Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice Quotes

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Our effort in our practice should be directed from achievement to non-achievement.

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice

In your practice you should accept everything as it is, giving to each thing the same respect given to a Buddha.

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice

But as long as you think you are practicing zazen for the sake of something, that is not true practice.

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice

Our way is not to sit to acquire something; it is to express our true nature. That is our practice.

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice

For the beginner, practice without effort is not true practice.

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice

In other restless positions you have no power to accept your difficulties, but in the zazen posture which you have acquired by long, hard practice, your mind and body have great power to accept things as they are, whether they are agreeable or disagr...

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice

It will take quite a long time before you find your calm, serene mind in your practice.

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice

In zazen practice we say your mind should be concentrated on your breathing, but the way to keep your mind on your breathing is to forget all about yourself and just to sit and feel your breathing.

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice

Zazen practice and everyday activity are one thing. We call zazen everyday life, and everyday life zazen.

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice

You see something or hear a sound, and there you have everything just as it is. [...] Whatever you do, it should be an expression of the same deep activity. We should appreciate what we are doing. There is no preparation for something else.

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice