So when you try hard to make your own way, you will help others...before you make your own way you cannot help anyone, and no one can help you.

In Japan we have the phrase, "Shoshin," which means "beginner's mind." Our "original mind" includes everything within itself. It is always rich and sufficient within itself. This does not mean a closed mind, but actually an empty mind and a ready mind. If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything. It is open to everything. In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities; in the expert's mind there are few.

In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, in the expert's mind there are few.

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.

If you think you will get something from practicing zazen, already you are involved in impure practice.

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

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