Zen is nothing to get excited about.

Treat every moment as your last. It is not preparation for something else.

True communication depends upon our being straightforward with one another... But the best way to communicate may be just to sit without saying anything.

In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few

Those who are attached only to the result of their effort will not have any chance to appreciate it, because the result will never come.

A mind full of preconceived ideas, subjective intentions, or habits it not open to things as they are.

We emphasize straightforwardness. You should be true to your feelings, and to your mind, expressing yourself without any reservations. This helps the listener to understand more easily.

The true purpose [of Zen] is to see things as they are, to observe things as they are, and to let everything go as it goes... Zen practice is to open up our small mind.

In our practice we have no particular purpose or goal, nor any special object of worship.

To live in the realm of Buddha nature means to die as a small being, moment after moment.

In your practice you should accept everything as it is, giving to each thing the same respect given to a Buddha.

It's my contention that each book creates its own structure and its own length. I've written three or four slim books. It may be that the next novel is a big one, but I don't know.

Claret is the liquor for boys

You may ask me for anything you like except time.

After my husband John Lennon passed away, I tried to smile for my health.

It is difficult to undo our own damage, and to recall to our presence that which we have asked to leave.

I believe each human being has the potential to change, to transform one’s own attitude, no matter how difficult the situation.

My life is just like Breaking Bad except instead of a chemistry teacher I'm just a guy and instead of making meth I don't do much.

The best novelist of my generation is an Italian living in Paris, still working and improving - Italo Calvino.

Manuscripts do not burn.

I think America is on the right track.