Many-sidedness of culture makes our vision clearer and keener in particulars.
It's crazy to me how concerned people get with what it looks like and what you can do there. People may as well be talking about JRR Tolkien or Star Trek or something.
As for enlightenment, that's just for people who can't face reality.
The state of ambiguity - that messy, greasy, mixed-up, confused, and awful situation you're living through right now - is enlightenment itself.
Just know that your expectations are only thoughts in your head, and keep on doing what you do.
Consider this: 1. Would you ride in a car whose driver was on the consciousness-expanding "entheogenic" drug LSD? And here's a bonus question: 2. Why does an "expanded consciousness" include the inability to operate a motor vehicle?
It may look like we're doing nothing when we sit zazen. But actually we are exposing ourselves to ourselves.
What really flatters a man is that you think him worth flattering.
Constructiveness is the human way.
I promise to love you forever in this life and wherever we go in the afterlife, because I know I can't go on in any life unless you're in it too.
For all prayer is answered. Don't tell God how to answer it.