The 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.

The goal of our life’s effort is to reach the other shore, Nirvana. Prajna paramita, the true wisdom of life, is that in each step of the way, the other shore is actually reached.

To find perfect composure in the midst of change is to find nirvana.

Don't move. Just die over and over. Don't anticipate. Nothing can save you now because you have only this moment. Not even enlightenment will help you now because there are no other moments. With no future, be true to yourself and express yourself fully. Don't move.

You want to eliminate your evil desires in order to reveal your Buddha nature, but where will you throw them away?

The secret of zen is just two words: not... always... so.

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