True nature wants

When your true nature wants you to try

Shunryu Suzuki writes a striking sentence in Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind. Even though it is impossible, we have to do it because our true nature wants us to. He speaks about practice that can never be completed. Perfect enlightenment, perfect presence or perfect kindness may be unreachable. Yet something in us still calls us to pursue them.

Many meaningful pursuits share this quality. Artists never create the perfect work. Scientists never reach complete knowledge. Parents never become flawless. However, the pursuit itself gives life direction and depth. The impossibility does not cancel the value of the effort.

Listening to what your true nature wants

Suzuki’s phrase suggests that some motivations come from deep inside. They are not driven by rewards or social approval. Instead, they feel like a natural expression of who we are. Psychologists might describe this as intrinsic motivation or a sense of calling.

Finding this inner pull requires reflection. Which activities feel meaningful even when difficult? What would you continue doing without recognition? For example, a teacher who keeps helping struggling students after hours often follows this inner call.

Accepting impossibility brings freedom. When perfection is not the goal, mistakes become part of the path. Therefore, practice continues with patience rather than frustration.

Moreover, people who follow their deeper nature often inspire others. Their commitment shows that meaning can matter more than results.

Balance remains important. Following an inner call does not mean ignoring practical needs or relationships.

In the end, Suzuki invites us to honour what our true nature wants. The journey may never end, and that is exactly what makes it worth walking.

Keep reading

• The Way of nature
• Study ourselves
• Alive and doing