Beyond Joy

If you come to think that you understand Zen and that there is no need for you to study or practice Zen any longer, that is a big misunderstanding. Zen should be our whole day and whole life work. We should follow this way without any idea of gaining. It does not mean to ignore the encouragement and joy in your practice, but true practice is beyond our joy or understanding.

Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 65-11-00A as found on shunryusuzuki.com - verbatim version not available.