To find a buddha, all you have to do is see your nature. Your nature is the buddha. And the buddha is the person who’s free, free of plans, free of cares. If you don’t see your nature and run around all day looking somewhere else, you’ll never find a buddha. The truth is, there’s nothing to find. But to reach such an understanding you need a teacher. And you need to struggle to make yourself understand.

Bodhidharma

from the book The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma

translated by Red Pine


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Further quotes from the book The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma:

• The mind neither waxes nor wanes
• The greatest charity
• Don’t focus on it
• Trying to find a Buddha
• True vision