When you are practicing Zazen, do not try to stop your thinking. Let it stop by itself. If something comes into your mind, let it come in, and let it go out. It will not stay long. When you try to stop your thinking, it means you are bothered by it. Do not be bothered by anything. It appears as if something comes from outside your mind, but actually it is only the waves of your mind, and if you are not bothered by the waves, gradually they will become calmer and calmer.

Shunryu Suzuki

from the book Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind

source: https://www.lionsroar.com/mind-waves-september-2012/


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Further quotes from the book Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind:

• Open to all the possibilities
• Your last moment
• The posture itself
• The quality of zazen will express itself
• Wisdom seeking wisdom
• Calmness in activity
• Empty and ready mind
• The teaching of transiency
• Opening up our small mind
• The awareness that you are here
• Weed
• Nothing outside yourself can cause any trouble
• Accepting change
• The weeds you have in your mind
• Little by little
• Just to live
• Belief based on a self-centered idea
• Beginner’s mind
• Spacious control