Zen Sayings, Zen Quotations

Everywhere is the Pure Land in its beauty. - Torei Zenji

The Pure Land is not far. - Hakuin Ekaku (1685–1768)

This mind is like space. - Bodhidharma

All day long some persons invoke Buddhas and read sutras . . . Ideally, you do not need to read sutras or invoke buddhas. - Bodhidharma

Free yourself from karma. If you do not see your nature, quoting sutras is no - [great] help. - Bodhidharma

Nirvana is here, before your eyes. - Hakuin

Before I had studied Zen for thirty years, I saw mountains as mountains, and waters as waters. When I arrived at a more intimate knowledge, I came to the point where I saw that mountains are not mountains, and waters are not waters. But now that I have got its very substance I am at rest. For it's just that I see mountains once again as mountains, and waters once again as waters. - Ch'ing-yüan Wei-hsin (Seigen Ishin)

Heaven and earth and I are of the same root, the ten-thousand things and I are of one substance. - Sêng-chao/Sõjõ (384-414)

Nan-ch'uan (Nansen) pointed at the peonies in the courtyard, saying to his lay disciple Lu Hsuan, 'The worldlings look at these bush of flowers as in a dream." Lu did not see the point. - Nan-ch'uan (Nansen)

There's nothing equal to wearing clothes and eating food. - Zenrin Kushû

From the K'un-lun mountains eastward the (Taoist) term "Great Oneness" is used. From Kashmir westward the (Buddhist) term sambodhi is used . . . the principle involved is the same. - Seng-yu

Ocean of pure Reality, its substance, in fathomless quiescence, exists eternally. - Fo-kuang Ju-man (Bukkõ Nyoman)

Like the clear stillness of autumn water – pure and without activity; in its tranquil depths are no obstructions. Such an one is called a man of Tao, also, a man who has nothing further to do. - Wei-shan Ling-yu (Isan Reiyû)

When the mind is like wood or stone, there is nothing to be discriminated." - Pai-chang Huai-hai (Hyakujõ Ekai)

Above speech and silence there is a way out. - I-tuan

No dependence upon words and letters; direct pointing at the soul of man; seeing into one's nature and the attainment of Buddhahood. - Bodhidharma

If you want to climb a mountain, begin at the top. - Saying

"Everyday is a good day." - Yün-men (Unmon)

Asked "What is buddha?" Ma-tsu replied "This very mind, this is Buddha." - The Gateless Gate

Your own mind – this is Buddha. - Ma-tsu

No clinging, no seeking. - Pai-chang (Hyakujõ)

Keep your mind alive and free without abiding in anything or anywhere. - Diamond Sutra

How sad that people ignore the near and search for truth afar. - Hakuin Ekaku (1685-1768)

Ultimate reality has a unified form. - Buddha

Boundless and free is the sky of samadhi. - Hakuin]