Shunryu Suzuki Way Quotations

When we do not expect anything we can be ourselves. That is our way, to live fully in each moment of time.

Usually when someone believes in a particular religion, his attitude becomes more and more a sharp angle pointing away from himself. In our way the point of the angle is always toward ourselves.

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

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

The way that helps will not be the same; it changes according to the situation.

The goal of our life’s effort is to reach the other shore, Nirvana. Prajna paramita, the true wisdom of life, is that in each step of the way, the other shore is actually reached.

A tiger does not ignore or slight any small animal. The way he catches a mouse and catches and devours a cow are the same.

True communication depends upon our being straightforward with one another... But the best way to communicate may be just to sit without saying anything.

Zazen practice is the direct expression of our true nature. Strictly speaking, for a human being, there is no other practice than this practice; there is no other way of life than this way of life.

Each of us must make our own true way, and when we do, that way will express the universal way.

You may say that things happen just by chance, but I don't feel that way.

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.

Those who sit perfectly physically usually take more time to obtain the true way of Zen.

You must be true to your own way until at last you actually come to the point where you see it is necessary to forget all about yourself.

Even if the sun were to rise from the west, the Bodhisattva has only one way.