Be Zen ~ Quotes To Keep Things In Perspective

By Beckah Boyd

When people think of Zen, they think of the Buddhist monk singing  mantras or meditating beneath a tree attempting to achieve enlightenment. Zen however, is something we can live everyday and incorporate into our own religious beliefs Hui-neng explained the practice best

“Zen: Seeing into one’s own nature.”

Many spiritual leaders have come up with inspiring quotes over time. But I find with Zen that they produce some of the most poignant of perspectives. Especially when it comes to letting go of disappointments, failures and negtive emotion. So I thought to share with you some of my favorite quotes to keep you going.

Zen Quotes For Relationships

“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

 

“It is better to practice a little than talk a lot.” ~Muso Kokushi

“Buddha said, “If you are going to practice giving to yourself, how moocher to your parents, wife, and children.” Therefore you should know that to give to yourself is a part of giving. To give to your family is also giving. Even when you give a particle of dust, you should rejoice in your own act, because you correctly transmit the merit of all buddha’s and for the first time practice the art of bodhisattva. The mind of an sentient being is a difficult thing to change. You should keep on changing the minds of sentient beings, from the first moment they have one particle, to the moment that they attain the way. This should be started by giving. For this reason giving is the first of the six paramitas ( perfections ). Mind is beyond measure. Things are given beyond measure. Moreover, in giving, mind transforms the gift and the gift transforms mind.” ~ Zen Master Dogen, (1200-1253)

 Zen Quotes For Spirituality

 

“What does mysticism mean? It means the way to attain knowledge. It’s close to philosophy, except in philosophy you go horizontally while in mysticism you go vertically.” ~Elie Wiesel

“When you are deluded and full of doubt, even a thousand books of scripture are not enough. When you have realized understanding, even one word is too much. ” ~Fen-Yang

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” ~Lao Tzu

“God has no religion” ~Mahatma Gandhi

Zen Quotes For Dealing With The Past

“At any given moment, I open my eyes and exist. And before that, during all eternity, what was there? Nothing.” ~Ugo Betti

“All conditioned things are impermanent. Work out your own salvation with diligence” ~The Buddha’s last words

“I have done my best”, that is about all the philosophy of living that one needs” ~ Lin-yutang 

Zen Quotes For Finding Peace

“Normally, we do not so much look at things as overlook them” ~ Zen Quotes by Alan Watts

“Sitting quietly, doing nothing, spring comes, and the grass grows by itself” ~ Zen Proverb

“When walking, walk. When eating, eat.” ~ Zen Proverb

“We have two eyes to see two sides of things, but there must be a third eye which will see everything at the same time and yet not see anything. That is to understand Zen.” ~D. T. Suzuki

[photo by TouTouke]

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