Hakuin Ekaku Quotes

Not knowing how near the truth is, we seek it far away.

In singing and dancing is the voice of the Law.

All beings by nature are Buddhas, as ice by nature is water. Apart from water there is no ice; apart from beings, no Buddhas.

Nirvana is right here, before our eyes.

Meditation in the midst of activity is a thousand times superior to meditation in stillness.

What is the sound of one hand?

Should you desire the great tranquility, prepare to sweat.

From the sea of effortlessness, let your great uncaused compassion shine forth.

You know the sound of two hands clapping; tell me, what is the sound of one hand?

At the bottom of great doubt lies great awakening. If you doubt fully, you will awaken fully.

The spirit of meditation is the combating of self-willed thinking-it is a combat against the weight of one's feelings.

At this moment, is there anything lacking? Nirvana is right here now before our eyes. This place is the lotus land. This body now is the Buddha.

If only you could hear
the sound of snow

Contemplation within activity is a million times better than contemplation within stillness.

How bright and transparent the moonlight of wisdom.

Meditation in action is endlessly more important than meditation in stillness.

From the very beginning all beings are Buddha.
Like water and ice,without water no ice,
outside us no Buddhas.

Underlying great doubt there is great satori, where there is thorough questioning there will be thoroughgoing experience of awakening.

If you forget yourself, you become the universe.