An ancient buddha said, “Mountains are mountains; waters are waters.” These words do not mean mountains are mountains; they mean mountains are mountains.
Because mountains are high and broad, the way of riding the clouds is always reached in the mountains; the inconceivable power of soaring in the wind comes freely from the mountains.
Yet you must not cling to the words of the old sages either; they, too, may not be right. Even if you believe them, you should be alert so that, in the event that something superior comes along, you may follow that.
If we seek the Buddha outside the mind, the Buddha changes into a devil.
Do not doubt that mountains walk simply because they may not appear to walk like humans.
You should stop searching for phrases and chasing after words. Take the backward step and turn the light inward. Your body-mind of itself will drop off and your original face will appear. If you want to attain just this, immediately practice just this.
The color of the mountains is Buddha’s body; the sound of running water is his great speech.
If we look at the world with a deluded body and mind, we will think that our self is permanent. But if we practice correctly and return to our true self, we will realize that nothing is permanent.
Something you want badly enough can always be gained. No matter how fierce the enemy, how remote the beautiful lady, or how carefully guarded the treasure, there is always a means to the goal for the earnest seeker. The unseen help of the guardian gods of heaven and earth assure fulfillment.
Inside the treasury of the dharma eye a single grain of dust.
When you find your place where you are, practice occurs, actualizing the fundamental point.
Those who practice know whether realization is attained or not, just as those who drink water know whether it is hot or cold.
Students of the Way must not study Buddhism for the sake of themselves. They must study Buddhism only for the sake of Buddhism. The key to this is to renounce both body and mind without holding anything back and to offer them to the great sea of Buddhism.
Because monks come from the midst of purity, they consider as good and pure what does not arouse desire among other people.
When other sects speak well of Zen, the first thing that they praise is its poverty.
Zazen is the ultimate practice. This is indeed the True Self. The Buddhadharma is not to be sought outside of this.
When you paint Spring, do not paint willows, plums, peaches, or apricots – just paint Spring.
In autumn even though I may see it again, how can I sleep with the moon this evening?
Working with plants, trees, fences and walls, if they practice sincerely they will attain enlightenment.
Just study Buddhism. Don’t follow the sentiments of the world.
The time of our delusion does not obstruct the time of our realization. Our practice is not in order to attain realization. Practice itself is the actualization of realization.