Perception is a wave. You change as your perception of something changes because you define yourself as a reflection of whatever you happen to perceive.

People over-focus on teachers as an excuse to avoid their own life, and that way they fail to take responsibility for themselves. They have this feeling that the teacher will just take care of them.

There are people who will think of you in negative ways. You will feel it sometimes. It can actually be physically painful if they're somewhat powerful. You simply have to remove yourself inwardly from these individuals.

Meditation is a refocusing on symbols. It's not emptiness. We are using symbols, doorways to step from one world to another, from darkness into light, from death to immortality.

By perfecting the practices of zazen and mindfulness, by learning patience and love and by realizing the essential emptiness of all phenomena, you will discover nirvana.

What goes on in this one little lifetime is not so important as you might like to think it is because you're in it. When you can see the larger picture, it's just a tiny breath in a succession of breaths.

Sit down and get out a piece of paper and start making lists. Ask yourself, are you in harmony with the things in your life? Are you adopting superficial values? Are you giving your being enough room? Are you doing new and creative things?