Body Quote by Dogen
“Students of the Way must not study Buddhism for the sake of themselves. They must study Buddhism only for the sake of Buddhism. The key to this is to renounce both body and mind without holding anything back and to offer them to the great sea of Buddhism.”
About This Quote
Source Text: Shōbōgenzō, “Buddhist Practice” section, 13th century
True devotion to Buddhism requires selfless practice, renouncing personal gain and offering oneself wholly to the Dharma.
In simple terms: Practice Buddhism selflessly, not for personal benefit.
Key Takeaway
Renounce ego, serve the Dharma.
Themes
selflessness
renunciation
spiritual practice
Mood
reflective
serene
Type
philosophical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- monastic life
- teaching
- ritual
- personal meditation
Key Concepts
Buddhist philosophy
emptiness
non-self
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you serve a practice without personal gain?
- What does “offering to the great sea” mean to you?
A Different Perspective
Self‑interest can undermine sincerity.
![“I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests with ZERO-G [a charter-flight service in Arlington, Va., that uses modified Boeing 727s to simulate weightlessness], which went great.” quote by Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aa1/richard-branson-256_adventure_i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-repl_903.jpg)
