The practice of Zen mind is beginner's mind. In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities; in the expert's mind there are few.

If you cannot find the truth right where you are, where else do you expect to find it?

A flower falls, even though we love it; and a weed grows, even though we do not love it.

To study the Way is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be enlightened by all things.

The way is basically perfect. It is not a matter of practice or enlightenment.

Birth and death are neither two things nor one thing. Life is not an appearance, death is not a disappearance.

Zazen is not step-by-step meditation. Rather it is simply the easy and pleasant practice of a Buddha, the realization of the Buddha's Wisdom.

The true person is not anyone in particular. But like the deep blue color of the limitless sky, it is everyone, everywhere in the world.

In the spring, hundreds of flowers; in autumn, a harvest moon; in the summer, a refreshing breeze; in winter, snow will accompany you. If useless things do not hang in your mind, any season is a good season for you.

The dharma wheel turns from the beginning. There is neither excess nor deficiency. The whole universe is moistened with nectar, and the truth is ready to harvest.

Enlightenment is like the moon reflected on the water. The moon does not get wet, nor is the water broken.

To what shall I compare this life? It is like a boat that left at dawn, leaving no trace.

When you see forms or hear sounds fully engaging body-and-mind, you intuit dharma intimately.

To carry yourself forward and experience myriad things is delusion. That myriad things come forth and experience themselves is awakening.

Whoever told you that practice and enlightenment are separate?

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

Do not think you will necessarily be aware of your own enlightenment.

Even if you speak of 'understanding,' this understanding is not a matter of knowledge. It is what fills the entire body and mind.

The color of the mountains is Buddha's body; the sound of running water is his great speech.

The zazen I speak of is not meditation practice. It is simply the dharma gate of joyful ease.