Zen Proverbs

RMCrookes · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 12:21 pm Post subject: Zen Proverbs

Came across these today:-

You have come here to find what you already have.

- Zen Buddhist

If you're attached to anything, you surely will go far astray.

- Zen

When you get to the top of the mountain, keep climbing.

- Zen

Live every day like your hair was on fire.

- Zen

To a mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.

- Chuang-Tzu

Only the crystal-clear question yields a transparent answer.

- Zen

The quieter you become, the more you can hear.

- Baba Ram Dass

As long as you seek for something, you will get the shadow of reality and not reality itself.

- Shunryu Suzuki

You must neither strive for truth nor seek to lose your illusions.

- The Shodoka

Fish swim in the trees, and birds fly in the ocean.

- Zen

In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's mind there are few.

- Shunryu Suzuki

Where there is great doubt, there will be great awakening; small doubt, small awakening, no doubt, no awakening.

- Zen

My heart burns like fire but my eyes are as cold as dead ashes.

- Sayen Shaku

Life is like stepping onto a boat that is about to sail out to sea and sink.

- Shunryu Suzuki

Life is the only thing worth living for.

- Zen

If you understand, things are just as they are; if you do not understand, things are just as they are.

- Zen

A noble heart never forces itself forward. Its words are as rare gems, seldom displayed and of great value.

- Zen

Everything the same; everything distinct.

- Zen

The torch of doubt and chaos, this is what the sage steers by.

- Chuang-tzu

Life is instantaneous, and living is dying.

- Zen Buddhist

There is no King on the Road of Death.

- Japanese Zen Buddhist

To set up what you like against what you don't like -- this is the disease of the mind.

- Sheng-ts'an

Great Faith. Great Doubt. Great Effort. - The three qualities necessary for training.

- Zen

Better to sit all night than to go to bed with a dragon.

- Zen

Zen: Seeing into one's own nature.

- Hui-neng

There is no beginning to practice nor end to enlightenment; There is no beginning to enlightenment nor end to practice.

- Dogen

Manifest plainness, Embrace simplicity, Reduce selfishness, Have few desires.

- Lao Tzu

You have come here to find what you already have.

- Zen Buddhist

The whole moon and the entire sky are reflected in one dewdrop on the grass.

- Dogen

There is nothing infinite apart from finite things.

- Zen

Sitting peacefully doing nothing Spring comes and the grass grows all by itself.

- Zen

It is better to practice a little than talk a lot.

- Muso Kokushi

Don't seek reality, just put an end to opinions.

- Sheng-ts'an

Everyday life is the way.

- Zen

We shape clay into a pot, but it is the emptiness inside that holds whatever we want.

- Lao tzu

The mind should be as a mirror.

- Zen

Chop wood, carry water.

- Zen

The fundamental delusion of humanity is to suppose that I am here and you are out there.

- Yasutani Roshi

No yesterday, no tomorrow, and no today.

- Sheng-ts'an

Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the men of old; seek what they sought.

- Basho

All of the significant battles are waged within the self.

- Zen

What we are looking for is what is looking.

- Zen

Let the dead bury the dead.

- Western Koan

I really enjoyed those - particularly - 'live every day like your hair was on fire' - chance would be a fine thing.

I thought it might be fun to try writing some of our own. Any takers?
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opticalparadox · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 1:18 pm Post subject:

Those are beautiful Richard. I particularly liked, "To a mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders - Chuang-Tzu"

Hmm...Buddhism. Am planning on renting Seven Years In Tibet shortly. And recently watched 'Little Buddha' which was very entertaining / enlightening. Wink

As for the task, how about?

"Bananas are yellow, apples are green, oranges are err....orange"

I'll think on...
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Ian Moore · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 1:28 pm Post subject:

I like that one, Jen. I think it's better than you think it is. Very Happy

How about ...

"One day we will be nostalgic for now." - Not one of mine but I like it.

Ian Moore · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 1:35 pm Post subject:

"Work as little as possible.
Have as many holidays as possible.
Don't worry about anything."

opticalparadox · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 1:41 pm Post subject:

Hee hee...that's cheeky Ian.
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Ian Moore · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 1:49 pm Post subject:

Girls just wanna have fun.
- Cyndi Lauper

RMCrookes · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 11:10 pm Post subject:

Wow - just got in - you two have been busy - those are great and I was thinking the same Ian about not working too hard. That bloke is spot on.

I don't think I can compete with these. Not just at the moment anyway. Been to see my Dad today and he was pretty good - we've all been singing Begin the Beguine and eating chocolate. I managed a passable trumpet solo on a cardboard urine bottle (an unused one, I hasten to add). Must get my thinking cap on. Some of these would make great calligraphic subjects.
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Ian Moore · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 9:17 am Post subject:

Didn't know your dad was bad, Richard. Are you okay?

RMCrookes · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 10:03 am Post subject:

Thanks Ian, I'm not too bad- He's been in an NHS psychiatric facility for about six months now - they couldn't cope with him any more at the nursing home (advanced Dementia) where he's been for nearly two years now. You could definitely say he's not going gentle into that good night. He has lots of other problems too - out of control Diabetes, epilepsy etc etc.

They asked us last week if , in the event of stroke/ heart attack etc, do we want him reviving and without hesitation my mum said no. Even though you know that question will come, it's hard to give that consent.

It's had quite an affect on me, I suppose. Sometimes it's hard to concentrate on work but it's given me a kick up the arse to really enjoy my life while I can and get out and do things.

Anyway - back to our scheduled programme. I still haven't got any zen proverbs for you but here's me a few years ago meditating.

You don't think it might run in the family do you?
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Ian Moore · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 10:27 am Post subject:

I don't like to think of one of my own little Richards going through a tough time (and you are one of my own little Richards now, Dave). So if there's any help I can be, even if it's just to distract you for a fleeting moment in the armpit of eternity, let me know.

In the meantime I think we should make a vow together, to both live every moment as if our hair were growing back!

Love that picture by the way - I think we've all had that feeling at one time or another, haven't we?

RMCrookes · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 10:33 am Post subject:

opticalparadox · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 10:36 am Post subject:

Richard is very hairy, from the photos I've seen. Very Happy

And Ian wears a hat with floppy ears???!!!!???
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Ian Moore · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 10:42 am Post subject:

Richard's hairyness is just his way of over compensating for being completely hairless.

My floppy eared hat is a way for me to over compensate for having normal ears.

RMCrookes · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 11:18 am Post subject:

Neither of these are zen proverbs:-

Au milieu d'hiver, j'ai découvert en moi un invincible été. - Albert Camus
In the middle of winter, I discovered in myself an invincible summer - I just love that

A monk went to the dentist for an exam. The dentist found a cavity and said he would have to give the monk a filling.
"Do you want something for the pain?", asked the dentist.
The monk replied, "No thank you, I transcend dental medication."

And to satisfy curiosity regarding my nastiness/hairiness, me in Lemmy mode:-

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opticalparadox · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 11:20 am Post subject:

I'd possibly reverse, "In the middle of winter, I discovered in myself an invincible summer" as I prefer winter to summer. Very Happy

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