Last Updated on February 2, 2021 by Scott M. Thomas
Here you’ll find some amazing and self motivational quotes by Takuan Soho.
“When one practices discipline and moves from the beginner’s territory to immovable wisdom, one makes a return and falls back to the level of the beginner.” – Takuan Soho
“Zen is to have the heart and soul of a little child.” – Takuan Soho
“Sever the edge between before and after.” – Takuan Soho
“It is the very mind itself that leads the mind astray – of the mind, do not be mindless.” – Takuan Soho
“When this No-Mind has been well developed, the mind does not stop with one thing nor does it lack any one thing. It appears appropriately when facing a time of need.” – Takuan Soho
“One does not divide this by impressions or knowledge. What this means is that no matter how much you try to figure or calculate by means of impressions or knowledge, it will not prove the least bit useful. Therefore, separate yourself from the discrimination of figuring things out.” – Takuan Soho
“The Buddha and all sentient beings are not two.” – Takuan Soho
“The Right Mind is the mind that does not remain in one place. It is the mind that stretches throughout the entire body and self. The Confused Mind is the mind that, thinking something over, congeals in one place.” – Takuan Soho
“Not stopping the mind is object and essence. Put nowhere, it will be everywhere. Even in moving the mind outside the body, if it is sent in one direction, it will be lacking in nine others. If the mind is not restricted to just one direction, it will be in all ten.” – Takuan Soho
“The mind that becomes fixed and stops in one place does not function freely. Similarly, the wheels of a cart go around because they are not rigidly in place. If they were to stick tight, they would not go around. The mind is also something that does not function if it becomes attached to a single situation.” – Takuan Soho
“Shonin: I have composed a poem. Kokushi: Let’s hear it. Shonin: When I chant, Both Buddha and self Cease to exist. There is only the voice that says, Namu Amida Butsu. Kokushi: Something’s wrong with the last couple of lines, don’t you think? (after a lapse of time) Shonin: This is how I’ve written it: When I chant, Both Buddha and self Cease to exist. Namu Amida Butsu. Kokushi: There! You got it!” – Takuan Soho
“Although it does not mindfully keep guard, In the small mountain fields the scarecrow does not stand in vain.” – Takuan Soho
“One may explain water, but the mouth will not become wet. One may expound fully on the nature of fire, but the mouth will not become hot.” – Takuan Soho
“If you would know a man’s good and evil points, you should know the underlings and retainers he loves and employs, and the friends with whom he mixes intimately. If the lord is not correct, none of his friends and retainers will be correct.” – Takuan Soho
“If the mind congeals in one place and remains with one thing, it is like frozen water and is unable to be used freely: ice that can wash neither hands nor feet. When the mind is melted and is used like water, extending throughout the body, it can be sent wherever one wants to send it.” – Takuan Soho
“When facing a single tree, if you look at a single one of its red leaves, you will not see all the others. When the eye is not set on one leaf, and you face the tree with nothing at all in mind, any number of leaves are visible to the eye without limit. But if a single leaf holds the eye, it will be as if the remaining leaves were not there.” – Takuan Soho
“If you follow the present-day world, you will turn your back on the Way; if you would not turn your back on the Way, do not follow the world.” – Takuan Soho
“The mind must always be in the state of flowing; for when it stops anywhere that means the flow is interrupted and it is this interruption that is injurious to the well-being of the mind. In the case of swordsmen, it means death.” – Takuan Soho
“When a person does not think, ‘Where shall I put it?’ the mind will extend throughout the entire body and move to any place at all. . . . The effort not to stop the mind in just one place – this is discipline. Not stopping the mind is object and essence. Put it nowhere and it will be everywhere. Even in moving the mind outside the body, if it is sent in one direction, it will be lacking in nine others. If the mind is not restricted to just one direction, it will be in all ten.” – Takuan Soho
“There is no light for those who don’t know darkness.” – Takuan Soho
“Preoccupied with a single leaf, you won’t see the tree,
Preoccupied with a single tree, you’ll miss the entire forest.” – Takuan Soho
“One is not likely to achieve understanding from the explanation of another.” – Takuan Soho
“The unfettered mind: Writings of the Zen master to the sword master.” – Takuan Soho
“Presumably, as a Martial artist, I do not fight for gain or loss, am not concerned with strength or weakness, and neither advance a step nor retreat a step. The enemy does not see me. I do not see the enemy. Penetrating to a place where heaven and earth have not yet divided, where yin and yang have not yet arrived, I quickly and necessarily gain effect.” – Takuan Soho
“Consider the core of the mind to be a wagon, with will-power to be carried about in it. Push it to a place where there can be a failure, and there will be a failure. Push it to a place where there can be a success, and there will be a success. But whether there is success or failure, if one entrusts himself to the straightness of this wagon of the core of the mind, he will attain right-mindedness in either case. Severing oneself from desire and being like a rock or tree, nothing will ever be achieved. Not departing from desire, but realizing a desire-less right-mindedness – this is the way.” – Takuan Soho
“When you look at a tree, see it for its leaves, its branches, its trunk, and the roots, then and only then will you see the tree.” – Takuan Soho
“Each action of the warrior is performed from a place of fundamental wisdom. It is completely different from the ordinary behavior of a fool. Even if it looks the same, it is different on the inside.” – Takuan Soho
“Completely forget about the mind and you will do all things well.” – Takuan Soho
“Make it a secret principle in either seeing or hearing not to detain the mind in one place.” – Takuan Soho
“In the case of the swordsman, it means death. When the swordsman stands against his opponent, he is not to think of the opponent, nor of himself, nor of his enemy’s sword movements. He just stands there with his sword which, forgetful of all technique, is ready only to follow the dictates of the subconscious. The man has effaced himself as the wielder of the sword. When he strikes, it is not the man but the sword in the hand of the man’s subconscious that strikes.” – Takuan Soho
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