The person who can freely acknowledge that life is full of difficulties can be free, because they are acknowledging the nature of life - that it can't be much else.

Without ignoring the objective side of the truth, it has to be subjective as well, Buddha's whole teaching just for you, something you can taste. Not something to believe in but to discover, to experience.

If enlightenment comes first, before thinking, before practice, your thinking and your practice will not be self-centered. By enlightenment I mean believing in nothing, believing in something which has no form or no color, which is ready to take form or color. This enlightenment is the immutable truth. It is on this orginal truth that our activity, our thinking, and our practice should be based.

Instead of criticizing, find out how to help.

To stop your mind does not mean to stop the activities of mind. It means your mind pervades your whole body.

Life without zazen is like winding your clock without setting it. It runs perfectly well, but it dosen't tell time.

The most important point is to accept yourself and stand on your two feet.