Top quotes by Hakuin Ekaku

You know the sound of two hands clapping; tell me, what is the sound of one hand? Votes: 9

From the very beginning all beings are Buddha. Like water and ice,without water no ice, outside us no Buddhas. Votes: 9

Underlying great doubt there is great satori, where there is thorough questioning there will be thoroughgoing experience of awakening. Votes: 7

In singing and dancing is the voice of the Law. Votes: 7

Meditation in the midst of activity is a thousand times superior to meditation in stillness. Votes: 7

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. Votes: 6

What is this true meditation? It is to make everything: coughing, swallowing, waving the arms, motion, stillness, words, action, the evil and the good, prosperity and shame, gain and loss, right and wrong, into one single koan. Votes: 5

At the bottom of great doubt lies great awakening. If you doubt fully, you will awaken fully. Votes: 3

Contemplation within activity is a million times better than contemplation within stillness. Votes: 3

From the sea of effortlessness, let your great uncaused compassion shine forth. Votes: 3

Meditation in action is endlessly more important than meditation in stillness. Votes: 3

Nirvana is right here, before our eyes. Votes: 3

Not knowing how near the truth is, we seek it far away. Votes: 3

What is the sound of one hand? Votes: 3

All beings by nature are Buddhas, as ice by nature is water. Apart from water there is no ice; apart from beings, no Buddhas. Votes: 3

How bright and transparent the moonlight of wisdom. Votes: 0

I encourage all you superior seekers in the secret depths to devote yourselves to penetrating and clarifying the self, as earnestly as you would put out a fire on the top of your head. Votes: 0

If only you could hear the sound of snow Votes: 0

If you forget yourself, you become the universe. Votes: 0

Once a person is able to achieve true singlemindedness in his practice and smash apart the old nest... into which he has settled... Wisdom immediately appears... and the all-discerning Fivefold Eye opens wide. Votes: 0

Should you desire the great tranquility, prepare to sweat. Votes: 0

The spirit of meditation is the combating of self-willed thinking-it is a combat against the weight of one's feelings. Votes: 0