Zen Quotes

Some people became enlightened when hearing or reading certain Zen quotes. Although this is quite rare, reading some inspirational texts will be helpful on your Zen path.

Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others.
Buddha

However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them? Buddha
Buddha

Health for both mind and body comes from not mourning over the past, not worrying about the future, but to live the present moment wisely.

If you’re not a rat, you don’t have to race.

You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger. Buddha
Buddha

I do not believe in a fate that falls on men however they act; but I do believe in a fate that falls on men because of how they act.
Buddha

“Mind your thoughts, as they become your words. Mind your words, as they become your actions. Mind your actions, as they become you.”
Buddha

You yourself must strive. The Buddhas only point the way.
Those meditative ones who tread the path are released from the bonds of Mara.

“All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.
Buddha

Relax, Nothing is under control.

The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows.
Buddha

Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.
Buddha

No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.
Buddha

Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering
Yoda

Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faith the best relationship.
Buddha

Trust in our truth. Faith in ourselves.
And a little bit of surrender.

It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles.
Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you.
Buddha

There are only two ways to live your life.
One is as if nothing is a miracle.
The other is as if everything is a miracle.
Albert Einstein

In a controversy the instant we feel anger we have already ceased striving for the truth, and have begun striving for ourselves.
Buddha

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.
Buddha

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
Eleanor Roosevelt

Recognize the ego for what it is: a collective dysfunction, the insanity of the human mind.
Eckhart Tolle

The problem with winning the rat race is: you’re still a rat.
Lily Tomlin

A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep.
Saul Bellow

Zen is not an art, it’s not a religion. It’s a realisation.
Gene Clark

Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass…
It’s about learning how to dance in the rain.
Vivian Greene

It’s not life.
It is living.

Zen teaches that if we can open up to the inevitability of our demise, we can begin to transform and lighten up about it.
Allen Klein

Zen does not confuse spirituality with thinking about God while peeling potatoes.
Zen spirituality is just to peel the potatoes.
Alan Watts