--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: 13. Universal Life is Universal Spirit…" description: "\"“13. Universal Life is Universal Spirit. These considerations naturally lead us to see that Universal Life is not a blind vital force, but Creative Spi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/kaiten-nukariya-793_creative-spirit_13-universal-life-is-universal-spirit-th_3005416.jpg" --- # 13. Universal Life is Universal Spirit. These… ![“13. Universal Life is Universal Spirit. These considerations naturally lead us to see that Universal Life is not a blind vital force, but Creative Spirit, or Mind, or Consciousness, which unfolds itself in myriads of ways. Everything in the universe, according to Zen, lives and acts, and at the…” quote by Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/kaiten-nukariya-793_creative-spirit_13-universal-life-is-universal-spirit-th_3005416.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/kaiten-nukariya-793_creative-spirit_13-universal-life-is-universal-spirit-th_3005416.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/kaiten-nukariya-793_creative-spirit_13-universal-life-is-universal-spirit-th_3005416.jpg) > ““13. Universal Life is Universal Spirit. These considerations naturally lead us to see that Universal Life is not a blind vital force, but Creative Spirit, or Mind, or Consciousness, which unfolds itself in myriads of ways. Everything in the universe, according to Zen, lives and acts, and at the same time discloses its spirit. To be alive is identically the same as to be spiritual.”” [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. Life is a conscious, creative force; being alive is synonymous with being spiritual. **In simple terms:** Life equals spirit and consciousness. Key Takeaway Cultivate awareness of the spiritual in everyday life. Themes spirituality consciousness creativity Mood calm inspired Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - meditation practice - creative work - daily mindfulness Key Concepts zen philosophy metaphysics Questions to Reflect On - How do you experience spirituality daily? - What practices deepen your sense of consciousness? A Different Perspective Spiritual interpretation can be subjective and culturally specific. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creative spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative-spirit/) [Universal life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universal-life/) ## Related quotes > [“Change as seen by Zen 9. Life and Change 10. Life, Change, and Hope 11. Everything is Living according to Zen 12. The Creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/change-as-seen-by-zen-9-life-and-change-10-life-change-and-hope-11/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [“It is the Universal Spirit awakened in the human mind. It is not the mind that feels joy or sorrow; nor is it the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/it-is-the-universal-spirit-awakened-in-the-human-mind-it-is-not-the/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [Art lifts man from his personal life into the universal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/art-lifts-man-from-his-personal-life-into-the-universal-life/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“the Mahayanist's aim of life is to bring out man's inborn light of Buddha-nature to illumine the world, to realize the universal brotherhood of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/the-mahayanist-s-aim-of-life-is-to-bring-out-man-s-inborn-light-of/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [“Let, then, your heart be so pure that you may not be unworthy of the sunshine beaming upon you the light of Universal Spirit.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/let-then-your-heart-be-so-pure-that-you-may-not-be-unworthy-of-the/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [“Universal Spirit may fitly be likened to the universal water, or water circulating through the whole earth. This universal water exists everywhere. It exists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/universal-spirit-may-fitly-be-likened-to-the-universal-water-or-water/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [“The world is built on the foundation of morality, which is another name for Universal Spirit, and moral order sustains it. We human beings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/the-world-is-built-on-the-foundation-of-morality-which-is-another/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [“When we are Enlightened, or when Universal Spirit awakens within us, we open the inexhaustible store of virtues and excellencies, and can freely make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/when-we-are-enlightened-or-when-universal-spirit-awakens-within-us-we/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [Keep your joyful spirit alive, always..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/keep-your-joyful-spirit-alive-always/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [And though you were my first time, a new feel. It won't ever get old, not in my soul. 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Nature is the Mother of All Things. Furthermore, man has come into existence out of Nature. He is her child. She provided him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/5-nature-is-the-mother-of-all-things-furthermore-man-has-come-into/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [ “Rin-zai also says: "Spirit is formless, but it penetrates through the world in the ten directions."\[FN#149\] The Sixth Patriarch expresses the same idea more… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/rin-zai-also-says-spirit-is-formless-but-it-penetrates-through-the/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [“(O-yo-mei) won a splendid victory over the rebel army which threatened the throne of the Ming dynasty. 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There are also no fewer persons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/there-are-a-good-many-people-always-buoyant-in-spirit-and-mirthful-in/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [ “it is the overcoming of egoism, the destroying of mean desires, the uplifting of the moral ideal, and the disclosing of inborn wisdom. \[FN#12\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/it-is-the-overcoming-of-egoism-the-destroying-of-mean-desires-the/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [ “The fourth stage is called the Rank of Co-operative Merit,\[FN#273\] in which the student 'co-operates' with other persons in order to complete his merit.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/the-fourth-stage-is-called-the-rank-of-co-operative-merit-fn-273-in/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [“It is bare nonsense to say that I go to school, not to be educated as a member of society, but simply to gratify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/it-is-bare-nonsense-to-say-that-i-go-to-school-not-to-be-educated-as/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [“8. The Application of the Law of Causation to Morals. Although it may be needless to state here the law of causation at any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/8-the-application-of-the-law-of-causation-to-morals-although-it-may/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [“Men of longevity never carried troubles to their beds.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/men-of-longevity-never-carried-troubles-to-their-beds/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [ “2. The Errors of Philosophical Pessimists and Religious Optimists. Philosophical pessimists\[FN#214\] maintain that there are on earth many more causes of pain than of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/2-the-errors-of-philosophical-pessimists-and-religious-optimists/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [ “4. Man is neither Good-natured nor Bad-natured according to Su Shih (So-shoku).\[FN#164\] The difficulty may be avoided by a theory given by Su Shih… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/4-man-is-neither-good-natured-nor-bad-natured-according-to-su-shih-so/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [“Over against these generalizations we raise no objection, but there are many cases, in practical life, of doubtful nature. An act of charity, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/over-against-these-generalizations-we-raise-no-objection-but-there/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) [Explore all 367 Kaiten Nukariya quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) ## More Creative spirit quotes > [Art is the distillate of life, the winnowed result of the experience of a people, the record of the joyous adventure of the creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawren-harris/art-is-the-distillate-of-life-the-winnowed-result-of-the-experience/) [Lawren Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawren-harris/) > [It is only by demanding the impossible of the piano that you can obtain from it all that is possible. 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It remains an inspiration for those willing to be progressive according to God’s will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/the-word-has-a-creative-spirit-it-remains-an-inspiration-for-those/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [My painting technique has not changed that much over time, although perhaps I am painting tighter and with more detail, in spite of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ryden/my-painting-technique-has-not-changed-that-much-over-time-although/) [Mark Ryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ryden/) > [“As every so-called creative spirit soon learns, the rest of the world doesn't particularly give a damn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/as-every-so-called-creative-spirit-soon-learns-the-rest-of-the-world/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [When you seek the presence of your creative Spirit and are filled with passion about virtually everything you undertake, you'll successfully remove the roadblocks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/when-you-seek-the-presence-of-your-creative-spirit-and-are-filled/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Deliberately seeking solitude-quality time spent away from family and friends-may seem selfish. 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It drives the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/willed-introversion-in-fact-is-one-of-the-classic-implements-of/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [There is something reassuring about British-made products and their inventiveness and ingenuity, their creative spirit and eccentricity and their British wit and charm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-linley/there-is-something-reassuring-about-british-made-products-and-their/) [David Linley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-linley/) > [When we treat children's play as seriously as it deserves, we are helping them feel the joy that's to be found in the creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/when-we-treat-children-s-play-as-seriously-as-it-deserves-we-are/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [While the hero journeys for external fame, fortune, and power, the heroine tries to regain her lost creative spirit… Once she hears the cries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-estelle-frankel/while-the-hero-journeys-for-external-fame-fortune-and-power-the/) [Valerie Estelle Frankel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-estelle-frankel/) > [At the heart of world time is the momentum of history. 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