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The Training of the Zen Buddhist Monk QUOTES

The Training of the Zen Buddhist Monk QUOTES

1 " Modern life seems to recede further and further away from nature, and closely connected with this fact we seem to be losing the feeling of reverence towards nature. It is probably inevitable when science and machinery, capitalism and materialism go hand in hand so far in a most remarkably successful manner. Mysticism, which is the life of religion in whatever sense we understand it, has come to be relegated altogether in the background. Without a certain amount of mysticism there is no appreciation for the feeling of reverence, and, along with it, for the spiritual significance of humility. Science and scientific technique have done a great deal for humanity; but as far as our spiritual welfare is concerned we have not made any advances over that attained by our forefathers. In fact we are suffering at present the worst kind of unrest all over the world. "

― D.T. Suzuki , The Training of the Zen Buddhist Monk

2 " When mountain-climbing is made too easy, the spiritual effect the mountain exercises vanishes into the air. "

― D.T. Suzuki , The Training of the Zen Buddhist Monk

3 " Monks ought to behave like a grinding stone: Changsan comes to sharpen his knife, Li-szŭ comes to grind his axe, everybody and anybody who wants to have his metal improved in anyway comes and makes use of the stone. Each time the stone is rubbed, it wears out, but it makes no complaint, nor does it boast of its usefulness. And those who come to it go home fully benefitted; some of them may not be quite appreciative of the stone; but the stone itself remains ever contented...... "

― D.T. Suzuki , The Training of the Zen Buddhist Monk

4 " However innumerable sentient beings are, I vow to save them; However inexhaustible the passions are, I vow to extinguish them; However immeasurable the Dharmas are, I vow to study them; However incomparable the Buddha-truth is, I vow to attain it. "

― D.T. Suzuki , The Training of the Zen Buddhist Monk