The basic teaching of Buddhism is the teaching of transiency, or change. That everything changes is the basic truth for each existence. No one can deny this truth, and all the teaching of Buddhism is condensed within it. This is the teaching for all of us. Wherever we go this teaching is true. This teaching is also understood as the teaching of selflessness. Because each existence is in constant change, there is no abiding self. In fact, the self-nature of each existence is nothing but change itself, the self-nature of all existence. There is no special, separate self-nature for each existence. This is also called the teaching of Nirvana. When we realize the everlasting truth of “everything changes” and find our composure in it, we find ourselves in Nirvana.
Shunryu Suzuki
from the book Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
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Further quotes from the book Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind:
- Do not be bothered by anything
- The weeds you have in your mind
- Little by little
- Just to live
- Belief based on a self-centered idea
- 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
- Opening up our small mind
- The awareness that you are here
- Weed
- Nothing outside yourself can cause any trouble
- Accepting change
- Beginner’s mind
- Spacious control