Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind

"Just continue in your calm, ordinary practice and your character will be built up."

I recently started reading (for the second or third time), Shunryu Suzuki's Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind. It's one of those books that is so rich with little gems, it's impossible to absorb all in one read. I remember struggling with many of the paradoxical stories and statements the first time I read it, trying to underline what struck me as true. I soon realized that no amount of underlining could capture the essence of the book-- it would simply have to be read again and again.

I've included a few of my favorite excerpts from this book below.

On Breathing:
When we become truly ourselves, we just become a swinging door, and we are purly independent of, and at the same time, dependent upon everything. Without air, we cannot breathe. Each one of us is in the midst of myriads of worlds. We are in the center of the world always, moment after moment. So we are completely dependent and independent. If you have this kind of experience, this kind of existence, you have absolute independence; you will not be bothered by anything. So when you practice zazen, your mind should be concentrated on your breathing. This kind of activity is the fundemental activity of the universal being. Without this experience, this practice, it is impossible to attain absolute freedom.

On God Giving:
...And we should forget, day by day, what we have done; this is true non-attachment.

On Studying Ourselves:
The purpose of studying Buddhism is not to study Buddhism, but to study ourselves...To study ourselves is to forget ourselves...When we forget ourselves, we actually are the true activity of the big existance, or reality itself. When we realize this fact there is no problem whatsoever in this world, and we can enjoy our life without feeling any difficulties. The purpose of our practice is to be aware of this fact.