Zen Shin Quotes

A flower does not think of competing to the flower next to it. It just blooms.

A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms.

​“A flower does not think of competing to the flower next to it. It just blooms.” ~Zen Shin

Ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny and all that; and from this mad, blind nothingness comes all the mad, blind nothingnesses of the R’lyehian undertaking – qlipothic kin to the mushin no shin, mind-of-no-mind, of Zen Buddhism.

also mention in the same book that Master Imakita Kosen likewise writes in the fourth chapter of Zenkai Ichiran that the consistent way of a superior man lies nowhere but in saying, “Yes!”7 Master Takuan calls this mind that answers, “Yes!” Immovable Wisdom. I think that this spontaneous response to anything in the affirmative selflessly and with mu-shin (no mind) is “praising the practice of zazen and faithfully following it.

The Sūtras most commonly used in the Zen monastery are (1) The Prajñāpāramitā-hridaya-sūtra, known as Shin-gyō, (2) The Samantamukha-parivarta, known as Kwannon-gyō, which forms a chapter of the Pundarīka Sūtra, and (3) The Vajracchedikā Sūtra or Kongō kyō in Japanese. Of these three, the Shingyō being the simplest is recited almost on all occasions.

Downplaying sociocultural determinations, [D. T.] Suzuki argued that Zen consciousness and Christian consciousness are the same (Suzuki 1949–1953, 2: 304). In fact, he believed that, although a posterior interpretations of the mystical experience may differ, all "mysticisms" are fundamentally the same. Using the notion of mysticism as "the common denominator by virtue of which various traditions may be called religious" (Fader 1976, 184), Suzuki was able to compare Zen monks with Meister Eckhart or Zen passivity with Christian quietism: "Eckhart, Zen, and Shin thus can be grouped together as belonging to the great school of mysticism" (Suzuki 1969, xix). This inclusive comparativism, however, has a hidden agenda—namely to prove that Zen is "mystically" superior to Christianity.

Shin también es similar al término “shoshin”, el cual puede ser traducido como “mente de principiante”, y se refiere precisamente a esta paradoja: cuanto más sabes sobre un tema, más probabilidades hay de que seas consciente de lo mucho que todavía tienes por aprender. “Shoshin” procede de la tradición budista y las artes marciales, y fue popularizado por el monje zen Shunryu Suzuki, en su libro Zen Mind. Begginner’s Mind publicado en 1970. Una frase que puede resumir esta visión es: “La mente del principiante está abierta a muchas posibilidades, pero en la mente del experto, hay muy pocas”.

In Sino-Japanese there is a beautiful expression for buddha’s mind: ji-hi-ki-sha-mu-ryo-shin. Ji means “to love beings just as they are, beyond any desire for them to be any other way.” Hi means “to be concerned for their suffering.” Ki is “to rejoice and feel delight about all beings.” Sha means “wanting to give everything to them.” Mu-ryo means “all of these things beyond all measure.” Shin means “heart” or “mind.” It is the mind of love, concern, joy, and generosity without measure.

There’s a Japanese Zen term called nyushin. Nyu means “soft,” “gentle,” “pliable,” or “meek,” and shin means “mind” or “heart.” Zen master Dogen once asked his teacher, “What is this mind of the bodhisattva?” The teacher said, “It’s this soft and flexible mind.” Dogen asked, “What is this soft mind?” His teacher said, “Soft mind is the willingness to let go of your body and your mind.”1

Christ on the cross was more Christ than Jesus at the table. Luther at war with the Pope was more Luther than he at peace. Nichi-ren[FN#225] laid the foundation of his church when sword and sceptre threatened him with death. Shin-ran[FN#226] and Hen-en[FN#227] established their respective faiths when they were exiled. When they were exiled, they complained not, resented not, regretted not, repented not, lamented not, but contentedly and joyously they met with their inevitable calamity and conquered it. Ho-nen is said to have been still more joyous and contented when be bad suffered from a serious disease, because he had the conviction that his desired end was at hand. [FN#225]