Zen Phrases

Short lines from the Zen records, such as kissako, do have some tea, and nichinichi kore kōjitsu, day after day, a good day. Each study finds the line in the record it comes from and the teacher it is told of.

本来無一物 · honrai muichimotsu By Nature, Having Nothing

日々是好日 · nichinichi kore kōjitsu Every day is a good day

不知最親切 · fuchi mottomo shinsetsu Not Knowing is Most Intimate

南無妙法蓮華経 · namu myōhō renge kyō Nam Myōhō Renge Kyō

了了知 · ryōryōchi Complete Understanding

和敬清寂 · wakei seijaku Four Virtues of Tea

直心是道場無虚假故 · jikishin kore dōjō, koke naki ga yue ni The straightforward mind is the place of practice, because it is free of falsehood

喫茶去 · kissako Have Some Tea

無事是貴人 · buji kore kinin The One with Nothing Left to Seek Is the Noble One

活人剣 · katsujinken Life Giving Sword

殺人剣 · satsujinken Life Taking Sword

隻手の音声 · sekishu no onjō The Sound of One Hand Clapping