Ordinary Mind Quotes

“Looking back, I had many preconceptions and even misconceptions about Zen—dreams of mystical experiences on mountaintops and such. At least in part, I was motivated by a youthful desire to escape the seemingly boring familiarity of my native culture and to seek adventure in an exotic land. In effect, I was fleeing rather than finding myself, insofar as I was yearning for the exciting and extraordinary rather than awakening to the here and now of what in Zen is called "the ordinary mind" or "the everyday even mind”
― Bret W Davis, Zen Pathways: An Introduction to the Philosophy and Practice of Zen Buddhism

“Mouthing the dharma is one thing; living and realizing the dharma internally in one's own heart is another. Without a doubt, you can be your own worst enemy if you constantly give an external display of knowing something while trying to hide your faults like a cat covers its shit. We can never ultimately hide our faults. It's ridiculous to think that your faults will not and are not being noticed. That is why one has to be careful to not follow the ordinary mind.”
― Gyatrul Rinpoche, Conduct and Discipline in the Spiritual Community