Dogen

When you paint Spring, do not paint willows, plums, peaches, or apricots - just paint Spring.

— Dogen

There are those who, attracted by grass, flowers, mountains, and waters, flow into the Buddha Way.

— Dogen

Be moderate in eating and drinking. Mindful of the passing of time, engage yourself in zazen as though saving your head from…

— Dogen

To study the Way is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self.

— Dogen

“To enter the Buddha Way is to stop discriminating between good and evil and to cast aside the mind that says this…

— Dōgen

When you find your place where you are, practice occurs, actualizing the fundamental point.

— Dogen

Truth is not far away. It is nearer than near. There is no need to attain it, since not one of your…

— Dogen

The color of the mountains is Buddha's body; the sound of running water is his great speech.

— Dogen

Students today should live fully every moment of time. This dew-like life fades away; time speeds swiftly. In this short life of…

— Dogen

Because mountains are high and broad, the way of riding the clouds is always reached in the mountains; the inconceivable power of…

— Dogen

Students, when you want to say something, think about it three times before you say it. Speak only if your words will…

— Dogen

Just practice good, do good for others, without thinking of making yourself known so that you may gain reward. Really bring benefit…

— Dogen

Why abandon a seat in your own home to wander in vain through dusty regions of another land? If you make one…

— Dogen

All that's visible springs from causes intimate to you. While walking, sitting, lying down, the body itself is complete truth. If someone…

— Dogen

I asked, "What are words?" The tenzo said, "One, two, three, four, five." I asked again, "What is practice?" "Nothing in the…

— Dogen

IF YOU WOULD BE FREE OF GREED, FIRST YOU HAVE TO LEAVE EGOTISM BEHIND. THE BEST MENTAL EXERCISE FOR RELINQUISHING EGOTISM IS…

— Dogen

Do not practice buddha-dharma with the thought that it is to benefit others.

— Dogen

If you cannot find the truth within yourself, where else do you expect to find it?

— Dogen

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

— Dogen

Understand clearly that when a great need appears a great use appears also; when there is small need there is small use;…

— Dogen

That the self advances and confirms the ten thousand things is called delusion; that the ten thousand things advance and confirm the…

— Dogen

Students of the Way must not study Buddhism for the sake of themselves. They must study Buddhism only for the sake of…

— Dogen

Realization doesn't destroy the individual any more than the reflection of the moon breaks a drop of water. A drop of water…

— Dogen