If you were not born in this world, there would be no need to die. To be born in this world is to die, to disappear [laughing].
Shunryu SuzukiA flower falls, even though we love it; and a weed grows, even though we do not love it....In this way our life should be understood. Then there is no problem.
Shunryu SuzukiIn the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, in the expert's mind there are few.
Shunryu SuzukiNothing we see or hear is perfect. But right there in the imperfection is perfect reality.
Shunryu SuzukiThe secret of Soto Zen is just two words: not always so.... In Japanese, it's two words, three words in English. That is the secret of our practice.
Shunryu SuzukiThe Zen way of calligraphy is to write in the most straightforward, simple way as if you were a beginner, not trying to make something skillful or beautiful, but simply writing with full attention as if you were discovering what you were writing for the first time; then your full nature will be in your writing.
Shunryu Suzuki