--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: 8. Zen is not Nihilistic. Zen judged from…" description: "\"“8. Zen is not Nihilistic. Zen judged from ancient Zen masters' aphorisms may seem, at the first sight, to be idealistic in an extreme form, as they sa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/468/kaiten-nukariya-793_buddhism_8-zen-is-not-nihilistic-zen-judged-from_136031.jpg" --- # 8. Zen is not Nihilistic. Zen judged from ancient Zen… ![“8. Zen is not Nihilistic. Zen judged from ancient Zen masters' aphorisms may seem, at the first sight, to be idealistic in an extreme form, as they say: "Mind is Buddha" or, "Buddha is Mind," or, "There is nothing outside mind,” quote by Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/468/kaiten-nukariya-793_buddhism_8-zen-is-not-nihilistic-zen-judged-from_136031.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/468/kaiten-nukariya-793_buddhism_8-zen-is-not-nihilistic-zen-judged-from_136031.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/468/kaiten-nukariya-793_buddhism_8-zen-is-not-nihilistic-zen-judged-from_136031.jpg) > ““8. Zen is not Nihilistic. Zen judged from ancient Zen masters' aphorisms may seem, at the first sight, to be idealistic in an extreme form, as they say: "Mind is Buddha" or, "Buddha is Mind," or, "There is nothing outside mind,”” [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. Zen is not nihilism; it emphasizes mind as reality, not emptiness. **In simple terms:** Zen sees mind as reality, not void. Key Takeaway Explore the mind‑reality connection. Themes spirituality philosophy mindfulness Mood calm inquisitive Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - meditation practice - philosophical study - creative work Key Concepts non‑duality consciousness Questions to Reflect On - How does mind‑reality affect daily life? - What practices deepen this insight? A Different Perspective Interpretations vary widely. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [First sight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-sight/) [Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [ “Zen\[FN#195\] is neither idealistic nor nihilistic. Zen makes use of the nihilistic idea of Hinayana Buddhism, and calls its students' attention to the change… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/zen-fn-195-is-neither-idealistic-nor-nihilistic-zen-makes-use-of-the/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [“Yang Shan (Kyo-zan) asked Wei Shan (I-san): 'What shall we do when hundreds, thousands, and millions of things beset us all at once?' 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/yang-shan-kyo-zan-asked-wei-shan-i-san-what-shall-we-do-when-hundreds/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [“1. The Method of Instruction Adopted by Zen Masters. Thus far we have described the doctrine of Zen inculcated by both Chinese and Japanese…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/1-the-method-of-instruction-adopted-by-zen-masters-thus-far-we-have/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [“Zen masters enjoyed a long life in spite of their extremely simple mode of living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/zen-masters-enjoyed-a-long-life-in-spite-of-their-extremely-simple/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [“2. The First Step in the Mental Training. Some of the old Zen masters are said to have attained to supreme Enlightenment after the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/2-the-first-step-in-the-mental-training-some-of-the-old-zen-masters/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [As the Japanese Zen masters say, “Don't seek the truth; just drop your opinions”. Drop your theories; don't seek the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/as-the-japanese-zen-masters-say-don-t-seek-the-truth-just-drop-your/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [Children are natural Zen masters; their world is brand new in each and every moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/children-are-natural-zen-masters-their-world-is-brand-new-in-each-and/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [The Zen masters have the right idea-no pain no gain: thwack a silly nebbish and he'll remember it far longer and more indelibly than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/the-zen-masters-have-the-right-idea-no-pain-no-gain-thwack-a-silly/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [“the Zen masters always say that you cannot see your reflection in running water, only in still water.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/the-zen-masters-always-say-that-you-cannot-see-your-reflection-in/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [How many Zen masters does it take to screw in a light bulb? The plum tree in the garden!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/how-many-zen-masters-does-it-take-to-screw-in-a-light-bulb-the-plum/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [“I have lived with several Zen masters — all of them cats. Even ducks have taught me important spiritual lessons. Just watching them is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/i-have-lived-with-several-zen-masters-all-of-them-cats-even-ducks/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [You have to begin to develop a repertory of jokes, multi-plane spiritual jokes, the sort of things the Zen masters tell each other when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-have-to-begin-to-develop-a-repertory-of-jokes-multi-plane/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Zen masters say you cannot see your reflection in running water, only in still water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/zen-masters-say-you-cannot-see-your-reflection-in-running-water-only/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [The samurais were very interested in Zen because they admired the tremendous precision that the Zen Masters had, their lack of fear and pain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-samurais-were-very-interested-in-zen-because-they-admired-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [When I go visit my brother monks in Japan and sit down with other Zen Masters, they look at my crazy clothes and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/when-i-go-visit-my-brother-monks-in-japan-and-sit-down-with-other-zen/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## More by Kaiten Nukariya > [“the new theory of matter has entirely over thrown the old conception of the unchanging atoms, and they are now regarded to be composed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/the-new-theory-of-matter-has-entirely-over-thrown-the-old-conception/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [“5. 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. During that warfare Wang was giving a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/o-yo-mei-won-a-splendid-victory-over-the-rebel-army-which-threatened/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [“in the use of the terms 'good' and 'bad.' Now let us examine how does good differ from bad. A good action ever promotes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/in-the-use-of-the-terms-good-and-bad-now-let-us-examine-how-does-good/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [“Although all sentient beings are endowed with this Enlightened Consciousness, they are not aware of its existence, excepting men who can discover it by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/although-all-sentient-beings-are-endowed-with-this-enlightened/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [“There are a good many people always buoyant in spirit and mirthful in appearance as if born optimists. 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 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. 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. Then you get to watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-think-the-most-miraculous-thing-is-learning-i-get-out-of-the-way/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Exactly. I think the original tantric Buddhists took notice of was some very wise old people who never studied in their youth, but took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-niemczura/exactly-i-think-the-original-tantric-buddhists-took-notice-of-was/) [Joe Niemczura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-niemczura/) > [A human being can only absorb a small amount of the mystical kundalini, you can be exposed again and again to it, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-human-being-can-only-absorb-a-small-amount-of-the-mystical/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [One of the things I regret about not putting in that book or I think it's there but I didn't really elaborate on it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/one-of-the-things-i-regret-about-not-putting-in-that-book-or-i-think/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [My mom and my aunties are really devout Christians. My mom married a Muslim when I was 12, so I got teachings from both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tech-n9ne/my-mom-and-my-aunties-are-really-devout-christians-my-mom-married-a/) [Tech N9ne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tech-n9ne/) > [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 extraction of discrete parts of Chöd teachings from their broader philosophical contexts is symptomatic of how Chöd has been incorporated into and transmitted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-sorensen/the-extraction-of-discrete-parts-of-ch-d-teachings-from-their-broader/) [Michelle Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-sorensen/) > [Buddhism advises you not to implant feelings that you don’t really have or avoid feelings that you do have. 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. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) [Browse all 6,100 Buddhism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“8. Zen is not Nihilistic. Zen judged from ancient Zen masters' aphorisms may seem, at the first sight, to be idealistic in an extreme form, as they say: \"Mind is Buddha\" or, \"Buddha is Mind,\" or, \"There is nothing outside mind,”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kaiten Nukariya" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/8-zen-is-not-nihilistic-zen-judged-from-ancient-zen-masters-aphorisms/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Buddhism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/8-zen-is-not-nihilistic-zen-judged-from-ancient-zen-masters-aphorisms/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/468/kaiten-nukariya-793_buddhism_8-zen-is-not-nihilistic-zen-judged-from_136031.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/468/kaiten-nukariya-793_buddhism_8-zen-is-not-nihilistic-zen-judged-from_136031.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/468/kaiten-nukariya-793_buddhism_8-zen-is-not-nihilistic-zen-judged-from_136031.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“8. Zen is not Nihilistic. Zen judged from ancient Zen masters' aphorisms may seem, at the first sight, to be…” — Kaiten Nukariya", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Kaiten Nukariya", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“8. Zen is not Nihilistic. Zen...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/8-zen-is-not-nihilistic-zen-judged-from-ancient-zen-masters-aphorisms/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/8-zen-is-not-nihilistic-zen-judged-from-ancient-zen-masters-aphorisms/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```