Body Quote by Shunryu Suzuki
“You should not have any remains after you do something. But this does not mean to forget all about it. In order not to leave any traces, when you do something, you should do it with your whole body and mind; you should be concentrated on what you do. You should do it completely, like a good bonfire. You should not be a smoky fire. You should burn yourself completely. If you do not burn yourself completely, a trace of yourself will be left in what you do.”
About This Quote
Source Teaching: Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki, 1970
Advocates total immersion in actions to leave no lingering impact, akin to a fully consumed fire.
In simple terms: Give your whole self to each task.
Key Takeaway
Commit fully, avoid half‑measures.
Themes
mindfulness
presence
integrity
Mood
calm
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- meditation
- creative work
- personal projects
- skill learning
Key Concepts
Zen
concentration
Questions to Reflect On
- What practices help maintain focus without exhaustion?
- How does total presence affect outcomes?
A Different Perspective
Complete immersion may cause burnout if not balanced.
![“I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests with ZERO-G [a charter-flight service in Arlington, Va., that uses modified Boeing 727s to simulate weightlessness], which went great.” quote by Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aa1/richard-branson-256_adventure_i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-repl_903.jpg)
