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To start from the self and try to understand all things is delusion. To let the self be awakened by all things is enlightenment.

Dogen

There is no beginning to practice nor end to enlightenment; There is no beginning to enlightenment nor end to practice.
DOGEN

Beginning End Enlightenment No Practice
When one first seeks the truth, one separates oneself from it.
DOGEN

First Oneself Path Seek Separate Truth
You should stop searching for phrases and chasing after words. Take the backward step and turn the light inward. Your body-mind of itself will drop off and your original face will appear. If you want to attain just this, immediately practice just this.
DOGEN

Chase Light Mind Phrase Practice Stop Word
We must always be disturbed by the truth.
DOGEN

Always Disturbed Must Truth
Emptiness is bound to bloom, like hundreds of grasses blossoming.
DOGEN

Blossom Bound Emptiness Grass
Forgetting oneself is opening oneself
DOGEN

Forget Oneself Opening Yourself
Be moderate in eating and drinking. Mindful of the passing of time, engage yourself in zazen as though saving your head from fire.
DOGEN

Eat Engage Fire Head Moderate Pass People Save Saving
If you want to travel the Way of Buddhas and Zen masters, then expect nothing, seek nothing, and grasp nothing.
DOGEN

Buddha Expect Nothing Grasp Want Way
One must be deeply aware of the impermanence of the world.
DOGEN

Aware Deeply Impermanence World
Students, when you want to say something, think about it three times before you say it. Speak only if your words will benefit yourselves and others. Do not speak if it brings no benefit.
DOGEN

Before Responsibility Say Student Thinking Three Time Want
Just as parents care for their children, you should bear in mind the whole universe.
DOGEN

Bear Children Mind Parents Universe Whole
When you walk in the mist, you get wet.
DOGEN

Get Mist Walk Wet
Practice and enlightenment are not two.
DOGEN

Enlightenment Happen Practice Two
What you think in your own mind to be good, or what people of the world think is good, is not necessarily good.
DOGEN

Good Mind Necessary People Thinking
IF YOU WOULD BE FREE OF GREED, FIRST YOU HAVE TO LEAVE EGOTISM BEHIND. THE BEST MENTAL EXERCISE FOR RELINQUISHING EGOTISM IS CONTEMPLATING IMPERMANENCE.
DOGEN

Behind Egotism Excercise Exercise First Free Greed Relinquish
That you carry yourself forward and experience the myriad things is delusion. That the myriad things come forward and experience themselves is awakening
DOGEN

Awakening Carry Delusion Forward Thing Yourself

To start from the self and try to understand all things is delusion. To let the self be awakened by all things is enlightenment.

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To start from the self and try to understand all things is delusion. To let the self be awakened by all things is enlightenment.

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Popular Authors

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