Zen Sayings

 

 

Before I had studied Zen for thirty years, I saw mountains as mountains, and waters as waters. When I arrived at a more intimate knowledge, I came to the point where I saw that mountains are not mountains, and waters are not waters. But now that I have got its very substance I am at rest.

 

For it's just that I see mountains once again as mountains, and waters once again as waters. [Ch'ing-yuan Wei-hsin (Seigen Ishin)]

 

Heaven and earth and I are of the same root, the ten-thousand things and I are of one substance. [Sung-chao/Suju (384-414)]

Nan-ch'uan (Nansen) pointed at the peonies in the courtyard, saying to his lay disciple Lu Hsuan, 'The worldlings look at these bush of flowers as in a dream." Lu did not see the point. [Nan-ch'uan (Nansen)]

There's nothing equal to wearing clothes and eating food. [Zenrin Kushu]

From the K'un-lun mountains eastward the (Taoist) term "Great Oneness" is used. From Kashmir westward the (Buddhist) term sambodhi is used . . . the principle involved is the same. [Seng-yu]

Ocean of pure Reality, its substance, in fathomless quiescence, exists eternally. [Fo-kuang Ju-man (Bukku Nyoman)]

Like the clear stillness of autumn water—pure and without activity; in its tranquil depths are no obstructions. Such an one is called a man of Tao, also, a man who has nothing further to do. [Wei-shan Ling-yu (Isan Reiyu)]

When the mind is like wood or stone, there is nothing to be discriminated." [Pai-chang Huai-hai (Hyakuju Ekai)]

Above speech and silence there is a way out." [I-tuan]

The full-grown man aspires to pierce through the heavens: Let him not walk in the footsteps of the Buddha! [Ts'ui-yen]

No dependence upon words and letters; direct pointing at the soul of man; seeing into one's nature and the attainment of Buddhahood. [Bodhidharma]

If you want to climb a mountain, begin at the top. [Saying]

"Everyday is a good day." [Yun-men (Unmon)]

Asked "What is buddha?" Ma-tsu replied "This very mind, this is Buddha." [The Gateless Gate]

Asked "What is buddha?" Ma-tsu replied "Neither mind nor Buddha." [The Gateless Gate]

Your own mind—this is Buddha. [Ma-tsu]

This is not mind, this is not Buddha, this is not a thing. [Nan-chuan]

No clinging, no seeking. [Pai-chang (Hyakuju)]

Keep your mind alive and free without abiding in anything or anywhere. [Diamond Sutra]

How sad that people ignore the near and search for truth afar. [Hakuin Ekaku (1685-1768)]

Ultimate reality has a unified form. [Buddha]

Boundless and free is the sky of samadhi. [Hakuin]