For Zen students, a weed is a treasure.
Shunryu SuzukiRead
In order not to leave any traces, when you do something, you should do it with your whole body and mind; you should be concentrated on what you do. You should do it completely, like a good bonfire. You should not be a smoky fire. You should burn yourself completely. If you do not burn yourself completely, a trace of yourself will be left in what you do. You should not have any remains after you do something. But this does not mean to forget all about it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Fully commit to your actions without leaving remnants of effort behind.
This quote by Shunryu Suzuki emphasizes the importance of total dedication and focus in every endeavor. It suggests that one should immerse themselves entirely in their actions, akin to a bonfire that burns bright and cleanly, leaving no trace of its past flames. The notion of 'not leaving traces' refers to executing tasks with such commitment that no regrets or half-hearted efforts remain, fostering a sense of completeness in everything we do.
Themes
DedicationFocusCommitmentEffortCompletion
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about pursuing dreams and passions.
More from Shunryu Suzuki
All quotes →If you take pride in your attainment or become discouraged because of your idealistic effort, your practice will confine you by a thick wall.
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No teaching could be more direct than just to sit down.
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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.
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