The purpose of studying Buddhism is not to study Buddhism, but to study ourselves. That is why we have teaching. But the teaching is not ourselves. It is some explanation of ourselves. To study the teaching is to know yourselves. That is why we do not ever attach to the teaching, or to the teacher. The moment you meet a teacher you should leave the teacher, and you should be independent. You want a teacher so that you can be independent. So you study yourselves. You have the teacher for yourselves, not for the teacher.

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

Moment after moment everything comes out of nothingness. This is the true joy of life.

Big mind is something to express, not something to figure out. Big mind is something you have, not something to seek for.

The practice of Zen mind is beginner's mind. The innocence of the first inquiry—what am I?—is needed throughout Zen practice. 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. It is the kind of mind which can see things as they are, which step by step and in a flash can realize the original nature of everything.

We must exist right here, right now!

The beginner's mind is the mind of compassion. When our mind is compassionate, it is boundless.