What we call "I" is just a swinging door which moves when we inhale and when we exhale.

The true purpose of Zen is to see things as they are, to observe things as they are, and to let everything go as it goes.

Moment after moment, completely devote yourself to listening to your inner voice.

When you practice zazen you should not try to attain anything. You should just sit in the complete calmness of your mind and not rely on anything.

The most important things in our practice are our physical posture and our way of breathing.

We should find perfect existence through imperfect existence.

As long as you seek for something, you will get the shadow of reality and not reality itself.

When you listen to someone, you should give up all your preconceived ideas and your subjective opinions.

When you are you, Zen is Zen. Big mind is just big mind.

There is no need to have a deep understanding of Zen. Even though you read much Zen literature, you must read each sentence with a fresh mind.

When you do something, you should burn yourself completely, like a good bonfire, leaving no trace of yourself.

The state of mind that exists when you sit in the right posture is, itself, enlightenment.

Life is like stepping onto a boat which is about to sail out to sea and sink.

Just to be alive is enough.

The purpose of studying Buddhism is not to study Buddhism, but to study ourselves.

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

The true understanding is that the practice itself is enlightenment.

Instead of having a deep understanding of the teaching, we need a strong confidence in our teaching, which says that originally we have Buddha nature.

Leave your front door and your back door open. Allow your thoughts to come and go. Just don't serve them tea.

The awareness that you are here, right now, is the ultimate fact.