Shunryu Suzuki book Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
Part 3, No. 3 "Study Yourself"
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind (1973)
V, 9
Shobogenzo Zuimonki (1238)
Shunryu Suzuki book Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
Part 3, No. 3 "Study Yourself"
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind (1973)
“To study Buddhism is to study ourselves. To study ourselves is to forget ourselves.”
Dogen (1200–1253) Japanese Zen buddhist teacher
Source: As quoted in Exploring the Inner World : A Guidebook for Personal Growth and Renewal (1974) by Tolbert McCarroll, p. 6
Ananda K. Coomaraswamy (1877–1947) Ceylon-American art historian
Ananda Coomaraswamy, Hinduism and Buddhism
Context: The more superficially one studies Buddhism, the more it seems to differ from the Brahmanism in which it originated; the more profound our study, the more difficult it becomes to distinguish Buddhism from Brahmanism, or to say in what respects, if any, Buddhism is really unorthodox. The outstanding distinction lies in the fact that Buddhist doctrine is propounded by an apparently historical founder, understood to have lived and taught in the sixth century B. C. Beyond this there are only broad distinctions of emphasis. It is taken almost for granted that one must have abandoned the world if the Way is to be followed and the doctrine understood.... but nothing could be described as a 'social reform' or as a protest against the caste system. The repeated distinction of the 'true Brahman' from the mere Brahman by birth is one that had already been drawn again and again in the Brahmanical books.
“To study Buddhism under me is to adopt a new way of life.”
Cheng Yen (1937) Taiwanese Buddhist nun
Source: Master of Love and Mercy: Cheng Yen, p. 20
Joe Haldeman book The Forever War
Source: The Forever War (1974), Chapter 10 (p. 46)
Context: Relativity propped it up, at least gave it the illusion of being there... the way all reality becomes illusory and observer-oriented when you study general relativity. Or Buddhism. Or get drafted.
Tenzin Gyatso (1935) spiritual leader of Tibet
"A Talk to Western Buddhists" p. 87.
The Dalai Lama: A Policy of Kindness (1990)
Context: To study Buddhism and then use it as a weapon in order to criticize others' theories or ideologies is wrong. The very purpose of religion is to control yourself, not to criticize others. Rather, we must criticize ourselves. How much am I doing about my anger? About my attachment, about my hatred, about my pride, my jealousy? These are the things which we must check in daily life with the knowledge of the Buddhist teachings.
William Saroyan (1908–1981) American writer
As quoted in "Saroyan's Literary Quarantine" by Peter H. King, in The Los Angeles Times (26 March 1997).