Ippen

From far, far in the distant past,Have not been attained, and we sorrow.

— Ippen

Once our false thinking has completely ceasedSay Namu-amida-butsu.

— Ippen

To reach the borders of the uncreated,Just let go! This is genuine gratitude.

— Ippen

In this brief span this body exists,I make no effort at all to obtain them.

— Ippen

With aversion for sect superiors and their pomp,I court the favor of no one.

— Ippen

In the Buddha’s teaching, unless you cast away body and life, there can be no realization of benefit.

— Ippen

To become solitary and simple in utter aloneness -- living wholly unconcerned about the multitude of worldly affairs, and abandoning and disentangling yourself from all things -- is to die. We are born alone; we die alone.

— Ippen

Food, clothing, and shelter are the three evil paths. To desire and make a display of clothing is karma for the path of beasts. To greedily crave food is karma for the path of famished ghosts. To set up a shelter is karma for the path of hell. Hence, if you aspire to part from the three evil paths, you must free yourself from food, clothing, and shelter.

— Ippen