--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Zen purposes to discipline the mind…" description: "\"Zen purposes to discipline the mind itself, to make it its own master, through an insight into its proper nature. This getting into the real nature of ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/d-t-suzuki-8748_buddhism_zen-purposes-to-discipline-the-mind-itse_1084991.jpg" --- # Zen purposes to discipline the mind itself, to make it its… ![“Zen purposes to discipline the mind itself, to make it its own master, through an insight into its proper nature. This getting into the real nature of one's own mind or soul is the fundamental object of Zen Buddhism. Zen, therefore, is more than meditation and Dhyana in its ordinary sense. The…” quote by D.T. Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/d-t-suzuki-8748_buddhism_zen-purposes-to-discipline-the-mind-itse_1084991.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/d-t-suzuki-8748_buddhism_zen-purposes-to-discipline-the-mind-itse_1084991.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/d-t-suzuki-8748_buddhism_zen-purposes-to-discipline-the-mind-itse_1084991.jpg) > “Zen purposes to discipline the mind itself, to make it its own master, through an insight into its proper nature. This getting into the real nature of one's own mind or soul is the fundamental object of Zen Buddhism. Zen, therefore, is more than meditation and Dhyana in its ordinary sense. The discipline of Zen consists in opening the mental eye in order to look into the very reason of existence.” [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 trains the mind to become its own master by revealing its true nature, beyond ordinary meditation. **In simple terms:** Zen cultivates self‑mastery through insight into mind’s nature. Key Takeaway Practice observing mind to master it. Themes mindfulness self‑mastery insight spiritual discipline Mood calm focused contemplative Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - meditation practice - stress management - creative problem solving - leadership development Key Concepts Zen Buddhism consciousness studies psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you apply Zen insight to daily decisions? - What does “mental eye” mean for you? 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Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-t-suzuki/) > [I have a bit of a struggle with some aspects of or forms of Buddhism, but Zen I find to be mainly congenial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/i-have-a-bit-of-a-struggle-with-some-aspects-of-or-forms-of-buddhism/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [Nowadays, the practice of yoga stops with just asanas. Very few even attempt dharana and dhyana (deeper meditation) with seriousness. There is a need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tirumalai-krishnamacharya/nowadays-the-practice-of-yoga-stops-with-just-asanas-very-few-even/) [Tirumalai Krishnamacharya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tirumalai-krishnamacharya/) > [There is no governor anywhere. You are all absolutely free. There is no restraint that cannot be escaped. If anybody could go into dhyana…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/there-is-no-governor-anywhere-you-are-all-absolutely-free-there-is-no-2/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [Begin with dhyana, with meditation, and end in samadhi, in ecstasy, and you will know what God is. It is not a hypothesis, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/begin-with-dhyana-with-meditation-and-end-in-samadhi-in-ecstasy-and/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Suzuki's works on Zen Buddhism are among the best contributions to the knowledge of living Buddhism... We cannot be sufficiently grateful to the author,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-t-suzuki/suzuki-s-works-on-zen-buddhism-are-among-the-best-contributions-to/) [D.T. Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-t-suzuki/) > [Prophecy is rash, but it may be that the publication of D.T. Suzuki's first Essays in Zen Buddhism in 1927 will seem to future…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-t-suzuki/prophecy-is-rash-but-it-may-be-that-the-publication-of-d-t-suzuki-s/) [D.T. Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-t-suzuki/) > [“When it came to producing a state of focus, quiet contentment, and inner peace, Zen meditation ran a very distant second to caffeine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hill/when-it-came-to-producing-a-state-of-focus-quiet-contentment-and/) [Joe Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hill/) > [When you are free of form and not confused, you are focused. To be free of form externally is 'Zen.' Not to be confused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-porter/when-you-are-free-of-form-and-not-confused-you-are-focused-to-be-free/) [Bill Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-porter/) > [“in Zen, meditation is key to getting to know and find our true selves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-tuhovsky/in-zen-meditation-is-key-to-getting-to-know-and-find-our-true-selves/) [Ian Tuhovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-tuhovsky/) > [“It is possible to access secrets of mind reprogramming with effortless methods. However, they are very dangerous to apply, and often, the consequences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/it-is-possible-to-access-secrets-of-mind-reprogramming-with/) [Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/) > [Rigging is like Zen meditation. You must bend over the boat until your back is breaking, until your brain is filled with numbers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-alan-lewis/rigging-is-like-zen-meditation-you-must-bend-over-the-boat-until-your/) [Brad Alan Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-alan-lewis/) > [“Overall, the goal of Zen Meditation is to see things for what they really are. This includes yourself and the world around you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-tuhovsky/overall-the-goal-of-zen-meditation-is-to-see-things-for-what-they/) [Ian Tuhovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-tuhovsky/) > [“Types of Meditation   While there are myriad of meditation techniques out there, there are two basic types of meditation that we are most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonali-perera/types-of-meditation-while-there-are-myriad-of-meditation-techniques/) [Sonali Perera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonali-perera/) ## 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 Buddhism quotes > [There are places that are very draining. There are places where there is another dimensional crossover but to a dimension that is not powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-are-places-that-are-very-draining-there-are-places-where-there/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Enlightenment is lightening up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-myers/enlightenment-is-lightening-up/) [Mike Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-myers/) > [The very best players, when they are practicing, put everything they've got into it. But then they leave it for a while. And it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/the-very-best-players-when-they-are-practicing-put-everything-they-ve/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [Everyone will admire you when you do well. 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If you are miserable you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/buddhism-advises-you-not-to-implant-feelings-that-you-don-t-really/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“That's all there is, enlightenment on the end of a cock. It doesn't get any more Zen than that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaden-wilkes/that-s-all-there-is-enlightenment-on-the-end-of-a-cock-it-doesn-t-get/) [Jaden Wilkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaden-wilkes/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. 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