“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…
Do Not Follow The Ideas of Others
“Do not follow the ideas of others, but learn to listen to the voice within yourself. Your body and mind will become clear and you will realize the unity of all things.” Just reading these words is following the ideas of others. It’s not that we should never read or listen to anyone else, but…
You Should Study Become a Child
“You should study not only that you become a mother when your child is born, but also that you become a child.” I am not a mother with child, so I cannot directly speak of this experience. I could only imagine that this quote is referring to the fact that you are seeing and experiencing…
Enlightenment is Intimacy With All Things
“Enlightenment is intimacy with all things.” When we are close to something we say we are intimate. It also alludes to having close, intimate knowledge of something. Enlightenment is an awakening to intimacy with all things. There is a realization of the lack of true and false, good and evil, or good and bad. There is…
Life and Death are of Supreme Importance
This can be considered a type of “seize the moment” message. Do not let each day go by without taking advantage of opportunities. Open your eyes and your mind to the opportunities around you. You also must go out and make your own opportunities, do not simply wait for them to happen or present themselves.