‘If you are free from life and death, you know where you will go.
When the four elements are decomposed, where do you go?’
Zen master Tosotsu
Chan / Seon / Zen
Morning Meditation — True nature: It is on this mountain.
‘True nature: It is on this mountain.
Because of the heavy mist, the exact location is unknown.’
An old Zen master
Morning Meditation —I tell you, my agonised crying.
‘I tell you, my agonised crying is no different at all from my joyful singing.’
Zen master Routan
Morning Meditation —48 years! I’m all done with the ignorant and wise.
‘Forty-eight years!
48 years! I’m all done with the ignorant & wise
I am no hero
My way to Nirvana is serene and peaceful.’
Zen master Tosotsu
Morning Meditation — Our purpose is to be clear about birth and death.
‘Our purpose is to be clear about birth and death and to attain Buddhahood. To be clear we must have recourse to this hua t’ou (koan).’
Master Hsu Yun
Afternoon meditation — We cannot bring back the past.
‘We cannot bring back the past or guarantee the future.’
ManGong
Morning meditation — If only beings would recognise.
‘If only beings would recognise their own true face as that of the Tathagata whom they so eagerly seek.’
Shen Hui
Morning meditation — The ‘flower’ of dharma.
‘Having intuitively grasped the ‘flower’ of dharma we are bound to reap the fruit of awakening.’
Hui Neng
Buddhism now 