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In the Visuddhimagga, the following is found : "Dependent origination" (paticca-samuppada) represents the middle way, which rejects the doctrines, 'He who acts is he who reaps' and 'One acts while another reaps' (S.ii.20)

In the sixth century, the Chinese Emperor Liang invited the Indian monk Bodhidharma to his capital in Nanjing. The emperor was very fond of Buddhism and often wore Buddhist garments and recited Buddhist prayers. He was, however, most proud of his unbending and unqualified support for Buddhism throughout his entire kingdom. Proud of his knowledge and the contributions towards Buddhism, he asked Bodhidharma, “Since I came to the throne, I have built many temples, published numerous scriptures and supported countless monks and nuns. How great is the merit in all these?” “No merit whatsoever” was his shocking reply. “You have gained no merit. What you have done produces only worldly rewards, that is, good fortune, great power, or great wealth in your future lives, but you will still be wandering around in samsara.” Now, the emperor thought, he had often heard teachings from renowned masters who said, “Do good, and you will receive good; do bad and you will receive bad. The Law of Cause a...

Has a dog the Buddha Nature or not?" Chao-chou said, "Mu!" (Actually, he probably said "Wu," which is the Chinese for Mu, a Japanese word. Mu is usually translated "no," although the late Robert Aitken Roshi said its meaning is closer to "does not have." Zen originated in China, where it is called "Chan." But because western Zen has been largely shaped by Japanese teachers, we in the West tend to use Japanese names and terms.) SOURCE: What is Mu in Zen

The Bhagavad Gita, which is surely the basic text on the practice of detachment, is wonderfully explicit on this point. Krishna tells Arjuna that acting with detachment means doing the right thing for its own sake, because it needs to be done, without worrying about success or failure. (T.S. Eliot paraphrased Krishna's advice when he wrote, "For us, there is only the trying. The rest is not our business.")

Om Mani Padme Hum Mantra for Achieving Buddhahood It is said that all the teachings of the Buddha are within this mantra. According to Buddhism all beings have the Buddha nature. We all have within us the seed of purity that is to be transformed and developed into Buddhahood. Your ordinary body, speech and mind are purified and transform into, Buddha's holy body, holy speech and holy mind (symbolically represented by AUM). 'Thus the six syllables, OM MANI PADME HUM, mean that by the practice of a path which is an indivisible union of method and wisdom, you can transform your impure body, speech, and mind into the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of a Buddha.' SOURCE: Om Mani Padme Hum

The eightfold path is the last of Buddha's "four noble truths." They are: 1) the truth about suffering, 2) the truth about the cause of suffering, 3) the truth about the cessation of suffering. Four noble truths cover the whole of the Buddhist path. The truth about suffering points to the fundamental problem of existence, and the truth about suffering shows the source of the problem. The third truth is that negative elements of human condition are not invariable, and the fourth shows how one can change his perception of reality and go beyond suffering. The whole problem of suffering lies in the way we perceive reality, so its solution involves a change in perception: we suffer from false views about what is pleasant, valuable, or desirable. Therefore, the truth about the path indicates the transformation of perception so that it is in harmony with reality, which allows to put an end to suffering. This path is commonly referred to as a "noble eight-way path" b...

The 'kill the Buddha' comment must be interpreted within the context of the nondual realization espoused by Zen Buddhism. Buddha-nature transcends categories, making room for a world of distinct objects that are also empty of inherent existence. Indeed, from the point of view of Buddha (awakeness) there is no inside or outside - only a creative display infused with unborn awareness. Within the rubric of Zen practice it is impossible to see the Buddha. It is possible to see things that have a 'buddha' signifier attached to them from the conventional point of view, but this would not be construed as an enlightenment experience. Your basic nature is Buddha, neither inside nor outside. SOURCE: What-does-if-you-meet-the-Buddha-on-the-road-kill-him-mean

You will loose everything in the end. That's when you become one with the universe. That's why attachment is not logical. Why attach yourself to a cloud of smoke?

At the end of path, every one will become Buddha.

Desire is suffering. Suffering is desire. Aversion is suffering. Suffering is aversion. Ignorance is suffering. Suffering is ignorance. Thus, suffering is a three headed hydra.

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. SOURCE: Albert Einstein

If you look at your body as part of the world: It's like looking at a cake divided. It creates multiplicity and dualism. If you look at yourself *as* the world, there is no dualism.

Not trying to get pleasure, Not trying to get pain, Not trying is a good feeling itself.

A special transmission outside the scriptures, Not founded upon words and letters. By pointing directly to one's mind, It lets one see into own nature and attain Buddhahood. - Bodhidharma From the Zen perspective, scriptures are nothing but scraps of paper for wiping up filth. - Tokusan Hisamatsu For the realisation of Zen, practice is absolutely necessary. - Wikipedia SOURCE: Zen and Sutras

Karma creates effect, before karma was action, action was also caused by karma, all we do is caused.

“Simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures. Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of being. Patient with both friends and enemies, you accord with the way things are. Compassionate toward yourself, you reconcile all beings in the world.” SOURCE: Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

So when you practice zazen, your mind should be concentrated on your breathing. This kind of activity is the fundamental activity of the universal being. Without this experience, this practice, it is impossible to attain absolute freedom. SOURCE: Zen-Mind-Beginners-Mind-by-Shunryu-Suzuki

If you want to express yourself, your true nature, there should be some natural and appropriate way of expression. Even swaying right and left as you sit down or get up from zazen is an expression of yourself. It is not preparation for practice, or relaxation after practice; it is part of the practice. So we should not do it as if it were preparing for something else. This should be true in your everyday life. To cook, or to fix some food, is not preparation, according to Dogen; it is practice. To cook is not just to prepare food for someone or for yourself; it is to express your sincerity. So when you cook you should express yourself in your activity in the kitchen. You should allow yourself plenty of time; you should work on it with nothing in your mind, and without expecting anything. You should just cook! That is also an expression of our sincerity, a part of our practice. It is necessary to sit in ...

A man traveling across a field encountered a tiger. He fled, the tiger after him. Coming to a precipice, he caught hold of the root of a wild vine and swung himself down over the edge. The tiger sniffed at him from above. Trembling, the man looked down to where, far below, another tiger was waiting to eat him. Only the vine sustained him. Two mice, one white and one black, little by little started to gnaw away the vine. The man saw a luscious strawberry near him. Grasping the vine with one hand, he plucked the strawberry with the other. How sweet it tasted! SOURCE: Zen Koans (parable)

“The concept, often described in English as “nondualism,” is extremely hard for the mind to grasp or visualize, since the mind engages constantly in the making of distinctions and nondualism represents the rejection or transcendence of all distinctions.” SOURCE: The Lotus Sutra translated by Burton Watson