Q0307
“Ordinary mind is the Way.” — Mazu Daoyi (Jingde Chuandenglu / Record of Mazu)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Jingde Chuandenglu / Record of Mazu. Theme: self.
English
Ordinary mind is the Way.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Jingde Chuandenglu / Record of Mazu and files it under Zen Buddhism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About Mazu Daoyi
Mazu Daoyi appears in this archive through verified English quotations associated with the Zen Buddhism tradition. Biographical certainty varies by figure and text; where the “author” is a scripture or school anthology, read the name as a traditional attribution rather than a modern individual biography.
How to read this passage
To ask about the self is to ask what persists through experience, what can be known from the first-person point of view, and how character is formed. Some traditions treat the self as a substantial soul; others as a stream of experience, a social role, or a practical center of agency. This passage enters that discussion through self, practice.
Concepts in this quote
- Self
- Philosophy quotes about self explore identity, responsibility, and the examined life—from Socrates’ unexamined life to modern phenomenology and existential authenticity.
- Practice
- Practice is where thought becomes habit: philosophy as a way of living, training, and repeated action.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Mazu Daoyi. (n.d.). Ordinary mind is the Way. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0307
MLA: Mazu Daoyi. “Ordinary mind is the Way..” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0307.
Chicago: Mazu Daoyi. “Ordinary mind is the Way..” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0307.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “Ordinary mind is the Way.”?
The passage is attributed to Mazu Daoyi, Jingde Chuandenglu / Record of Mazu. The archive attributes this English wording to Jingde Chuandenglu / Record of Mazu and files it under Zen Buddhism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does Mazu Daoyi mean by self?
To ask about the self is to ask what persists through experience, what can be known from the first-person point of view, and how character is formed. Some traditions treat the self as a substantial soul; others as a stream of experience, a social role, or a practical center of agency. This passage enters that discussion through self, practice.