Life always gives us exactly the teacher we need at every moment. This includes every mosquito, every misfortune, every red light, every traffic jam, every obnoxious supervisor (or employee), every illness, every loss, every moment of joy or depression, every addiction, every piece of garbage, every breath. Every moment is the guru.
—Joko Beck
Topics: Light, Life, Teach, Act, Give, Joy, Depression
If we can accept things just the way they are, we’re not going to be greatly upset by anything.
—Joko Beck
Body tension will always be present if our good feeing is just ordinary, self-centered happiness. Joy has no tension in it, because joy accepts whatever is as it is.
—Joko Beck
Joy is being willing for things to be as they are.
—Joko Beck
Human beings are basically good, kind, and compassionate, but it takes hard digging to uncover that buried jewel.
—Joko Beck
Joy is being the circumstances of our life just as they are.
—Joko Beck
It’s of no use to look back and say, “I should have been different.” At any given moment, we are the way we are, and we see what we’re able to see. For that reason, guilt is always inappropriate.
—Joko Beck
Topics: Life
When we’re lost in thought, when we’re dreaming, what have we lost? We’ve lost reality. Our life has escaped us.
—Joko Beck
We tend to run our whole life trying to avoid all that hurts or displeases us, noticing the objects, people, or situations that we think will give us pain or pleasure, avoiding one and pursuing the other.
—Joko Beck
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
Peter Matthiessen American Naturalist, Novelist
James H. Austin American Buddhist Neuroscientist
Dennis Genpo Merzel American Buddhist Monk
Natalie Goldberg American Buddhist Author
John Cage American Composer
Shunryu Suzuki Buddhist Monk, Author
Master Sheng-Yen Chinese Buddhist Monk
Janwillem van de Wetering Dutch Crime Novelist
D. T. Suzuki Japanese Buddhist Philosopher
Frank Herbert American Science-fiction Writer