Zen: The Art of Simple Living

“those who do not pay attention to their foot- steps cannot know themselves, and cannot know where their life is going.”

“To live freely, we must acquire an unfettered mind.”

“A day without working is a day without eating.”

“When a flower blooms, the butterfly naturally finds it. When trees have blossomed, birds flock to the branches on their own, and when the leaves wither and fall, the birds scatter. Relationships with people aren’t so different.”

“Life requires time and effort. That is to say, when we eliminate time and effort, we eliminate life’s pleasures.”

“Disorder in your mind shows in your feet. It has long been said that you can tell a lot about a household by looking at its entrance hall, especially in Japanese homes, where we remove our shoes upon entering. If the footwear is perfectly lined up, or if it is all ajumble—you can know the state of mind of those who live there by just this one detail.”

“Attempting to define things as good or bad breeds worry and stress.”

“The word Zen derives from the Sanskrit word dhyana, which means ‘quiet contemplation’.”

“Reading while listening to the sounds of birds and the rush of water. This is the way of life that has come to be idealized.Don't think of unpleasant things right before bed. A five minute "bed zazen" before going to sleep.People who do their best to enjoy what is before them have the greatest chance to discover inner peace. Often, whatever it is they are enjoying - the thing before them - has the potential to turn into an opportunity.Stop dismissing whatever it is that you are doing and start living.Seek not what you lack. Be content with the here and now.When you are uncertain, simplicity is the best way to go.Conscientious living begins with early to bed, early to rise. This is the secret to a life of ease and contentment.Don't be bound by a single perspective. There is more than just "the proper way".Possibility springs from confidence.When someone criticizes us, we immediately feel wounded. When something unpleasant happens, we cannot get it out of our head. What can we do to bounce back? One way to strengthen the mind is though cleaning. When we clean, we use both our head and our body.Recognize the luxury of not having things.Desire feeds upon itself and the mind becomes dominated by boundless greed. This is not happiness.The three poisons are greed, anger and ignorance.Be grateful for every day, even the most ordinary. The happiness to be found in the unremarkable.Your mind has the power to decide whether or not you are happy.There is not just one answer. The meaning behind Zen koans.When there are things we want to do, we must do them as if our lives depend on it. Time spent out of character is empty time.”

“Within nothingness there is infinite potential.” It means that human beings are born possessing nothing. Yet within all of us lies infinite potential. For this reason, there is nothing to fear. There is nothing to worry about. This is truth.”

“Do not cling to your belief in what is and always should be. Practice nonattachment”

“Do less, not more”

“There is no need to be troubled by things that have not yet happened. Think only about what is happening right now. Almost all anxieties are intangible. They are the invention of your own”

“The goodness of every day is determined not by what happens or by whom you meet, but by your own mind.”

“If the world is not going the way you want it to, perhaps it is better to change yourself. Then, whatever world you encounter, you can move through it comfortably and with ease.”

“If I were to describe a Zen mind in just a few words, I would say it is about making good use of everything.”

“Try not to be swayed by the values of others, not to be troubled by unnecessary concerns, but to live an infinitely simple life, stripped of wasteful things. That is ‘Zen style’.”

“«En la nada hay un potencial infinito.» Significa que los seres humanos nacen sin tener nada. Y que, sin embargo, en todos nosotros hay un infinito potencial. Por esta razón, no hay nada que temer. No hay nada de qué preocuparse. Es así. Y es verdad.”

“Adopt a sober, steady, continuous routine.”

“In my experience, however, if I focus too much on what the team sees, then it can be difficult to complete the garden as an expression of my own thoughts. Although it may seem counterintuitive, when it comes to coordinating what direction the rocks will face, the fewer people involved, the easier it is to synchronize. And when it’s time to make the final adjustments, it’s best to do it alone. Decisiveness is about having the ability to trust in yourself.”

“The three poisons are greed, anger, and ignorance.”

“We say, ‘Every day is new, and new again tomorrow.”

“A supple mind accepts change and is not attached to the past. Rather than lament change, it finds new beauty and hope in it.”

“Life is full of fortune and misfortune, but cherish being alive, every single day. Life will pass you by.”

“Living simply means, for instance, that the mug you use every day for coffee is a mug that you really like—one that you take good care of and that you use for a long time. Acquire only good things that will truly be needed. A lifestyle of simplicity is the fundamental practice that will hone the mind.”

“Our preferences, our likes and dislikes—everything is a product of our own mind. In Zen Buddhism we say, “When you reach enlightenment, there are no likes or dislikes.” When we can see things for what they are, our predilections disappear.”

“We all want to hide our weaknesses and portray ourselves as more or better than we are.”

“Deshazte de tus apegos. Desmárcate de lo que das por supuesto. Limita tus pertenencias. Vivir con sencillez también es librarte de las cargas físicas y mentales.”

“Keep your desires and anger in check, and strive to understand the nature of things.”

“Stop dismissing what it is that you’re doing, and start living.”