Dogen Practice Quotations

Cease from practice based on intellectual understanding, pursuing words, and following after speech.

Do not practice buddha-dharma with the thought that it is to benefit others.

Know that the true dharma emerges of itself [during the practice of zazen], clearing away hindrances and distractions.

There is no beginning to practice nor end to enlightenment; There is no beginning to enlightenment nor end to practice.

In the assemblies of the enlightened ones there have been many cases of mastering the Way bringing forth the heart of plants and trees; this is what awakening the mind for enlightenment is like. The fifth patriarch of Zen was once a pine-planting wayfarer; Rinzai worked on planting cedars and pines on Mount Obaku. . . . Working with plants, trees, fences and walls, if they practice sincerely they will attain enlightenment.

A fish swims in the ocean, and no matter how far it swims there is no end to the water. A bird flies in the sky, and no matter how far it flies there is no end to the air. However the fish and the bird have never left their elements. Thus each of them totally covers its full range, and each of them totally experiences its realm... Know that water is life and air is life. The bird is life and the fish is life. Life must be the bird and life must be the fish... practice, enlightenment and people are like this.

If you want to see things just as they are, then you yourself must practice just as you are.

Practice and enlightenment are not two.

Just practice good, do good for others, without thinking of making yourself known so that you may gain reward. Really bring benefit to others, gaining nothing for yourself. This is the primary requisite for breaking free of attachments to the Self.

I asked, "What are words?" The tenzo said, "One, two, three, four, five." I asked again, "What is practice?" "Nothing in the entire universe is hidden."

Zazen is the ultimate practice. This is indeed the True Self. The Buddhadharma is not to be sought outside of this.

If we look at the world with a deluded body and mind, we will think that our self is permanent. But if we practice correctly and return to our true self, we will realize that nothing is permanent

Working with plants, trees, fences and walls, if they practice sincerely they will attain enlightenment.

You should stop searching for phrases and chasing after words. Take the backward step and turn the light inward. Your body-mind of itself will drop off and your original face will appear. If you want to attain just this, immediately practice just this.

Those who practice know whether realization is attained or not, just as those who drink water know whether it is hot or cold

When you find your place where you are, practice occurs, actualizing the fundamental point.

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

Since it is the practice of enlightenment, that practice has no beginning and since it is enlightenment within the practice, that realization has no end.