--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have two eyes to see two sides of…" description: "\"We have two eyes to see two sides of things, but there must be a third eye which will see everything at the same time and yet not see anything. That is..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72a/d-t-suzuki-8748_eye_we-have-two-eyes-to-see-two-sides-of-thi_2200122.jpg" --- # We have two eyes to see two sides of things, but there… ![“We have two eyes to see two sides of things, but there must be a third eye which will see everything at the same time and yet not see anything. That is to understand Zen.” quote by D.T. Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72a/d-t-suzuki-8748_eye_we-have-two-eyes-to-see-two-sides-of-thi_2200122.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72a/d-t-suzuki-8748_eye_we-have-two-eyes-to-see-two-sides-of-thi_2200122.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72a/d-t-suzuki-8748_eye_we-have-two-eyes-to-see-two-sides-of-thi_2200122.jpg) > “We have two eyes to see two sides of things, but there must be a third eye which will see everything at the same time and yet not see anything. That is to understand Zen.” [D.T. Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-t-suzuki/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Zen requires a perspective beyond ordinary dualistic sight, a unified awareness. **In simple terms:** Zen seeks a non‑dual, all‑seeing awareness. Key Takeaway Cultivate a mind that perceives without attachment. Themes spirituality philosophy mindfulness Mood contemplative enigmatic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - meditation - conflict resolution - creative problem solving - artistic insight Key Concepts non‑duality perception Zen Buddhism Questions to Reflect On - How can you experience non‑dual awareness? - What blocks your perception of unity? A Different Perspective Achieving such awareness is abstract and hard to practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes/) [Third eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/third-eye/) [Two sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-sides/) ## Related quotes > [Stain my eyes as I may, on all sides all is black.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-hunt-jackson/stain-my-eyes-as-i-may-on-all-sides-all-is-black/) [Helen Hunt Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-hunt-jackson/) > [Never a tear bedims the eye that time and patience will not dry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/never-a-tear-bedims-the-eye-that-time-and-patience-will-not-dry/) [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) > [Camera and eye are together a time machine with which the mind and human being can do the same kind of violence to time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/camera-and-eye-are-together-a-time-machine-with-which-the-mind-and/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [That's a waste of time. If you really understand Zen... you can use any book. You could use the Bible. You could use Alice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/that-s-a-waste-of-time-if-you-really-understand-zen-you-can-use-any/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [“Honestly.I don't understand Zen.It seems if you don't answer properly,or if you are rude,people get enlightened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-pinto/honestly-i-don-t-understand-zen-it-seems-if-you-don-t-answer-properly/) [Jerry Pinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-pinto/) > [If you are thinking, you can't understand Zen. Anything that can be written in a book, anything that can be said - all this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seungsahn/if-you-are-thinking-you-can-t-understand-zen-anything-that-can-be/) [Seungsahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seungsahn/) > [You cannot focus on things that are so far in the future when you've got things that you can't take your eye off now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-farrell/you-cannot-focus-on-things-that-are-so-far-in-the-future-when-you-ve/) [Owen Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-farrell/) > [“The stranger’s way of looking at things, the eye of a man who does not recognize , who is beyond this world, the eye…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-valery/the-stranger-s-way-of-looking-at-things-the-eye-of-a-man-who-does-not/) [Paul Valéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-valery/) > [What is Zen? Zen is looking at things with the eye of God, that is, becoming the thing's eyes so that it looks at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reginald-horace-blyth/what-is-zen-zen-is-looking-at-things-with-the-eye-of-god-that-is/) [Reginald Horace Blyth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reginald-horace-blyth/) > [In Paradise there are things which no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human mind has thought of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad/in-paradise-there-are-things-which-no-eye-has-seen-no-ear-has-heard/) [Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad/) > [The bad things you can see with one eye closed. But keep both eyes wide open for the little things. Little things mark the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-braude/the-bad-things-you-can-see-with-one-eye-closed-but-keep-both-eyes/) [Jacob Braude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-braude/) > [Because of this the representation I'm interested in is of those things only the eye can touch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-noland/because-of-this-the-representation-i-m-interested-in-is-of-those/) [Kenneth Noland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-noland/) > [Realism and superrealism are what I'm after. This world is full of things the eye doesn't see. The camera can see more, and often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andreas-feininger/realism-and-superrealism-are-what-i-m-after-this-world-is-full-of/) [Andreas Feininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andreas-feininger/) > [“Everything we perceive to be solid and static is made up of almost entirely empty space.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/everything-we-perceive-to-be-solid-and-static-is-made-up-of-almost/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [Many people meditate in order that a third eye may open. For that they feel they should close their two physical eyes. They thereby…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/many-people-meditate-in-order-that-a-third-eye-may-open-for-that-they/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) ## More by D.T. Suzuki > [The worst passion we mortals cherish is the desire to possess. Even when we know that our final destination is a hole not more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-t-suzuki/the-worst-passion-we-mortals-cherish-is-the-desire-to-possess-even/) [D.T. Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-t-suzuki/) > [Copying is slavery. The letter must never be followed, only the spirit is to be grasped. Higher affirmations live in the spirit. And where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-t-suzuki/copying-is-slavery-the-letter-must-never-be-followed-only-the-spirit/) [D.T. Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-t-suzuki/) > [Zen, in its essence is the art of seeing into the nature of one's own being, and it points the way from bondage to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-t-suzuki/zen-in-its-essence-is-the-art-of-seeing-into-the-nature-of-one-s-own/) [D.T. Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-t-suzuki/) > [The mistake consists in our splitting into two what is really and absolutely one. Is not life one as we live it, which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-t-suzuki/the-mistake-consists-in-our-splitting-into-two-what-is-really-and/) [D.T. Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-t-suzuki/) > [Until we recognize the SELF that exists apart from who we think we are - we cannot know the Ch'an ( ZEN ) MIND](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-t-suzuki/until-we-recognize-the-self-that-exists-apart-from-who-we-think-we/) [D.T. Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-t-suzuki/) > [Facts of experience are valued in Zen more than representations, symbols, and concepts-that is to say, substance is everything in Zen and form nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-t-suzuki/facts-of-experience-are-valued-in-zen-more-than-representations/) [D.T. Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-t-suzuki/) > [The claim of the Zen followers that they are transmitting the essence of Buddhism is based on their belief that Zen takes hold of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-t-suzuki/the-claim-of-the-zen-followers-that-they-are-transmitting-the-essence/) [D.T. Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-t-suzuki/) > [When we start to feel anxious or depressed, instead of asking, "What do I need to get to be happy?" The question becomes, "What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-t-suzuki/when-we-start-to-feel-anxious-or-depressed-instead-of-asking-what-do/) [D.T. Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-t-suzuki/) > [Zen abhors repetition or imitation of any kind, for it kills. For the same reason Zen never explains, but only affirms. Life is fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-t-suzuki/zen-abhors-repetition-or-imitation-of-any-kind-for-it-kills-for-the/) [D.T. Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-t-suzuki/) > [To point at the moon a finger is needed, but woe to those who take the finger for the moon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-t-suzuki/to-point-at-the-moon-a-finger-is-needed-but-woe-to-those-who-take-the/) [D.T. Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-t-suzuki/) > [One has not understood until one has forgotten it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-t-suzuki/one-has-not-understood-until-one-has-forgotten-it/) [D.T. Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-t-suzuki/) > [That's why I love philosophy: no one wins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-t-suzuki/that-s-why-i-love-philosophy-no-one-wins/) [D.T. Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-t-suzuki/) > [Zen opens a man's eyes to the greatest mystery as it is daily and hourly performed; it enlarges the heart to embrace eternity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-t-suzuki/zen-opens-a-man-s-eyes-to-the-greatest-mystery-as-it-is-daily-and/) [D.T. Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-t-suzuki/) > [“Modern life seems to recede further and further away from nature, and closely connected with this fact we seem to be losing the feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-t-suzuki/modern-life-seems-to-recede-further-and-further-away-from-nature-and/) [D.T. Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-t-suzuki/) > [Zen Makes use, to a great extent, of poetical expressions; Zen is wedded to poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-t-suzuki/zen-makes-use-to-a-great-extent-of-poetical-expressions-zen-is-wedded/) [D.T. Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-t-suzuki/) [Explore all 78 D.T. Suzuki quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-t-suzuki/) ## More Eye quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [“He blinked. His eyes fell as he processed her response. Then he lifted his chin and attempted a grin that was almost painfully dejected.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/he-blinked-his-eyes-fell-as-he-processed-her-response-then-he-lifted/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [How could anybody confuse truth with beauty, I thought as I looked at him. Truth came with sunken eyes, bony or scarred, decayed. Its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/how-could-anybody-confuse-truth-with-beauty-i-thought-as-i-looked-at/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [Quotations can be valuable, like raisins in the rice pudding, for adding iron as well as eye appeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peg-bracken/quotations-can-be-valuable-like-raisins-in-the-rice-pudding-for/) [Peg Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peg-bracken/) > [Clearly, when we baptize, our eyes should gaze beyond the baptismal font to the holy temple. The great garner into which the sheaves should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/clearly-when-we-baptize-our-eyes-should-gaze-beyond-the-baptismal/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [At the end of night, before you close your eyes, be content with what you've done and be proud of who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-almond/at-the-end-of-night-before-you-close-your-eyes-be-content-with-what/) [Steve Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-almond/) > [Be neither too early in the fashion, nor too long out of it, nor too precisely in it; what custom hath civilized is become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/be-neither-too-early-in-the-fashion-nor-too-long-out-of-it-nor-too/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [It lies around us like a cloud- A world we do not see; Yet the sweet closing of an eye May bring us there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/it-lies-around-us-like-a-cloud-a-world-we-do-not-see-yet-the-sweet/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [She'd read once that if you ran into a bear in the woods you should avoid eye contact and you shouldn't run away, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-ursu/she-d-read-once-that-if-you-ran-into-a-bear-in-the-woods-you-should/) [Anne Ursu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-ursu/) > [Liesel observed the strangeness of her foster father's eyes. They were made of kindness, and silver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/liesel-observed-the-strangeness-of-her-foster-father-s-eyes-they-were/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) Browse all 16,237 Eye quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We have two eyes to see two sides of things, but there must be a third eye which will see everything at the same time and yet not see anything. That is to understand Zen.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "D.T. 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