image of the moon on the surface of a cup of water

“The longness and shortness of the present moment can be recognized by utilizing a big image of the moon, which is reflecting on the surface of the ocean, and a small image of the moon on the surface of a cup of water, or in another example the very wide scale of the whole sky itself, and the very narrow space of the moon, which is shining in the sky.”

― Dogen Zenji

“Long ago a monk asked an old master, “When hundreds, thousands, or myriads of objects come all at once, what should be done?”
The master replied, “Don’t try to control them”
What he means is that in whatever way objects come, do not try to change them. Whatever comes is the Buddha-dharma, not objects at all. Do not understand the master’s reply as merely a brilliant admonition, but realize that it is the truth. Even if you try to control what comes, it cannot be controlled.”
― Dōgen, Moon in a Dewdrop: Writings of Zen Master Dogen

“You should study not only that you become a mother when your child is born, but also that you become a child.”
― Dōgen

“Dogen’s teaching: We practice because we do not yet know who or what we are. But as a result of many causes, including the suffering we experience and the longing engendered by that suffering, we aspire to know. That aspiration leads many people to begin the practice of zazen. Dogen expressed this beautifully when he said, “Wisdom is seeking wisdom.” Perhaps we might paraphrase and say that wholeness is seeking wholeness, self is seeking self.”
― Dōgen, The Essential Dogen: Writings of the Great Zen Master

“Those who are extremely stupid think that women are merely the objects of sexual desire and treat women in this way. The Buddha’s children should not be like this. If we discriminate against women because we see them merely as objects of sexual desire, do we also discriminate against all men for the same reason?”
― Dōgen, The Essential Dogen: Writings of the Great Zen Master

“Because mountains are high and broad, the way of riding the clouds is always reached in the mountains; the inconceivable power of soaring in the wind comes freely from the mountains”
― Dōgen

“No matter how compelling or beautiful they may be, words appeal in the main to the linear, thinking mind that thinks in words.”
― Dōgen, The Essential Dogen: Writings of the Great Zen Master

“There is a simple way to become a Buddha: When you refrain from unwholesome actions, are not attached to birth and death, and are compassionate toward all sentient beings, respectful to seniors and kind to juniors, not excluding or desiring anything, with no thoughts or worries, you will be called a Buddha. Seek nothing else.”
― Dōgen, The Essential Dogen: Writings of the Great Zen Master

“Each moment of zazen is equally wholeness of practice, equally wholeness of realization. This is not only practice while sitting, it is like a hammer striking emptiness: before and after, its exquisite peal permeates everywhere. How can it be limited to this moment?”
― Dogen

“Beings, things, and events do not exist in time: being, things, and events are times.”
― Dōgen

“Like the sun illuminating and refreshing the world, this sitting removes obscurities from the mind and lightens the body so that exhaustion is set aside.”
― Dōgen, The Essential Dogen: Writings of the Great Zen Master

“When you let go, the dharma fills your hands;”
― Dōgen, The Wholehearted Way: A Translation of Eihei Dogen's Bendowa, With Commentary by 

 

“The time of our delusion does not obstruct the time of our realization. Our practice is not in order to attain realization. Practice itself is the actualization of realization.”
― Dogen

“At the moment of giving birth to a child, is the mother separate from the child? You should study not only that you become a mother when your child is born, but also that you become a child.”
― Dogen Zenji

“Handle even a single leaf of a green in such a way that it manifests the body of the Buddha. This in turn allows the Buddha to manifests through the leaf. This is a power which you cannot grasp with your rational mind. It operates freely, according to the situation, in a most natural way.”
― Dōgen, How to Cook Your Life: From the Zen Kitchen to Enlightenment

“Delusions mean our individuality, our limitations as individuals, and also egocentricity. We cannot see the universe from the viewpoints of other people; we can see things only from "my" point of view. I cannot see from your point of view. Even though I think I can understand it, I really cannot see it, because it is not reality for me.”
― Dōgen, The Wholehearted Way: A Translation of Eihei Dogen's Bendowa, With Commentary by Kosho Uchiyama Roshi

“The ancients thought it shameful to seek advancement or want to be the head of something, or the chief or senior.”
― Dōgen

“No one should torment people or break their hearts.”
― Dōgen

“When we discover that the truth is already in us, we are all at once our original selves.”
― Dōgen Zenji

“Clarifying the Way" means that we determine the point we should aim at throughout our lives, based on the self that is only the self and life that is only life. This is the sole great matter, and this is what "completing the sole great matter of one's life" means. True practice begins at this point.”
― Dōgen, The Wholehearted Way: A Translation of Eihei Dogen's Bendowa, With Commentary by Kosho Uchiyama Roshi

“thing, or who changes his speech or manner according to the appearance or position of the people he meets, is not a man working in the Way.”
― Dōgen, How to Cook Your Life: From the Zen Kitchen to Enlightenment