Ask About a Truth You Should Seek

"Don't cling to your own understanding.  Even if you do understand something, you should ask yourself if there might be something you have not yet fully resolved, or if there may be some higher meaning yet.
Although a suspicious mind is bad, still it is wrong to cling to what you shouldn't believe in, or fail to ask about a truth you should seek.
Even if you have thoroughly studied the stories of the ancients and you sit constantly like iron or stone, as long as you are attached to yourself you cannot find the Way of the enlightened, ever.
Although the Way is complete in everyone, realization of the Way depends on a combination of conditions.
Tenacious opinionation is not transmitted by your parents; it is just that you have tacitly come to believe in opinions for no reason other than that over time you have picked up what people say.
Whether or not beginners are imbued with the spirit of the Way, they should carefully read and study the sagacious teachings of the scriptures and treatises.
Once having understood, you should read the teachings of the sages many times.
Truth is not greater or lesser, but people are shallow or deep."

-  Japanese Zen Grand Master Dogen, 1200-1253
   Translated by Thomas Cleary

"Do you want to study Zen?
You must let go.
Let go of what?
Let go of the four elements and five clusters,
Let go of consciousness conditioned over incalculable time.
Focus on right where you stand;
Try to figure our what the reason is.
Keep on pondering ...
Suddenly the flower of mind will bloom with enlightenment,
illuminating the whole universe."

-  Chien-ju, Studying Zen
The Pocket Zen Reader.  Edited and translated by Thomas Cleary.   p. 104

"Zen practice in the midst of activity
is superior to that pursued within tranquility."
Hakuin, 1688-1769

The Pocket Zen Reader.   Compiled and translated by Thomas Cleary.  Shambhala Pocket Classics.  Boston, Shambhala, 1999.  218 pages.  ISBN: 157062447X.  VSCL.  

Zen Buddhism: A Reading List