“All beings are by nature are Buddhas, as ice by nature is water. Apart from water there is no ice; apart from beings, no Buddhas. How sad that people ignore the near and search the truth afar: like someone in the midst of watercrying out in thirst: like a child of a wealthy home wandering among the poor.”

—  Hakuin Ekaku

As quoted in Teachings of the Buddha p. 207

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Hakuin Ekaku photo
Hakuin Ekaku 4
Japanese Zen Buddhist master 1686–1769

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