Shunryu Suzuki Trying Quotations

So for a period of time each day, try to sit, without moving, without expecting anything, as if you were in your last moment. Moment after moment you feel your last instant. In each inhalation and each exhalation there are countless instants of time. Your intention is to live in each instant.

When you try to understand everything, you will not understand anything. The best way is to understand yourself, and then you will understand everything.

If you try to observe the precepts, that is not true observation of precepts. When you observe the precepts without trying to observe the precepts, that is true observation of the precepts.

We try, and we try, and we fail; and then we go deeper.

Concentration comes not from trying hard to focus on something, but from keeping your mind open and directing it at nothing.

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.

So when you try hard to make your own way, you will help others...before you make your own way you cannot help anyone, and no one can help you.