Shunryu Suzuki

Shunryu Suzuki

Zen master and author of Zen Mind.

A Japanese Zen master who was instrumental in bringing Zen Buddhism to the United States. His teachings, encapsulated in his book "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind," emphasize the importance of maintaining a beginner's mind and the practice of zazen (sitting meditation). His approach to Zen practice stresses simplicity, mindfulness, and the direct experience of reality, making Zen teachings accessible and relevant to modern practitioners.

Shunryu Suzuki Quotes about Effort

AllMind(31)Practice(30)Life(17)Zen(17)Moment(16)Zazen(12)Time(12)World(12)Nature(10)Enlightenment(9)Truth(9)Universe(7)Body(7)Effort(6)People(6)Understanding(5)Reality(5)Purpose(4)Future(4)God(4)Meditation(4)Buddhism(4)Food(3)Sun(3)Religion(3)Secret(3)Thoughts(3)Change(3)Confidence(3)Work(3)Past(3)
  • If your practice is good, you may become proud of it. What you do is good, but something more is added to it. Pride is extra. Right effort is to get rid of something extra.
    Shunryu Suzuki
    23
  • Zen is not some fancy, special art of living. Our teaching is just to live, always in reality, in its exact sense. To make our effort, moment after moment, is our way.
    Shunryu Suzuki
    23
  • Everything you do is right, nothing you do is wrong, yet you must still make ceaseless effort.
    Shunryu Suzuki
    10
  • 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
    7
  • If you take pride in your attainment or become discouraged because of your idealistic effort, your practice will confine you by a thick wall.
    Shunryu Suzuki
    6
  • The goal of our life’s effort is to reach the other shore, Nirvana. Prajna paramita, the true wisdom of life, is that in each step of the way, the other shore is actually reached.
    Shunryu Suzuki
    5