“Roshi once told us that there were three different kinds of horses: with one, just a tug at the reins made them start moving; the second, a kick in the flanks and they were off; and then there were those that had to be beaten to the bone with a whip before they started to move. “Unfortunately,” he said, “most human beings are the third kind.” He told us we act as though we were going to live forever. “Wake up,” he said.

~ Natalie Goldberg

• Credits: Quote source: Katagiri Roshi was Goldberg’s Zen Teacher.  Goldberg’s book is titled Long Quiet Highway: Waking Up in America. p. 149.  Image Credit
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