Ming-Dao Deng Quotes & Sayings

Give back what you have learned. Share your experience. — Ming-Dao Deng

Build your life brick upon brick,
Live a life of truth,
And you will look back on a life of truth.
Live a life of fantasy,
And you will look back on delusion. — Ming-Dao Deng

You may be capable of great things, But life consists of small things. — Ming-Dao Deng

Some Warriors look fierce, but are mild. Some seem timid, but are vicious. Look beyond appearances; position yourself for the advantage. — Ming-Dao Deng

Knowing the steps to create living growth: that is art. — Ming-Dao Deng

Trees in winter lose their leaves. Some trees may even fall during storms, but most stand patiently and bear their fortune. — Ming-Dao Deng

Only when peace lives within each of us, will it live outside of us. We must be the wombs for a new harmony. When it is small, peace is fragile. Like a baby, it needs nurturing attention. We must protect peace from violence and perversion if it is to grow. We must be strong to do this. But force, even in the name of honor, is always tragic. Instead, we must use the strength of wisdom and conscience. Only that power can nurture peace in this difficult time. — Ming-Dao Deng

If you have a good idea, use it so that you will not only accomplish something, but so that you can make room for new ones to flow into you. — Ming-Dao Deng

The sages say that life is illusion, but does that change its poignancy? — Ming-Dao Deng

Self-discipline leads to higher spiritual states only if practiced with under- standing. The clearer the goal, the greater the result. — Ming-Dao Deng

The follower of Tao is always flexible and adaptable to circumstance. — Ming-Dao Deng

Receive without complaint, Work with fate. — Ming-Dao Deng

We cannot allow ourselves to be hobbled by the woes and alienation of our race or nation. It is our responsibility to overcome these, even if we can only succeed in our hearts. — Ming-Dao Deng

Even on the road to hell, flowers can make you smile. — Ming-Dao Deng

Once you have seen the face of God, you see the same face on everyone you meet. — Ming-Dao Deng

Whether we remain the ash or become the phoenix is up to us. — Ming-Dao Deng

What is it like to feel Tao? It is an effortless flowing, a sweeping momentum. It is like bird song soaring and gliding over a vast landscape. You can feel this in your life: Events will take on a perfect momentum, a glorious cadence. You can feel it in your body: The energy will rise up in you in a thrilling crescendo, setting your very nerves aglow. You can feel it in your spirit: You will enter a state of such perfect grace that you will resound over the landscape of reality like ephemeral bird song.
When Tao comes to you in this way, ride it for all that you are worth. Don't interfere. Don't stop - that brings failure, alienation, and regret. Don't try to direct it. Let it flow and follow it. When the Tao is with you, put aside all other concerns. As long as the song lasts, follow. Just follow. — Ming-Dao Deng

Young people need compassion and guidance, not obscure mysticism. Here are some guidelines for young people: Remember that you are always your own person. Do not surrender your mind, heart, or body to any person. Never compromise your dignity for any reason. Maintain your health with sound diet, hygiene, exercise, and clean living. Don't engage in drugs or drinking. Money is never more important than your body and mind, but you must work and support yourself. Never depend on others for your livelihood. — Ming-Dao Deng

There is no language of the holy. The sacred lies in the ordinary. — Ming-Dao Deng

Expression is never helped by suppression. — Ming-Dao Deng

All teachings are mere references. The true experience is living your own life. Then, even the holiest of words are only words. — Ming-Dao Deng

A funeral is for those left behind. Sometimes, one wonders if the weeping is more out of fear for ourselves than it is sympathy for the deceased. — Ming-Dao Deng

If i dont want to be known, i cannot be known.the best actor can divide role from self.the best liar can divide truth from falsity. — Ming-Dao Deng

Worry is an addiction that interferes with compassion. — Ming-Dao Deng

We need faith, not because there are beings who will punish us or reward us, but because gods are a wonderful way of describing things that are happening to us. — Ming-Dao Deng

Did you measure to attain your height? Did you use geometry to radiate your limb? Did you lament storm-torn branches? Did you inventory your leaves for the sun? You did none of these things, yet man in his cleverness Cannot match your perfection. — Ming-Dao Deng

A tree uses what comes its way to nurture itself. By sinking its roots deeply into the earth, by accepting the rain that flows towards it, by reaching out to the sun, the tree perfects its character and becomes great. ... Absorb, absorb, absorb. That is the secret of the tree. — Ming-Dao Deng

It is too facile to say that the way to follow Tao is to simply go along with the flow of life. Sometimes, like the carp, we must know when to go it alone. — Ming-Dao Deng

Muddy water will become clear if allowed to stand undisturbed, and so too will the mind become clear if it is allowed to be still. — Ming-Dao Deng

We must not fall into the trap of waiting so long for the big things that we let numerous small chances slip right by us. — Ming-Dao Deng

Once we make our decision, all things will come to us. Auspicious signs are not a superstition, but a confirmation. They are a response. — Ming-Dao Deng

When it is time to part, then it is time to part. There should be no regrets. The beauty of marriage is like the fleeting perfection of a snowflake. — Ming-Dao Deng

Grappling with fate is like meeting an expert wrestler: to escape, you have to accept the fall when you are thrown. The only thing that counts is whether you get back up. — Ming-Dao Deng

The primary point of this existence is to live, and all living things move and grow. Therefore meditation should be integrated with the flow of life. It should not dominate above all else. — Ming-Dao Deng

Keep life simple ... turn toward the divine. It satisfies, it brings knowledge, and it brings joy. — Ming-Dao Deng

We may be floating on Tao, but there is nothing wrong with steering. If Tao is like a river, it is certainly good to know where the rocks are. — Ming-Dao Deng

The moon does not fight. It attacks no one. It does not worry. It does not try to crush others. It keeps to its course, but by its very nature, it gently influences. What other body could pull an entire ocean from shore to shore? The moon is faithful to its nature and its power is never diminished. — Ming-Dao Deng

It is said that if one chooses to pray to a rock with enough devotion, even that rock will come alive. — Ming-Dao Deng

By being receptive, we can avail ourselves of the spiritual wealth available to us. By being open, we can receive things beyond what we ourselves might imagine. — Ming-Dao Deng

The idea that each of us can be directly spiritual is radical. Most religions are based not on teaching adherents to be directly spiritual, but in persuading them to trust in the intercession of ministers or priests. The problem with this approach is that we cannot gain access to spirituality except through the medium of a fallible human being. If we want to see Tao, we need only open our eyes and trust what we see. — Ming-Dao Deng

A moving door hinge never corrodes. Flowing water never grows stagnant. — Ming-Dao Deng

Reject labels. Reject identities. Reject conformity. Reject convention. Reject definitions. Reject names. — Ming-Dao Deng

Cooperation with others. Perception, experience, tenacity. Know when to lead and when to follow. — Ming-Dao Deng

Rain scatters plum petals; Weeping stains the earth. One can only take shelter And wait for clearing. — Ming-Dao Deng

Those truly linked don't need correspondence. When they meet again after many years apart, Their friendship is as true as ever. — Ming-Dao Deng

Eventually, the time of action must come. When this happens, be a winner! Don't settle for mediocre results. Don't try to stay even. Go for it all! — Ming-Dao Deng

Let us be sad; it is feeling that makes us human. — Ming-Dao Deng

Those who don't know how to suffer are the worst off. There are times when the only correct thing we can do is to bear out troubles until a better day. — Ming-Dao Deng

Markings in dry clay disappear
Only when the clay is soft again.
Scars upon the self disappear
Only when one becomes soft within. — Ming-Dao Deng

Who you are is always right. — Ming-Dao Deng

Do you want to know how spirituality works? Breathe. — Ming-Dao Deng

The appreciation of life does not require wealth or plenty. It requires only gratitude for the beauty of the world. — Ming-Dao Deng

Use a mirror in difficult times. You will see both cause and resolution. — Ming-Dao Deng

An ancient gnarled tree: Too fibrous for a logger's saw, Too twisted to fit a carpenter's square, Outlasts the whole forest. — Ming-Dao Deng

Life is a constant series of opportunities. If we don't reach out for things, if we don't take advantage of what comes our way, then we cannot be in harmony with the essential nature of life. — Ming-Dao Deng