Inspirational Quotations

Zen Proverbs and Inspirational Quotes

Zen is a Japanese school of Mahāyāna Buddhism that emphasizes the value of meditation and insight. It was introduced to Japan from China in the 12th century.

The word Zen is derived from the Sanskrit ‘Dhyāna,’ which in Chinese transliteration became ‘Chán,’ and Japanese pronunciation ‘Zen.’ It means meditation, contemplation, pondering.

The purpose of Zen is a spiritual discipline to reach enlightenment (satori) through meditation in a seated posture (zazen.) A practitioner receives guidance from a teacher and often uses paradoxical statements, stories, and puzzles (koans) to rise above mere intellectual reasoning and realize insight.

Owing to the consequential emphasis on harmony and mental tranquility, Zen has had a profound cultural influence on Japanese art and architecture. Zen practice has also inspired Japanese literature, the Japanese tea ceremony, and the Noh dance-theater.

Works on Zen by authors such as D. T. Suzuki has contributed to an ever-increasing appreciation and popularity of Zen in the West.

More: Wikipedia READ: Works by Zen Proverb

Sitting quietly, doing nothing, spring comes and the grass grows by itself.
Zen Proverb
Topics: Inaction, Spring, Proverbs

The tighter you squeeze, the less you have.
Zen Proverb
Topics: Attachment

Knowledge is learning something every day. Wisdom is letting go of something every day.
Zen Proverb
Topics: Proverbs, Letting Go

In studying the way, realizing it is hard; once you have realized it, preserving it is hard. When you can preserve it, putting it into practice is hard.
Zen Proverb
Topics: Zen

If you understand, things are just as they are; if you do not understand, things are just as they are.
Zen Proverb
Topics: Understanding, Proverbs, Wilderness

Do not seek the truth; only cease to cherish your opinions.
Zen Proverb
Topics: Opinions, Opinion

When your bow is broken and your last arrow spent,
shoot, shoot with all of your heart.
Zen Proverb

Man stands in his own shadow and wonders why it’s dark.
Zen Proverb
Topics: Self-Discovery

The best leaders of all, the people know not they exist. They turn to each other and say we did it ourselves.
Zen Proverb

No snowflake ever falls in the wrong place.
Zen Proverb

If you have no feelings about worldly things, they are all Buddhism; if you have feelings about Buddhism, it is a worldly thing.
Zen Proverb
Topics: Buddhism

Let go over a cliff, die completely, and then come back to life—after that you cannot be deceived.
Zen Proverb
Topics: Zen

If something is boring after 2 minutes, try it for 4. If still boring, try it for 8, 16, 32, and so on. Eventually, one discovers that it is not boring, but very interesting.
Zen Proverb
Topics: Boredom, Resolve, Endurance, Perseverance

Slow down and everything you are chasing will come around and catch you.
Zen Proverb

Be master of mind rather than mastered by mind.
Zen Proverb
Topics: Master

Hide your body in the Big Dipper.
Zen Proverb
Topics: Body

The driver knows how much the ox can carry, and keeps the ox from being overloaded. You know your way and your state of mind. Do not carry too much.
Zen Proverb

Sometimes, simply by sitting, the soul collects wisdom.
Zen Proverb
Topics: Proverbs, Wisdom

Be as an cup, and the universe flows into you. Be as an arrow, and the universe retreats from you.
Zen Proverb
Topics: Attitude

Knock on the sky and listen to the sound.
Zen Proverb
Topics: Experience

When walking, walk. When eating, eat.
Zen Proverb
Topics: Proverbs, Concentration, Focus

Riverbanks lined with green willows, fragrant grasses: A place not sacred? Where?
Zen Proverb

The obstacle is the path.
Zen Proverb
Topics: Obstacles

From the withered tree, a flower blooms.
Zen Proverb
Topics: Proverbs, Flowers, Hope

Learning Zen is a phenomenon of gold and dung. Before you understand it, it’s like gold; after you understand it, it’s like dung.
Zen Proverb
Topics: Philosophy, Zen

Before enlightenment, I chopped wood and carried water. After enlightenment, I chopped wood and carried water.
Zen Proverb
Topics: Understanding

The Great Way is not difficult for those who have no preferences.
Zen Proverb
Topics: Choice

Wondering Whom to Read Next?

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *