--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is perfect? From the Zen mind…" description: "\"What is perfect? From the Zen mind, perfection is not being there.\" — Frederick Lenz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/775/frederick-lenz-8_being-there_what-is-perfect-from-the-zen-mind-perfec_1943059.jpg" --- # What is perfect? From the Zen mind, perfection is not… ![“What is perfect? From the Zen mind, perfection is not being there.” quote by Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/775/frederick-lenz-8_being-there_what-is-perfect-from-the-zen-mind-perfec_1943059.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/775/frederick-lenz-8_being-there_what-is-perfect-from-the-zen-mind-perfec_1943059.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/775/frederick-lenz-8_being-there_what-is-perfect-from-the-zen-mind-perfec_1943059.jpg) > “What is perfect? From the Zen mind, perfection is not being there.” [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Perfection is not a fixed state but the absence of attachment to outcomes, as taught in Zen. **In simple terms:** Perfection is letting go of expectations. Key Takeaway Embrace imperfection and stay present. Themes Zen mindfulness philosophy Mood contemplative calm Type aphilosophical inspirational When to use this quote - Meditation - creative work - personal growth - teaching - counseling Key Concepts Non‑attachment emptiness process Questions to Reflect On - How does letting go change your experience of success? - What does “not being there” mean to you? A Different Perspective Perfection can become a trap if pursued as a goal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [If you have the sense of participation in sports or athletics, of being a player, then you are not really into the Zen mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-have-the-sense-of-participation-in-sports-or-athletics-of/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Surely, enough has been stated to give a starting point from which one may, through experiment and practice, acquire the ability to mix FAITH…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/surely-enough-has-been-stated-to-give-a-starting-point-from-which-one/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The practice of Zen mind is beginner's mind. The innocence of the first inquiry—what am I?—is needed throughout Zen practice. The mind of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/the-practice-of-zen-mind-is-beginner-s-mind-the-innocence-of-the/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [Throwing away Zen mind is correct Zen mind. Only keep the question, 'What is the best way of helping other people?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seungsahn/throwing-away-zen-mind-is-correct-zen-mind-only-keep-the-question/) [Seungsahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seungsahn/) > [Zen is mind-less activity, that is, Mind-ful activity, and it may often be advisable to emphasize the mind, and say, Take care of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reginald-horace-blyth/zen-is-mind-less-activity-that-is-mind-ful-activity-and-it-may-often/) [Reginald Horace Blyth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reginald-horace-blyth/) > [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/) > [Anything by D. H. Lawrence or Jean Genet - 'Zen Mind,' 'Beginner's Mind' is my daily go to for non-fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-j-smith/anything-by-d-h-lawrence-or-jean-genet-zen-mind-beginner-s-mind-is-my/) [Brian J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-j-smith/) > [If you go to a lower crossover point, a negative place of power, then the beings there are very unevolved, very demonic, crazy, lower…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-go-to-a-lower-crossover-point-a-negative-place-of-power-then/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [You can hit a home run. If you are honest, you'll know when it's perfect because at that critical moment of connection, there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-can-hit-a-home-run-if-you-are-honest-you-ll-know-when-it-s/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [When you understand dharma, when you see its perfect perfection, shining both in and beyond all things, you will be freed from all misunderstandings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/when-you-understand-dharma-when-you-see-its-perfect-perfection/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Ego is impurity. Be selfless. Consecrate and dedicate your life to perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/ego-is-impurity-be-selfless-consecrate-and-dedicate-your-life-to/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [People who work to bring about perfection see work as an extension of themselves. The point is to do a good job. That will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/people-who-work-to-bring-about-perfection-see-work-as-an-extension-of/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [With the empowerment of an advanced Teacher, and your own best efforts, you will be able to explore the mysteries of knowledge that lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/with-the-empowerment-of-an-advanced-teacher-and-your-own-best-efforts/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Physical perfection, working out, adds to your spiritual perfection if that is your intent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/physical-perfection-working-out-adds-to-your-spiritual-perfection-if/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [When you love, you should always watch the quality of your love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/when-you-love-you-should-always-watch-the-quality-of-your-love/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## More by Frederick Lenz > [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/) > [You can draw power from everything in your life. In order to do that, everything has to be set up in a proper way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-can-draw-power-from-everything-in-your-life-in-order-to-do-that/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Everyone will admire you when you do well. What a horrible thing to do to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everyone-will-admire-you-when-you-do-well-what-a-horrible-thing-to-do/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Nirvana is a word that means enlightenment, being beyond the illusion of birth and death, the illusion of pain, the illusion of love, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/nirvana-is-a-word-that-means-enlightenment-being-beyond-the-illusion/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I think the most miraculous thing is learning. I get out of the way and let the students learn. 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Only alone can you feel the transcendental light. It is not a shared experience because if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/only-alone-can-you-go-into-eternity-only-alone-can-you-feel-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The sound man, immune as to a sacrifice of straw dogs, faces the passing human generations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-sound-man-immune-as-to-a-sacrifice-of-straw-dogs-faces-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Karma means changing planes of reality or changing fields of attention. There will be perhaps a resulting physical action stemming from the change of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/karma-means-changing-planes-of-reality-or-changing-fields-of/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [You and I are both life. There's just the experience of every moment. We like to call them moments. There isn't really such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-and-i-are-both-life-there-s-just-the-experience-of-every-moment/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Why waste your time being around people who drag you down? You don't live forever, at least in this life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/why-waste-your-time-being-around-people-who-drag-you-down-you-don-t/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Everybody here is so caught up in the game of life they don't see death. They don't see beyond their deaths. They are on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everybody-here-is-so-caught-up-in-the-game-of-life-they-don-t-see/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) [Explore all 4,399 Frederick Lenz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## More Being there quotes > [A friend gives hope when your life is low, a friend is place wen you have no place to go, a friend is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-friend-gives-hope-when-your-life-is-low-a-friend-is-place-wen-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Dear God, thanks for being there when no one else was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myah/dear-god-thanks-for-being-there-when-no-one-else-was/) [Myah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myah/) > [Hillary Clinton was in rural America during the Iowa caucuses, but I think the nature of a campaign makes it more difficult once you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-vilsack/hillary-clinton-was-in-rural-america-during-the-iowa-caucuses-but-i/) [Tom Vilsack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-vilsack/) > [So long as the priest, that professional negator, slanderer and poisoner of life, is regarded as a superior type of human being, there cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/so-long-as-the-priest-that-professional-negator-slanderer-and/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Love your mom no matter what you go through and no matter how much you argue because in the end,she'll always be there for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/my-favorite-qoutes/love-your-mom-no-matter-what-you-go-through-and-no-matter-how-much/) My Favorite Qoutes > [I don't mind being there for you. I just mind being the one you run to just because everyone else is busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-mind-being-there-for-you-i-just-mind-being-the-one-you-run-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being there for people but no one being there for you when you need them seems to be the story of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-there-for-people-but-no-one-being-there-for-you-when-you-need/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being there is what matters, not all the stress and issues that arise along the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-there-is-what-matters-not-all-the-stress-and-issues-that-arise/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Once you're imagining being the main character, and you're having the conversations and actually being there, the magic in fiction writing takes over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hobbs/once-you-re-imagining-being-the-main-character-and-you-re-having-the/) [Will Hobbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hobbs/) > [There's a fine line between being there for someone & kissing their ass looking stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-a-fine-line-between-being-there-for-someone-kissing-their-ass/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No matter the distance,i'll always be there for you and you will for me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-matter-the-distance-i-ll-always-be-there-for-you-and-you-will-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Pushing me away so I can give her space. Dealing with a heart I didn't break. I'll be there for you, I will care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/pushing-me-away-so-i-can-give-her-space-dealing-with-a-heart-i-didn-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In general, I always make it my mission to focus on the one person in the audience who seems to be absolutely miserable about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davy-rothbart/in-general-i-always-make-it-my-mission-to-focus-on-the-one-person-in/) [Davy Rothbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davy-rothbart/) > [The problem that we have is the President himself- a President who prides himself on his own weakness and incompetence and whose love of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/femi-fani-kayode/the-problem-that-we-have-is-the-president-himself-a-president-who/) Femi Fani-Kayode > [There is no greater feeling than being with someone who wants you as much as you want them, to love and to be loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/there-is-no-greater-feeling-than-being-with-someone-who-wants-you-as/) [Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/) Browse all 633 Being there quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What is perfect? 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