Essays in Zen Buddhism

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Page 328 - But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
Page 328 - But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth : that thine alms may be in secret : and thy Father which seeth in secret Himself shall reward thee openly.
Page 265 - By a daisy, whose leaves spread Shut when Titan goes to bed, Or a shady bush or tree, She could more infuse in me, Than all nature's beauties can In some other wiser man.
Page 161 - A special transmission outside the Scriptures; No dependence upon words and letters ; Direct pointing to the soul of man ; Seeing into one's nature and the attainment of Buddhahood."!
Page 13 - But whether thus submissively or not, at least be sure that you go to the author to get at his meaning, not to find yours. Judge it afterwards if you think yourself qualified to do so; but ascertain it 'first. And be sure also, if the author is worth anything, that you will not get at his meaning all at once; — nay, that at his whole meaning you will not for a long time arrive in any wise. Not that he does not say what he means, and in strong words too; but he cannot say it all; and what is more...
Page 314 - And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
Page 132 - Without knowledge there is no meditation, without meditation there is no knowledge: he who has knowledge and meditation is near unto Nirvana. 373. A Bhikshu who has entered his empty house, and whose mind is tranquil, feels a more than human delight when he sees the law clearly.
Page 320 - All sentient beings are from the very beginning the Buddhas : It is like ice and water ; Apart from water no ice can exist, Outside sentient beings, where do we seek the Buddhas ? Not knowing how near the Truth is, People seek it far away, — what a pity ! They are like him who, in the midst of water, Cries in thirst so imploringly ; They are like the son of a rich man Who wandered away among the poor.
Page xiii - It is the object of Zen, therefore, to save us from going crazy or being crippled. This is what I mean by freedom, giving free play to all the creative and benevolent impulses inherently lying in our hearts.
Page 214 - ... unexpected angle of perception. Whatever this is, the world for those who have gained a satori is no more the old world as it used to be; even with all its flowing streams and burning fires, it is never the same one again. Logically stated, all its opposites and contradictions are united and harmonized into a consistent organic whole. This is a mystery and a miracle, but according to the Zen masters such is being performed every day. Satori can thus be had only through our once personally experiencing...

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