Shundo David Haye

‘In the swift march of transiency, birth and death are vital matters. During this short life, if you want to practice and study, just practice and study. Writing prose and poetry is, in the long run, useless; this it should be given up. When studying and practicing Buddhism, do not take up too many outside things. Be sure to keep away from the scriptural teachings of the sects of esoteric and exoteric Buddhism. Even the Records of the Zen Patriarchs should not be studied on too wide a scale. The dull and inferior person finds it hard to concentrate even on one thing. How much more difficult is it for hime to do many things at the same time and still keep his minds and thoughts in harmony.’ (Shobogenzo Zuimonki)