"Although you may understand the explanations, if you are still suffering because of problems, you clearly do not understand the true nature of your mind, your body, and your senses."
-Lama Zopa Rinpoche
"You have always been one with the Buddha, so do not pretend you can ATTAIN to this oneness by various practices."
-Huang Po
"Just understand that birth-and-death is itself nirvana. There is nothing such as birth and death to be avoided; there is nothing such as nirvana to be sought. Only when you realize this are you free from birth and death."
-Dogen
"Hear me, future disciples!
Your time will have been badly wasted if you neglect to put this teaching into practice."
"What you should do is to know your own mind and realize your own buddha-nature, which neither rests nor moves, neither becomes nor ceases to be, neither comes nor goes, neither affirms nor denies, neither stays nor departs."
-The Sutra of Hui-Neng
Of course, Dogen's comment reminded me another part of the Platform Sutra of Hui-Neng which I have quoted often:
"Affliction is Bodhi and the cycle of birth and death is Nirvana."
Unfortunately, this cannot simply be actualized (in this instance accepted) by intellectual assent. The moment you think "I've got it...", well, you don't. I still cherish some wonderful advice given to me by a great Dharma teacher:
"Never think that you've got it, and never doubt that you do."
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