Life and death are of supreme importance. Time swiftly passes by and opportunity is lost. Each of us should strive to awaken. Awaken! Take heed, do not squander your life.

The time of the past becomes the present, the time of the present becomes the future, the time of the future becomes the present, and the time of the present becomes the past.

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.

Just as parents care for their children, you should bear in mind the whole universe.

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.

Time passes unhindered. When we make ourselves better, we make the world better.

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

Nothing we see or hear is perfect. But right there in the imperfection is perfect reality.

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

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

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.

Do not follow the ideas of others, but learn to listen to the voice within yourself.

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.

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 fundamental delusion of humanity is to suppose that I am here and you are out there.

To be in harmony with the wholeness of things is not to have anxiety over imperfection.

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

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

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

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