True communication depends upon our being straightforward with one another... But the best way to communicate may be just to sit without saying anything.

Zazen practice is the direct expression of our true nature. Strictly speaking, for a human being, there is no other practice than this practice; there is no other way of life than this way of life.

It is easy to have calmness in inactivity, it is hard to have calmness in activity, but calmness in activity is true calmness.

So the most difficult thing is always to keep your beginner's mind. There is no need to have a deep understanding of Zen. Even though you read much Zen literature, you must read each sentence with a fresh mind. You should not say, "I know what Zen is," or "I have attained enlightenment." This is also the real secret of the arts: always be a beginner. Be very very careful about this point. If you start to practice zazen, you will begin to appreciate your beginner's mind. It is the secret of Zen practice.

We try, and we try, and we fail; and then we go deeper.

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.

To express yourself as you are, without any intentional, fancy way of adjusting yourself, is the most important thing.