How to Practice · Soto Zen Buddhism · Teachings of Dogen

Dogen Zenji – the vanity of trying to be “here now” – it already is!

Going into the ocean to count the grains of sand is a vain waste of energy; polishing a tile to make a mirror is useless effort. Do you not see–the clouds on the highest mountain gather and disperse of themselves; what “far” or “near” is there? The flowing water at the bottom of the canyon follows the curves and the straits, without “this” or “that.”

from “Eihei Koroku (Universal Book of Eternal Peace) by Zen Master Eihei Dogen (1200-1253), trans. Thomas Cleary

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