Quotes by Buddha Gautama (born 563 B.C.) 


Externally keep yourself away from all relationships, and internally have no pantings in your heart; when your mind is like unto a straight-standing wall, you may enter into the Path. Zen Quotes by Bodhidharma (470-543)  


"Just think of the trees: they let the birds perch and fly, with no intention to call them when they come and no longing for their return when they fly away. If people's hearts can be like the trees, they will not be off the Way. " Langya


"When you're deluded, every statement is an ulcer; when you're enlightened, every word is wisdom. " Zhiqu
 
He who wherever he goes is attached to no person and to no place by ties of flesh; who accepts good and evil alike, neither welcoming the one nor shrinking from the other — take it that such a one has attained Perfection. "Bhagavad-Gita"


The mind that does not understand is the Buddha. There is no other....Zen Quotes by Ma-Tsu.   


Neither is there Bodhi-tree, Nor yet a mirror bright; Since in reality all is void, Whereon can the dust fall?....Hui Neng (638-713). 


Do not mistake understanding for realization, and do not mistake realization for liberation....Tibetan Saying. 



I were a tree among trees, a cat among animals, this life would have a meaning, or rather this problem would not arise, for I should belong to this world. I should be this world to which I am now opposed by my whole consciousness and my whole insistence upon familiarity. This ridiculous reason is what sets me in opposition to all creation. I cannot cross it out with a stroke of a pen....Zen Quote by Albert Camus. 



You cannot describe it or draw it. You cannot praise it enough or perceive it. No place can be found in which to put the Original Face; it will not disappear even when the universe is destroyed....Zen Quotes by Mumon. 


When you pass through, no one can pin you down, no one can call you back....Zen Quotes by Ying-An. 


The reverse side also has a reverse side....Japanese Proverb. 


Let your mind wander in simplicity, blend your spirit with the vastness, follow along with things the way they are, and make no room for personal views-then the world will be governed....Chuang-tzu.  


God has no religion.....Mahatma Gandhi.


Be soft in your practice. Think of the method as a fine silvery stream, not a raging waterfall. Follow the stream, have faith in its course. It will go its own way, meandering here, trickling there. It will find the grooves, the cracks, the crevices. Just follow it. Never let it out of your sight. It will take you....Sheng-yen.


The process of practice is to see through, not to eliminate, anything to which we are attached. We could have great financial wealth and be unattached to it, or we light have nothing and be very attached to having nothing. Usually, if we have seen through the nature of attachment, we will have a tendency to have few possessions, but not necessarily. Most practice gets caught in this area of fiddling with our environments or our minds. " My mind should be quiet". Our mind doesn't matter; what matters is non attachment to the activities of the mind. And our emotions are harmless unless they dominate us 9 that is, if we are attached to them)---then they create dis-harmony for everyone. The first problem in practice is to see that we are attached. As we do consistent, patient zazen we begin to know that we are nothing but attachments; they rule our lives. But we never lose an attachment by saying it has to go. Only as we gain true awareness of its true nature does it quietly and imperceptibly wither away; like a sandcastle with waves rolling over, it just smoothes out and finally Where is it? What was it? .....Zen Quotes by Charlotte Joko Beck, Everyday Zen    


 No matter how many years you sit doing zazen, you will never become anything special. Zen Master Sawaki, in Zen Master Dogen (1200-1253 ), Instructions for the Zen Cook 


Ride your horse along the edge of a sword; hide yourself in the middle of flames....Zen saying. 


I cannot tell if what the world considers 'happiness' is happiness or not. All I know is that when I consider the way they go about attaining it, I see them carried away headlong, grim and obsessed, in the general onrush of the human herd, unable to stop themselves or to change their direction. All the while they claim to be just on the point of attaining happiness....Chuang-tzu. 


 All conditioned things are impermanent. Work out your own salvation with diligence....The Buddha's last words.


If yin and yang do not exist, the One (the Great Ultimate)" can not revealed If the One cannot be revealed then the function of the two forces will cease, Reality and unreality, motion and rest, integration and disintegration, and clearness and turbidity are two different substances. In the final analysis, however, they are one. - Chang Tsai, (1020-1078)
    
he negative and positive spiritual forces (kuei-shen) are the spontaneous activity of the two material forces (yin and yang). Sage hood means absolute sincerity (1) forming a unity with Heaven, and spirit means the Great Vacuity in its wondrous operation and response. All molds and forms in the universe are but dregs of this spiritual transformation. - Chang Tsai, (1020-1078)


The life of plants is based on earth [for their roots grow downward]. Their transition from integration to disintegration depends on the rise and fall of yin and yang. - Chang Tsai, (1020-1078)
Yang cannot exist by itself; it can exist only when it is supported by yin. Hence yin is the foundation of yang. Similarly, yin cannot alone manifest itself; it can manifest itself only when accompanied by yang. Hence yang is the expression of yin. Yang controls the origination and enjoys the completion [of things] while yin follows the way [yang produces] and completes the work of yang. Shao Yong, (1012-1077)


Yang is superior and spiritually powerful. Being superior, it can control the external world. Being spiritually powerful, it can preserve its unlimited efficiency. For this reason the Way creates heaven and earth and all things without showing itself. All these are patterned after the Way. Yang is the function of the Way, while yin is its substance. Yin and yang operate on each other. When yang is the function, yin becomes superior. When yin is the function, yang becomes superior. Shao Yong, (1012-1077)

“The empty body is dreadful, when the soul goes out from within. The burning fire of life is extinguished, and the smoke of the breath no longer emerges. The five relatives (the senses) weep and wail painfully, and waste away through the love of duality.” - Sri Guru Granth Sahib 

“While you are alive, conquer death, and you shall have no regrets in the end.”

“ I have done this, and I will do that - I am an idiotic fool for saying this! I have forgotten the Doer of all; I am caught in the love of duality. There is no pain as great as the pain of Maya; it drives people to wander all around the world, until they become exhausted.” 


“Within Maya, the poise of intuitive balance is not produced. Maya leads to the love of duality.”

“The ignorant worship the love of duality; in the Lord's Court they shall be punished. So worship the Lord, the Light of the soul.” 

“Those who do not understand the nature of sin and virtue are attached to duality; they wander around deluded.” 

“This world is deluded; You Yourself have deluded it. Forgetting the One, it has become engrossed in duality.” 

“Deep within, mind is soiled and stained by the love of duality.” 

“When egotism and duality are eradicated, one intuitively merges in peace.” 

“Forever and ever, You are the only One; You set the play of duality in motion. You created egotism and arrogant pride, and You placed greed within our beings. Keep me as it pleases Your Will; everyone acts as You cause them to act.” 

“By Guru's Grace, intuitive understanding is obtained; subduing the sense of duality, they are in love with the One.” 

“For the sake of Maya, they set the stage and dance, but they are in love with duality, and they obtain only sorrow.” 

“Give up your selfishness, and you shall find peace; like water mingling with water, you shall merge in absorption.”

“The waves of desire in the world-ocean are intoxicating wine. ”


“The purpose of Zen is the perfection of character” - Yasutani Roshi

“Children are natural Zen masters; their world is brand new in each and every moment.” - John Bradshaw quotes

“Zen is not some kind of excitement, but concentration on our usual everyday routine.”  - Shunryu Suzuki

“Surfing soothes me, it's always been a kind of Zen experience for me. The ocean is so magnificent, peaceful, and awesome. The rest of the world disappears for me when I'm on a wave.” - Paul Walker


“Golf is a spiritual game. It's like Zen. You have to let your mind take over.” -  Amy Alcott

 “There is no Catholic Zen, Jewish Zen or Islamic Zen. It has no theology.” - Kenneth Byalin

 “Everything is self-evident.”  - Rene Descartes