Discipline is creating the situation.

Zazen practice and everyday activity are one thing. We call zazen everyday life, and everyday life zazen.

If you understand real practice, then archery or other activities can be zen. If you don't understand how to practice archery in its true sense, then even though you practice very hard, what you acquire is just technique. It won't help you through and through. Perhaps you can hit the mark without trying, but without a bow and arrow you cannot do anything. If you understand the point of practice, then even without a bow and arrow the archery will help you. How you get that kind of power or ability is only through right practice.

If you take pride in your attainment or become discouraged because of your idealistic effort, your practice will confine you by a thick wall.

People who know the state of emptiness will always be able to dissolve their problems by constancy.

Zen is not some fancy, special art of living. Our teaching is just to live, always in reality, in its exact sense. To make our effort, moment after moment, is our way.

The way that helps will not be the same; it changes according to the situation.