Dogen Firsts Quotations

If you want to do a certain thing, you first have to be a certain person. Once you become that certain person, you will not care anymore about doing that certain thing.

IF YOU WOULD BE FREE OF GREED, FIRST YOU HAVE TO LEAVE EGOTISM BEHIND. THE BEST MENTAL EXERCISE FOR RELINQUISHING EGOTISM IS CONTEMPLATING IMPERMANENCE.

When other sects speak well of Zen, the first thing that they praise is its poverty.

The recognition of the coming and going of things is a first step in training and practice.

When one first seeks the truth, one separates oneself from it.