Meditation opens the mind to the greatest mystery that takes place daily and hourly; it widens the heart so that it may feel the eternity of time and infinity of space in every throb; it gives us a life within the world as if we were moving about in paradise.

As long as you seek for something, you will get the shadow of reality and not reality itself.

In the Lotus Sutra, Buddha says to light up one corner - not the whole world. Just make it clear where you are.

Zen is not some kind of excitement, but concentration on our usual everyday routine.

The best way to control cow and sheep is to give them a big grazing field.

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.

The more you practice zazen, the more you will be able to accept something as your own, whatever it is.