Our tendency is to be interested in something that is growing in the garden, not in the bare soil itself. But if you want to have a good harvest, the most important thing is to make the soil rich and cultivate it well.

If you were not born in this world, there would be no need to die. To be born in this world is to die, to disappear [laughing].

In your everyday life you always have opportunities for enlightenment. If you go to the rest room, there is a chance to attain enlightenment. When you cook, there is a chance to attain enlightenment. When you clean the floor, there is a chance to attain enlightenment.

We ourselves cannot put any magic spells on this world. The world is its own magic.

After you have practiced for a while, you will realize that it is not possible to make rapid, extraordinary progress. Even though you try very hard, the progress you make is always little by little.

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

There is no need to have a deep understanding of Zen.