--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We do not slight the idea of…" description: "\"We do not slight the idea of enlightenment, but the most important thing is this moment, not some day in the future. We have to make our effort in this..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07c/shunryu-suzuki-1280_buddhism_we-do-not-slight-the-idea-of-enlightenme_1647568.png" --- # We do not slight the idea of enlightenment, but the most… ![“We do not slight the idea of enlightenment, but the most important thing is this moment, not some day in the future. We have to make our effort in this moment. This is the most important thing for our practice.” quote by Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07c/shunryu-suzuki-1280_buddhism_we-do-not-slight-the-idea-of-enlightenme_1647568.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07c/shunryu-suzuki-1280_buddhism_we-do-not-slight-the-idea-of-enlightenme_1647568.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07c/shunryu-suzuki-1280_buddhism_we-do-not-slight-the-idea-of-enlightenme_1647568.png) > “We do not slight the idea of enlightenment, but the most important thing is this moment, not some day in the future. We have to make our effort in this moment. This is the most important thing for our practice.” [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. The speaker emphasizes that enlightenment is not a distant goal but a present‑moment practice requiring immediate effort. **In simple terms:** Focus on now, not future enlightenment. Key Takeaway Practice mindfulness now. Themes mindfulness enlightenment present Mood calm serene Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - meditation - daily chores - stressful situations - personal growth Key Concepts Zen Buddhism spiritual practice impermanence Questions to Reflect On - How can you bring mindfulness into everyday tasks? - What barriers prevent present‑moment focus? A Different Perspective Future expectations can distract from current practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Enlightenment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightenment/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Important things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-things/) [Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [There are some careers that will develop your mind more than others. 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To make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/zen-is-not-some-fancy-special-art-of-living-our-teaching-is-just-to-2/) [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/) > [The enemy of the moment is not as important as our own inner weakness. If this is not mended we are already defeated, though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/the-enemy-of-the-moment-is-not-as-important-as-our-own-inner-weakness/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [It was in a way a comforting idea; if there was all the time in the world, then the happenings of a given moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/it-was-in-a-way-a-comforting-idea-if-there-was-all-the-time-in-the/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“Something in my bones tells me this moment is important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-demetrios/something-in-my-bones-tells-me-this-moment-is-important/) [Heather Demetrios](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-demetrios/) > [No one moment is most important. Any moment can be something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/no-one-moment-is-most-important-any-moment-can-be-something/) [Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/) > [One moment cannot be the most important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-shaw/one-moment-cannot-be-the-most-important/) [Fiona Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-shaw/) > [It's important to stay in this moment right here, the now. This moment is the most important moment of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupaul/it-s-important-to-stay-in-this-moment-right-here-the-now-this-moment/) [RuPaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupaul/) > [“Kaylee, this means something to me.” His hands trailed down my arms to cup my elbows, and his gaze held mine. “With any luck,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/kaylee-this-means-something-to-me-his-hands-trailed-down-my-arms-to/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [Most humans are never fully present in the now, because unconsciously they believe that the next moment must be more important than this one.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/most-humans-are-never-fully-present-in-the-now-because-unconsciously/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Stressful energy arises when you think some future moment is more important than the present moment, and the doing becomes only a means to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/stressful-energy-arises-when-you-think-some-future-moment-is-more/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) ## 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. 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