--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you want to study Zen, you should…" description: "\"If you want to study Zen, you should forget all your previous ideas and just practice zazen and see what kind of experience you have in your practice. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/shunryu-suzuki-1280_forget_if-you-want-to-study-zen-you-should-forg_2886591.jpg" --- # If you want to study Zen, you should forget all your… ![“If you want to study Zen, you should forget all your previous ideas and just practice zazen and see what kind of experience you have in your practice. That is naturalness.” quote by Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/shunryu-suzuki-1280_forget_if-you-want-to-study-zen-you-should-forg_2886591.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/shunryu-suzuki-1280_forget_if-you-want-to-study-zen-you-should-forg_2886591.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/shunryu-suzuki-1280_forget_if-you-want-to-study-zen-you-should-forg_2886591.jpg) > “If you want to study Zen, you should forget all your previous ideas and just practice zazen and see what kind of experience you have in your practice. That is naturalness.” [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Studying Zen requires letting go of preconceptions and practicing zazen to experience naturalness. **In simple terms:** Drop old ideas, practice zazen. Key Takeaway Cultivate beginner’s mind. Themes mindfulness zen practice naturalness Mood calm inquisitive Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - daily meditation - retreats - stress management Key Concepts meditation spiritual growth philosophical inquiry Questions to Reflect On - What obstacles prevent letting go of preconceptions? - How does zazen transform daily life? A Different Perspective Progress can be slow without discipline. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Practice Naturalness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice-naturalness-4031550/) [Practice Zazen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice-zazen-828377/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Study](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/study/) [Study Zen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/study-zen-661731/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Zazen Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zazen-kind-4031552/) [Zen Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zen-forget-4031551/) ## Related quotes > [“Even when you practice zazen alone, without a teacher, I think you will find some way to tell whether your practice is adequate or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/even-when-you-practice-zazen-alone-without-a-teacher-i-think-you-will/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [So the most difficult thing is always to keep your beginner's mind. There is no need to have a deep understanding of Zen. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/so-the-most-difficult-thing-is-always-to-keep-your-beginner-s-mind/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [The more you practice zazen, the more you will be able to accept something as your own, whatever it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/the-more-you-practice-zazen-the-more-you-will-be-able-to-accept/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [While you are continuing this practice, week after week, year after year, your experience will become deeper and deeper, and your experience will cover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/while-you-are-continuing-this-practice-week-after-week-year-after/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [“Actually we do not have any particular name for our practice; when we practice zazen we just practice it, and whether we find joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/actually-we-do-not-have-any-particular-name-for-our-practice-when-we/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [The mind we have when we practice zazen is the great mind: we don't try to see anything; we stop conceptual thinking; we stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/the-mind-we-have-when-we-practice-zazen-is-the-great-mind-we-don-t/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [“Even though you read much Zen literature, you must read each sentence with a fresh mind. You should not say, “I know what Zen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/even-though-you-read-much-zen-literature-you-must-read-each-sentence/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [“One may practice zazen for twenty, thirty, even fifty years, and go through failures and frustrations, but every defeat and time of despair is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katsuki-sekida/one-may-practice-zazen-for-twenty-thirty-even-fifty-years-and-go/) [Katsuki Sekida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katsuki-sekida/) > [Just like there are different roads that lead to different places, so there are different levels of awareness that lead to different places and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/just-like-there-are-different-roads-that-lead-to-different-places-so/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The study of Zen is the study of energy, power, knowledge and balance. It is the science of energy conservation and control. We use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-study-of-zen-is-the-study-of-energy-power-knowledge-and-balance/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [There is a beautiful flow to the study of Zen. If it is not making you happier, then you are not practicing correctly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-is-a-beautiful-flow-to-the-study-of-zen-if-it-is-not-making-you/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [In the study of Zen you can learn how to strengthen and clarify your finite mind. Your finite mind is like a muscle; when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/in-the-study-of-zen-you-can-learn-how-to-strengthen-and-clarify-your/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The study of Zen is a retraining. It is a series of new ways, not just one way, to learn to use your mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-study-of-zen-is-a-retraining-it-is-a-series-of-new-ways-not-just/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [There are two primary ways of studying Zen. Either an individual will enter into a Zen monastery and study with a Zen master there,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-are-two-primary-ways-of-studying-zen-either-an-individual-will/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [If you were just you, you would be happy. But of course, you don't know who or what you are. So how can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-were-just-you-you-would-be-happy-but-of-course-you-don-t-know/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## More by Shunryu Suzuki > [The point we emphasize is strong confidence in our original nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/the-point-we-emphasize-is-strong-confidence-in-our-original-nature/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [If you continue this simple practice every day, you will obtain some wonderful power. Before you attain it, it is something wonderful, but after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/if-you-continue-this-simple-practice-every-day-you-will-obtain-some/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [You want to eliminate your evil desires in order to reveal your Buddha nature, but where will you throw them away?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/you-want-to-eliminate-your-evil-desires-in-order-to-reveal-your/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [Ego is a social institution with no physical reality. The ego is simply your symbol of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/ego-is-a-social-institution-with-no-physical-reality-the-ego-is/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [“In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities; in the experts mind, there are few.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/in-the-beginner-s-mind-there-are-many-possibilities-in-the-experts/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [The seed has no idea of being some particular plant, but it has its own form and is in perfect harmony with the ground,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/the-seed-has-no-idea-of-being-some-particular-plant-but-it-has-its/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [Whereever you are, you are one with the clouds and one with the sun and the stars you see. You are one with everything.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/whereever-you-are-you-are-one-with-the-clouds-and-one-with-the-sun/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [When we become truly ourselves, we just become a swinging door, and we are purely independent of, and at the same time, dependent upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/when-we-become-truly-ourselves-we-just-become-a-swinging-door-and-we/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [“Zen is not some fancy, special art of living. Our teaching is just to live, always in reality, in its exact sense. To make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/zen-is-not-some-fancy-special-art-of-living-our-teaching-is-just-to/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [So the secret is just to say 'Yes!' and jump off from here. Then there is no problem. It means to be yourself, always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/so-the-secret-is-just-to-say-yes-and-jump-off-from-here-then-there-is/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [Our tendency is to be interested in something that is growing in the garden, not in the bare soil itself. But if you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/our-tendency-is-to-be-interested-in-something-that-is-growing-in-the/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [The world is its own magic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/the-world-is-its-own-magic/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [People say that practicing Zen is difficult, but there is a misunderstanding as to why. It is not difficult because it is hard to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/people-say-that-practicing-zen-is-difficult-but-there-is-a/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [Each one of us must make his own true way, and when we do, that way will express the universal way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/each-one-of-us-must-make-his-own-true-way-and-when-we-do-that-way/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [The purpose of our practice is just to be yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/the-purpose-of-our-practice-is-just-to-be-yourself/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) [Explore all 262 Shunryu Suzuki quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) ## More Forget quotes > [I Never met her,i never talked to her,but in my whole day I am either thinking about her or trying to forget her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subhananda/i-never-met-her-i-never-talked-to-her-but-in-my-whole-day-i-am-either/) [Subhananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subhananda/) > [What people tend to forget is the journey that I had getting to Formula One. There were plenty of years where I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/what-people-tend-to-forget-is-the-journey-that-i-had-getting-to/) [Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/) > [Once upon a time. Ah forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/once-upon-a-time-ah-forget-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [It goes to show you how we in the press so often miss the big stories that are right under our noses. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-goes-to-show-you-how-we-in-the-press-so-often-miss-the-big-stories/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [Your memory is a monster; you forget - it doesn't. It simply files things away. It keeps things for you, or hides things from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/your-memory-is-a-monster-you-forget-it-doesn-t-it-simply-files-things/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Which people take the time to care for their souls, these days? I reckon not many. But...hear this: I think that maybe in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fletcher/which-people-take-the-time-to-care-for-their-souls-these-days-i/) [Susan Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fletcher/) > [The problem with people is they forget that most of the time it's the small things that count.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-niven/the-problem-with-people-is-they-forget-that-most-of-the-time-it-s-the/) [Jennifer Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-niven/) > [Remind a man of what he remembers, and you will make him forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/remind-a-man-of-what-he-remembers-and-you-will-make-him-forget-it/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [“So you try, and try, to move past it and forget about them, but it's like they're stuck in your head -- you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-mcdonald/so-you-try-and-try-to-move-past-it-and-forget-about-them-but-it-s/) [Abby McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-mcdonald/) > [People forget that there is a big difference between coercion and persuasion. The idea that evangelism is coercive is nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/people-forget-that-there-is-a-big-difference-between-coercion-and/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [People are disturbed not by things but by the view they take of them. They may forget what you said, but they will never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/people-are-disturbed-not-by-things-but-by-the-view-they-take-of-them/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [I don't think people will ever forget I was an 'Angel,' anymore than they'll forget Sally Field was 'The Flying Nun.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-ladd/i-don-t-think-people-will-ever-forget-i-was-an-angel-anymore-than/) [Cheryl Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-ladd/) > [If God knows me I will never forget him](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trunxbeats/if-god-knows-me-i-will-never-forget-him/) [Trunxbeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trunxbeats/) > [Our memory is a monster; you forget it - it does not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/our-memory-is-a-monster-you-forget-it-it-does-not/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) [Browse all 11,315 Forget quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you want to study Zen, you should forget all your previous ideas and just practice zazen and see what kind of experience you have in your practice. 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