Top 17 Quotes & Sayings by Seungsahn

Explore popular quotes and sayings by a Korean correspondent Seungsahn.

Last updated on December 23, 2024.

Seungsahn Haengwon, born Duk-In Lee, was a Korean Seon master of the Jogye Order and founder of the international Kwan Um School of Zen. He was the seventy-eighth Patriarch in his lineage. As one of the early Korean Zen masters to settle in the United States, he opened many temples and practice groups across the globe. He was known for his charismatic style and direct presentation of Zen, which was well tailored for the Western audience.

Korean - Correspondent | August 1, 1927 - November 30, 2004

Source: Wikipedia

In the past, kong-an (koan) practicing meant checking someone's enlightenment. Now we use kong-ans to make our lives correct. . . . You must use kong-ans to take away your opinions. When you take away your opinions, your mind is clear like space, which means from moment to moment you can reflect any situation and respond correctly and meticulously.

Seungsahn

The Great Way has no gate. Clear water has no taste. The tongue has no bone. In complete stillness, a stone girl is dancing.

Seungsahn

The Truth is realized in an instant; the Act is practiced step by step.

Seungsahn

If you throw away all thoughts of attainment, you will then come to see the real purpose of your quest.

Seungsahn

Throwing away Zen mind is correct Zen mind. Only keep the question, 'What is the best way of helping other people?'

Seungsahn

Perceiving your own voice means perceiving your true self or nature. When you and the sound become one, you dont hear the sound; you are the sound.

Seungsahn

If you want something then you lose everything. If you don’t want anything then you already have everything.

Seungsahn

The one who praises you is a thief. The one who criticizes you is your true friend.

Seungsahn

If you want to understand what a watermelon is, you take a watermelon, get a knife, and cut the watermelon. Then you put a slice in your mouth. Boom! YOUR experience!

Seungsahn

Craziness is good. Crazy people are happy, free, they have no hindrance. But since you have many attachment, you are only a little crazy. This is not crazy enough. You must become completely crazy. Then you will understand.

Seungsahn

In original nature There is no this and that. The Great Round Mirror Has no likes or dislikes.

Seungsahn

A long time ago, Descartes sad, “I think, therefore I am.” But if you are not thinking, what?

Seungsahn

Clear mind is like the full moon in the sky. Sometimes clouds come and cover it, but the moon is always behind them. Clouds go away, then the moon shines brightly. So don't worry about clear mind: it is always there. When thinking comes, behind it is clear mind. When thinking goes, there is only clear mind. Thinking comes and goes, comes and goes, You must not be attached to the coming or the going.

Seungsahn

Just keep clear mind, go straight ahead, try, try, try for ten thousand years.

Seungsahn

If you are thinking, you can't understand Zen. Anything that can be written in a book, anything that can be said - all this is thinking . . . but if you read with a mind that has cut off all thinking, then Zen books, sutras and Bibles are all the truth. So is the barking of a dog or the crowing of a rooster. All things are teaching you at every moment, and these sounds are even better teaching than Zen books.

Seungsahn

Taoist chanting, Confucian chanting, Christian chanting, Buddhist chanting don't matter. Chanting Coca Cola, Coca Cola, Coca Cola … can be just as good if you keep a clear mind. But if you don't keep a clear mind, and are only following your thinking as you mouth the words, even the Buddha cannot help you.

Seungsahn

Zen is very easy! It's like touching your nose when you wash your face in the morning!

Seungsahn

Top 17 Quotes & Sayings by Seungsahn

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