zen in the art of dressage : zen quotes



  Les Kaye


"Sometimes it is necessary for us to use our will, our intention, and sometimes we should just leave things alone, just be with them and watch them. There is a time to think; a time to talk and a time to remain silent; a time to intervene, and a time to not interfere."

"However, in Zen practice, we don't ignore confusion when it appears; we actually welcome it. When confusion arises in our practice, it means that we have discovered something new. The feeling of confusion is an indication that we are trying to understand something. So welcoming confusion is actually an expression of wisdom."

"If we think, 'I can't do this', we need self-discipline to sit still. Saying, 'I can't do this', is the same as saying, 'I have a limitation and I will not succeed.' But if we have no notion of limitation or success, we don't need self-discipline. Then practice and life are very natural. If our legs hurt and our minds are distracted by the pain, our minds have some idea of limitation. But if our minds are not distracted by our painful or sleeping legs, we are practicing without limitation."



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