Back doors Quote by Shunryu Suzuki
“Leave your front door and your back door open. Allow your thoughts to come and go. Just don't serve them tea.”
About This Quote
Source Teaching: Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, 1970
Allow thoughts to pass without attachment, like open doors, but don’t entertain them.
In simple terms: Let thoughts flow, don’t feed them.
Key Takeaway
Practice mindful observation without engagement.
Themes
mindfulness
impermanence
mental freedom
Mood
calm
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- meditation
- stress relief
- creative thinking
Key Concepts
Zen
non‑attachment
thought observation
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you notice thoughts without reacting?
- What practices help you let go?
A Different Perspective
Thoughts can become overwhelming if nurtured.
![“I don't know if I call myself a poet or not. I would like to, but I'm not really qualified to make that decision, because I come in on such a back door, that I don't know what a Robert Frost or a [John] Keats or a T.S. Eliot would really think of my stuff.” quote by Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ca0/bob-dylan-168_back-doors_i-don-t-know-if-i-call-myself-a-poet-or_400356.jpg)
