Zen Lessons Quotes

“Openness and affability in people are gotten from nature—if you try to force them, they will not last long.”
― Thomas Cleary, Zen Lessons: The Art of Leadership

“Those with enlightened virtue please the people, those without enlightened virtue please themselves. Those who please the people grow, those who please themselves perish. Nowadays many of those who are called leaders deal with the people on the basis of likes and dislikes. When we look for those who know what is bad about what they like and know what is good about what they dislike, we find that they are rare. Therefore it is said, “Those who share the same grief and happiness as the people, the same good and bad, are the just.” Who would not take refuge where there is justice? Laike”
― Thomas Cleary, Zen Lessons: The Art of Leadership

“What has been long neglected cannot be restored immediately. Ills that have been accumulating for a long time cannot be cleared away immediately. One cannot enjoy oneself forever. Human emotions cannot be just right. Calamity cannot be avoided by trying to run away from it. Anyone working as a teacher who has realized these five things can be in the world without misery. letter”
― Thomas Cleary, Zen Lessons: The Art of Leadership