The archer ceases to be conscious of himself as the one who is engaged in hitting the bull's-eye which confronts him. This state of unconsciousness is realized only when, completely empty and rid of the self, he becomes one with the perfecting of his technical skill.

The real secret of the arts: always be a beginner.

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

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

Intrinsically all living beings are Buddhas, just as ice and water are of the same substance.

The most important point is to accept yourself and stand on your two feet.

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.

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.

When walking, just walk. When sitting, just sit. Above all, don't wobble.

To forget the self is to be actualized by myriad things.

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.

Zen does not confuse spirituality with thinking about God while one is peeling potatoes. Zen spirituality is just to peel the potatoes.

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

The more you suffer the deeper grows your character, and with the deepening of your character you read the more penetratingly into the secrets of life.

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

Technical knowledge is not enough. One must transcend techniques so that the art becomes an artless art, growing out of the unconscious.

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

Zen teaches nothing; it merely enables us to wake up and become aware. It does not teach, it points.

The mind has first to be attuned to the Unconscious.

Should you desire the great tranquility, prepare to sweat white beads.

The superior person is like water, bringing benefit to all without competing.

Each of you is perfect the way you are... and you can use a little improvement.

Our practice cannot be perfect, but without being discouraged by this, we should continue it. This is the secret of practice.

Study how water flows in a valley stream, smoothly and freely between the rocks.

To live is enough.

Where there is great doubt, there is great awakening; small doubt, small awakening; no doubt, no awakening.

Not knowing how near the truth is, we seek it far away.

The treasure house within you contains everything, and you are free to use it. You don't need to seek outside.

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.

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

The true understanding is that the practice itself is enlightenment.

Who would then deny that when I am sipping tea in my tearoom I am swallowing the whole universe with it and that this very moment of my lifting the bowl to my lips is eternity itself transcending time and space?

The basic teaching of Buddhism is the teaching of transiency, or change.

Zen is not necessarily against words, but it is well aware of their limitations.

Everybody has the light of Buddha within, but they don't look for it.

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

We should find perfect existence through imperfect existence.

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

What is the sound of one hand clapping?

The obstacle is the path.

The mind of the beginner is empty, free of the habits of the expert, ready to accept, to doubt, and open to all the possibilities.

Muddy water is best cleared by leaving it alone.

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

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

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

Whoever told you that practice and enlightenment are separate?

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

The true path is not difficult; just avoid picking and choosing.

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

Treat every moment as your last. It is not preparation for something else.

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

All beings by nature are Buddha, as ice by nature is water. Apart from water there is no ice; apart from beings, no Buddha.

The ocean does not reject any water; therefore it is great. The mountain does not select its stones; therefore it is great.

The silence between the notes is as important as the notes themselves.

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.

When you walk in the mist, you get wet.

Meditation in the midst of activity is a thousand times superior to meditation in stillness.

The eye with which I see Buddha is the same eye with which Buddha sees me.

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

Your own treasure house contains everything you need; why search outside?