Shunryu Suzuki Quotes

Mature striving is linked to long-range goals. Thus, the process of becoming is largely a matter of organizing transitory impulses into a pattern of striving and interest in which the element of self-awareness plays a large part.

Self-reform is the only kind that works.

The person who is developing freely and naturally arrives at a spiritual equilibrium in which he is master of his actions, just as one who has acquired physical poise can move freely.

Do not let the body be dragged along by mind nor the mind be dragged along by the body

The real purpose of the martial arts must be to purge oneself of petty ambitions and desire, to obtain control of one’s own character.

It is not possible to control the outside of yourself until you have mastered your breathing space. It is not possible to change anything until you understand the substance you wish to change.

Learn to self-conquest, persevere thus for a time, and you will perceive very clearly the advantage which you gain from it.

All reform aims, in some one particular, to let the soul have its way through us; in other words, to engage us to obey.

The first and the best victory is to conquer self.

Love yourself and be awake- Today, tomorrow, always. First establish yourself in the way, Then teach others, And so defeat sorrow. To straighten the crooked You must first do a harder thing- Straighten yourself. You are your only master. Who else? Subdue yourself, And discover your master.

Each man must begin where he stands, must learn how to control the things that are nearest to him.

SPIRITUAL EXERCISES whereby to conquer oneself, and order one's life, without being influenced in one's decision by any inordinate affection.

Buddhism itself is all about empowering yourself, not about getting what you want.

If you think you can temper yourself into manliness by sitting here over your books, it is the very silliest fancy that ever tempted a young man to his ruin. You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself one.

I look at people's lives and you see what's not working in their lives and it usually comes from an undisciplined mind.

Your task is to conquer yourselves, not ships, lands and castles. This battle is the one in which you especially are to 'come off conqueror.' It is fought every day. In fact, it is a continuing process which commenced a long, long time ago.

To compose our character is our duty, not to compose books, and to win, not battles and provinces, but order and tranquility in our conduct. Our great and glorious masterpiece is to live appropriately. All other things, ruling, hoarding, building, are only little appendages and props, at most.

I think a lot of people are drawn to seeing people that want to be better. We see it in ourselves.

The greatest possession is self-possession.

In the end, it's a mental maturity to let your best come out.

He that composes himself is wiser than he that composes a book.

The duty of man is the same in respect to his own nature as in respect to the nature of all other things, namely not to follow it but to amend it.

Our happiness depends on wisdom all the way.

Long-term, we must begin to build our internal strengths. It isn't just skills like computer technology. It's the old-fashioned basics of self-reliance, self-motivation, self-reinforcement, self-discipline, self-command.

The more my work improves or broadens or widens, the more surely I tame myself.