I was at a point where I was ready to say I am what I am because of what I am and if you like me I'm grateful, and if you don't, what am I going to do about it?
Anne BancroftRead
Zen is not interested in high-flown statements; it wants its pupil to bite his apple and not discuss it.
Interpretation
Zen emphasizes direct experience over theoretical discussion.
This quote highlights the essence of Zen philosophy, which prioritizes practical engagement and direct experience over abstract theories and discussions. It suggests that true understanding comes from experiencing life directly rather than merely talking about it. The metaphor of 'biting the apple' signifies the importance of living in the moment and fully immersing oneself in experiences.
In practice
In a mindfulness seminar to emphasize the importance of living in the present.
I was at a point where I was ready to say I am what I am because of what I am and if you like me I'm grateful, and if you don't, what am I going to do about it?
Now I usually try not to give advice. Information, yes, advice, no. But, what has worked for me may not work for you. Well, take for instance what has worked for me. Wigs. Tight clothes. Push up bras.
I am of a healthy long lived race, and our minds improve with age.
Emotional makeup is more important than technical skill
I'm in no position to hand down any advice," he said, "but there's a rule I follow when I don't know what to do." "A rule?" "If you have to choose between something that has form and something that doesn't, go for the one without form. That's my rule. Whenever I run into a wall I follow that rule, and it always works out. Even if it's hard going at the time.
Gratitude in advance is the most powerful creative force in the universe.
Meditation is nothing but an effort to drop all the foreign elements so that you can see yourself as you were before you were born, mirrored in its purity. It is a great silence and a great joy to be there, and once you start abiding there, there is no death and no time. All fear, all greed, all anger, disappears: one is just there with no idea, no desire.
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