Our way is not to sit to acquire something; it is to express our true nature. That is our practice

Our way is not to sit to acquire something; it is to express our true nature. That is our practice

Shunryu Suzuki was a Japanese Zen master and teacher who brought the practice of Zen Buddhism to the West in the mid-20th century. He was the founder of the San Francisco Zen Center and the author of the influential book "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind." Suzuki's teachings emphasized the importance of expressing one's true nature through the practice of Zen meditation and mindfulness.

The quote "Our way is not to sit to acquire something; it is to express our true nature. That is our practice" encapsulates Suzuki's approach to Zen practice. In Zen Buddhism, sitting meditation, or zazen, is a central practice that allows practitioners to cultivate mindfulness, concentration, and insight. However, Suzuki believed that the purpose of zazen was not to attain some external goal or achievement, but rather to connect with one's true nature and express it fully in every moment.

For Suzuki, true practice was not about striving for enlightenment or spiritual attainment, but rather about embodying one's inherent wisdom and compassion in everyday life. This meant being fully present and engaged in each moment, whether sitting in meditation or going about daily activities. Suzuki often emphasized the importance of mindfulness and awareness in all aspects of life, encouraging his students to bring the same level of attention and presence to their meditation practice as they did to their interactions with others.

Suzuki's teachings were rooted in the Zen tradition of non-duality, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of all things and the inherent wisdom and compassion that lies within each individual. By sitting in meditation and cultivating mindfulness, practitioners could tap into this inner wisdom and express it authentically in their thoughts, words, and actions. This was the true purpose of Zen practice, according to Suzuki – not to acquire something external, but to uncover and express one's true nature.