For Zen students, a weed is a treasure.
Shunryu SuzukiRead
Everything you do is right, nothing you do is wrong, yet you must still make ceaseless effort.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes that while there may be no absolute right or wrong in actions, persistent effort is essential.
Shunryu Suzuki's quote reflects a profound understanding of the nature of effort and existence. It suggests that in life, one might feel that their actions are valid regardless of perceptions of right and wrong, yet it underscores the importance of continual effort and striving for improvement. This notion invites individuals to embrace their actions in the present while still recognizing the value of persistent endeavor for personal growth.
Themes
EffortWisdomRightWrongPersistenceGrowth
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about personal growth and persistence.
More from Shunryu Suzuki
All quotes βIf you take pride in your attainment or become discouraged because of your idealistic effort, your practice will confine you by a thick wall.
Shunryu SuzukiRead
As long as you seek for something, you will get the shadow of reality and not reality itself.
Shunryu SuzukiRead
No teaching could be more direct than just to sit down.
Shunryu SuzukiRead
Everything is perfect, but there is a lot of room for improvement.
Shunryu SuzukiRead
When you do not realize that you are one with the river, or one with the universe, you have fear. Whether it is separated into drops or not, water is water. Our life and death are the same thing. When we realize this fact, we have no fear of death anymore.
Shunryu SuzukiRead
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