I discovered that it is necessary, absolutely necessary, to believe in nothing. That is, we have to believe in something which has no form and no color, something which exists before all forms and colors appear. That is a very important point. No matter what god or doctrine you believe in, if you become attached to it, your belief will be based more or less on a self-centered idea. You strive for a perfect faith in order to protect yourself.

Shunryu Suzuki
from the book Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
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Further quotes from the book Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind:
- Opening up our small mind
- Your last moment
- The posture itself
- Just to live
- Open to all the possibilities
- The quality of zazen will express itself
- Wisdom seeking wisdom
- Calmness in activity
- Empty and ready mind
- The teaching of transiency
- The awareness that you are here
- Weed
- Nothing outside yourself can cause any trouble
- Do not be bothered by anything
- The weeds you have in your mind
- Little by little
- Beginner’s mind
- Spacious control
- The true bow