禅Seung Sahn

proverb

Vow Before Wisdom

Modern

Traditionally attributed

Text

First the great vow, then the great doubt, then the great courage. Wisdom is the smallest of these; without the vow, wisdom is only cleverness.

tr. Zen Lineage editorial

license: cc_by

Attribution

Lineage: Kwan Um

By Seung Sahn

Sources

  • contentThe Compass of Zen

    Seung Sahn

No per-field confidence has been recorded for this teaching yet. Treat individual claims with the caution appropriate to the source list below.

Attribution status: traditional — see editorial policy for what this means.

1 supporting citation on record (see Sources above).

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