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.

The mind we have when we practice zazen is the great mind: we don't try to see anything; we stop conceptual thinking; we stop emotional activity; we just sit. Whatever happens to us, we are not bothered. We just sit. It is like something happening in the great sky. Whatever kind of bird flies through it, the sky doesn't care. That is the mind transmitted from Buddha to us.

Our way is to practice one step at a time, one breath at a time, with no gaining idea.

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

When you do something, you should burn yourself up completely, like a good bonfire, leaving no trace of yourself.

The teaching which is written on paper is not the true teaching. Written teaching is a kind of food for your brain. Of course it is necessary to take some food for your brain, but it is more important to be yourself by practicing the right way of life.

When the restrictions you have do not limit you, this is what we mean by practice.