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 Purpose

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)
  • The purpose of studying Buddhism is not to study Buddhism, but to study ourselves.
    Shunryu Suzuki
    22
  • The purpose of studying Buddhism is not to study Buddhism, but to study ourselves. That is why we have teaching. But the teaching is not ourselves. It is some explanation of ourselves. To study the teaching is to know yourselves. That is why we do not ever attach to the teaching, or to the teacher. The moment you meet a teacher you should leave the teacher, and you should be independent. You want a teacher so that you can be independent. So you study yourselves. You have the teacher for yourselves, not for the teacher.
    Shunryu Suzuki
    20
  • The true purpose of Zen is to see things as they are, to observe things as they are, and to let everything go as it goes. Zen practice is to open up our small mind.
    Shunryu Suzuki
    5
  • The purpose of our practice is just to be yourself.
    Shunryu Suzuki
    4