11 Zen Sayings To Help You Meditate

What can you learn from Zen Buddhism? Can it help your meditation?

I've said the techniques on this site are not religious. But traditions like Zen will still be useful to you....

Have you seen Zen quotes or stories before? They're usually short. To the point. Sometimes a kind of riddle - or Koan.

Some of these Zen Koans and sayings will help your meditation practice.

Why?

You can't fully understand a Koan with your logical mind. But you might....with intuition. When you relax and let things happen naturally.

Then you can experience a shift in your perpective. A different way of looking at things. So you're mind is more open. And you worry less about day to day problems.

Have a look at this Koan. It's a famous meditation quote by Hakuin Ekaku.

"Two hands clap and there is no sound; what is the sound of one hand?"

Doesn't make any sense?

Remember it's not supposed to! At least to your logical mind... Here are 9 more Zen sayings from Shunryu Suzuki. The Japanese monk who first brought Zen to America.

Have a read of a few. Then why not try one of the easy meditation techniques ........ Maybe the Koan will open up to you during your meditation.

And let me know how you get on....

Zen Sayings on Your Mind

• "In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few."

• "You should rather be grateful for the weeds you have in your mind, because eventually they will enrich your practice."

• "Big Mind is something to express, not something to figure out. Big mind is something you have, not something to seek for."

• "Before the rain stops we can hear a bird. Even under the heavy snow we can see snowdrops and some new growth."

Zen Sayings on Your Practice

• "If you continue this simple practice every day you will obtain some wonderful power. Before you attain it, it is something wonderful, but after you attain it, it is nothing special."

• "When you do something you should burn yourself completely, like a good bonfire, leaving no trace of yourself."

Zen Sayings on Daily Life

• "Without any intentional fancy way of adjusting yourself, to express yourself as you are, is the most important thing."

• "We should find perfect existence through imperfect existence."

• "When you do something, if you fix your mind on an activity with some confidence. The quality of your state of mind is the activity itself. When you are concentrated on the quality of your being, you are prepared for the activity."

• "Moment after moment, everyone comes out from nothingness. This is the true joy of life."

Zen Sayings on Choice

• "To give your sheep or cow a large spacious meadow is the way to control him."

All quotes from Shunryu Suzuki - Zen Mind Beginner's Mind

Enjoy these sayings? The read....

More inspirational quotes on meditation

• Meditation Quotes: Stories and Parables for Meditators.
• Meditation Quotes 12 of The Best
• Best Life Quotes
• Tao Quotes Inspiration for Life
• Tao Quotes The Art of Effortless Effort
• Zen Quotes: Why Don't They Make Sense?
• Buddhism Quotes.: For a Modern World
• Healing Quotes.

Or why not share YOUR Favourite Meditation Quote or story.

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