A Cup of Zen Quotes

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”
― Kai Tsukimi, A Cup of Zen: 21 Short Stories to Calm the Mind, Stop Overthinking, and Find Inner Peace - Includes Reflections for Beginners

“Do you seek truth”
― Kai Tsukimi, A Cup of Zen: 21 Short Stories to Calm the Mind, Stop Overthinking, and Find Inner Peace - Includes Reflections for Beginners

“Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise; seek what they sought. Matsuo”
― Kai Tsukimi, A Cup of Zen: 21 Short Stories to Calm the Mind, Stop Overthinking, and Find Inner Peace - Includes Reflections for Beginners

“The river stretched wide before him, its currents twisting and churning. A young monk stood at the edge of the water, staring at the impossible distance. How would he ever cross? For hours, he paced the bank, searching for a way forward. No bridge, no boat, no stones to step across. No hope. He sighed and slumped onto a hefty rock, burying his face in his hands. Then, from across the river, a voice called out. “Why do you look so troubled?” The young monk looked up. On the far bank, an old teacher stood watching him. Relief flooded his chest. If anyone could guide him, it was this man. “Master!” he called. “How do I get to the other side?” The teacher glanced up and down the river, then smiled. “My son,” he said, “you are on the other side.” The wind stirred the water. The current did not change. The young monk stood still. The river was no smaller than before. The distance had not lessened. And yet, for the first time, he wondered if there had ever been a journey to make at all.”
― Kai Tsukimi, A Cup of Zen: 21 Short Stories to Calm the Mind, Stop Overthinking, and Find Inner Peace - Includes Reflections for Beginners

“The dust rose in thick clouds as the horse galloped down the dirt path. Its rider, a young man named Jiro, clung tightly to the reins, his heart pounding with the rhythm of hooves against the earth. The wind tore through his hair. His body swayed with every jolt. Faster. Faster. Faster. But something was wrong. Jiro wasn’t steering. His hands gripped the reins, but he wasn’t the one choosing the direction. The horse was moving on its own—charging forward as if possessed by something greater than itself. He swallowed hard, glancing at the unfamiliar trees rushing past. Where was he going? Ahead, an old farmer stood at the edge of the road, watching. As Jiro approached, the farmer cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted: “Where are you going?” Jiro barely had time to think before the words tumbled out: “I don’t know! Ask the horse!” The farmer’s laughter rang out behind him as Jiro disappeared down the path. The road stretched on. The horse didn’t slow. The landscape blurred. Jiro gritted his teeth. He had been riding for so long—so fast—that he had never stopped to ask himself: Had he ever been the one leading? Slowly, he loosened his grip. He took a deep breath. And for the first time, he pulled the reins—not out of panic, not out of habit, but with intention. The horse hesitated. Jiro pulled again. This time, the horse slowed. The dust settled. The trees no longer rushed past in a blur. And as the world came into focus, Jiro realized: the horse had never been in control. He had just never tried to stop it.”
― Kai Tsukimi, A Cup of Zen: 21 Short Stories to Calm the Mind, Stop Overthinking, and Find Inner Peace - Includes Reflections for Beginners

“A man left his mountain village in search of enlightenment. He traveled far, studied with wise teachers, meditated in silent temples, and sat for years in contemplation. One day, he awoke with a deep and unshakable realization. At last, he understood. He returned to his village, walking with the calm of one who has seen beyond the world. An old friend greeted him at the gate. “You’ve returned,” the friend said. “What have you learned?” The man smiled. “Everything is clear now.” His friend nodded. “Good. We need more firewood.” The man picked up an axe and walked into the trees. The wind rustled the leaves. The blade met the wood. Somewhere, water flowed down the mountain.”
― Kai Tsukimi, A Cup of Zen: 21 Short Stories to Calm the Mind, Stop Overthinking, and Find Inner Peace - Includes Reflections for Beginners

“what is left of who we are?”
― Kai Tsukimi, A Cup of Zen: 21 Short Stories to Calm the Mind, Stop Overthinking, and Find Inner Peace - Includes Reflections for Beginners

“already full. What would happen if you stopped?”
― Kai Tsukimi, A Cup of Zen: 21 Short Stories to Calm the Mind, Stop Overthinking, and Find Inner Peace - Includes Reflections for Beginners

“What are you carrying that no longer serves you? If you dropped one story, expectation, or fear, how would your step change?”
― Kai Tsukimi, A Cup of Zen: 21 Short Stories to Calm the Mind, Stop Overthinking, and Find Inner Peace - Includes Reflections for Beginners

“What is the weight of what you have not done? A word unspoken, a step not taken—do they echo, or do they fade?”
― Kai Tsukimi, A Cup of Zen: 21 Short Stories to Calm the Mind, Stop Overthinking, and Find Inner Peace - Includes Reflections for Beginners

“What if the obstacles you see are only a matter of perspective? What happens when you stop searching for “the other side” and look at where you are?”
― Kai Tsukimi, A Cup of Zen: 21 Short Stories to Calm the Mind, Stop Overthinking, and Find Inner Peace - Includes Reflections for Beginners

“Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise; seek what they sought. Matsuo Bashō”
― Kai Tsukimi, A Cup of Zen: 21 Short Stories to Calm the Mind, Stop Overthinking, and Find Inner Peace - Includes Reflections for Beginners

“Does action bring certainty, or does certainty bring action? If the future is unknown, do you plant the seed or wait for the rain? Is waiting an act of patience or an act of fear? When the field is empty, is it resting—or is it lost?”
― Kai Tsukimi, A Cup of Zen: 21 Short Stories to Calm the Mind, Stop Overthinking, and Find Inner Peace - Includes Reflections for Beginners

“Which is heavier—the weight of not knowing or the weight of needing to know?”
― Kai Tsukimi, A Cup of Zen: 21 Short Stories to Calm the Mind, Stop Overthinking, and Find Inner Peace - Includes Reflections for Beginners