Discover the wisdom and humor of Zen Buddhism with these quotes from various famous Zen Masters.

“You should study not only that you become a mother when your child is born, but also that you become a child.”

– Dogen Zenji

“The one who is good at shooting does not hit the center of the target.”

– Anonymous

“When an ordinary man attains knowledge, he is a sage; when a sage attains understanding, he is an ordinary man.”

– Anonymous

“Think with your whole body.”

– Taisen Deshimaru

“What is the sound of one hand clapping?”

– Anonymous

“If you have a glass full of liquid you can discourse forever on its qualities, discuss whether it is cold, warm, whether it is really and truly composed of H-2-O, or even mineral water, or sake. Meditation is Drinking it!”

– Taisen Deshimaru

“Harmonizing opposites by going back to their source is the distinctive quality of the Zen attitude, the Middle Way: embracing contradictions, making a synthesis of them, achieving balance.”

– Taisen Deshimaru

“To study Buddhism is to study ourselves. To study ourselves is to forget ourselves.”

– Dogen Zenji

“Those who see worldly life as an obstacle to Dharma see no Dharma in everyday actions. They have not yet discovered that there are no everyday actions outside of Dharma.”

– Dogen Zenji

“I come to realize that mind is no other than mountains and rivers and the great wide earth, the sun and the moon and stars.”

– Dogen Zenji

“Life and death are of supreme importance. Time swiftly passes by and opportunity is lost. Each of us should strive to awaken. Awaken. Take heed, do not squander your life.”

– Dogen Zenji

“In a mind clear as still water, even the waves, breaking, are reflecting its light.”

– Dogen Zenji

“You will not be punished for your anger; you will be punished by your anger.”

– Buddha

“If you understand, things are just as they are… If you do not understand, things are just as they are…”

– Anonymous

“Zen is not some kind of excitement, but concentration on our usual everyday routine.”

– Shunryu Suzuki

“A flower falls, even though we love it; and a weed grows, even though we do not love it.”

– Dogen Zenji

“One who conquers himself is greater than another who conquers a thousand times a thousand on the battlefield.”

– Buddha

“Before enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment; chop wood, carry water.”

– Zen Proverb