--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: 11. Everything is Living according to…" description: "\"“11. Everything is Living according to Zen. Everything alive has a strong innate tendency to preserve itself, to assert itself, to push itself forward,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c4/kaiten-nukariya-793_life_11-everything-is-living-according-to-zen_3028672.jpg" --- # 11. Everything is Living according to Zen. Everything… ![“11. Everything is Living according to Zen. Everything alive has a strong innate tendency to preserve itself, to assert itself, to push itself forward, and to act on its environment, consciously or unconsciously. The innate, strong tendency of the living is an undeveloped, but fundamental, nature…” quote by Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c4/kaiten-nukariya-793_life_11-everything-is-living-according-to-zen_3028672.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c4/kaiten-nukariya-793_life_11-everything-is-living-according-to-zen_3028672.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c4/kaiten-nukariya-793_life_11-everything-is-living-according-to-zen_3028672.jpg) > ““11. Everything is Living according to Zen. Everything alive has a strong innate tendency to preserve itself, to assert itself, to push itself forward, and to act on its environment, consciously or unconsciously. The innate, strong tendency of the living is an undeveloped, but fundamental, nature of Spirit or Mind. It shows itself first in inert matter as impenetrability, or affinity, or mechanical force. Rock has a powerful tendency to preserve itself. And it is hard to crush it. Diamond has a robust tendency to assert itself.”” [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An exposition on the innate drive of all living things to preserve, assert, and advance, linking physical matter to spiritual or mental forces. **In simple terms:** All life strives to survive and grow. Key Takeaway Recognize the universal drive to persist. Themes survival assertion growth Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - education - personal development - environmental stewardship Key Concepts philosophy biology spirituality Questions to Reflect On - How does this drive manifest in you? - What limits does it face? 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