If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.

The nature of everything is empty and clear, and the mind is beyond both existence and nonexistence.

Fear is the cheapest room in the house. I would like to see you living in better conditions.

The realization of impermanence leads not to despair but to a deeper appreciation of the preciousness of each moment.

Zen is a way of life, not a theory or a piece of knowledge to be stored away in our minds.

Mindfulness is the quality and power of mind that is aware of what's happening—without judgment and without interference.

The dharma is not outside of you. Looking for it elsewhere is like placing a Buddha on your head while searching for him everywhere else.

Compassion is the radicalism of our time.

The path of practice requires both faith and wisdom, both devotion and understanding.

Study the Buddha's teaching which is present in every moment.

Through continuous mindfulness practice, the true nature of physical and mental phenomena becomes clear.

The cultivation of loving-kindness is the thread that runs through all Buddhist teachings.

Just as the great ocean has one taste, the taste of salt, so also this teaching and discipline has one taste, the taste of liberation.

Should you desire the great tranquility, prepare to sweat white beads.

The real meaning of enlightenment is to gaze with undimmed eyes on all darkness.

True freedom is not the absence of commitment but the presence of choice.

When you walk in the mist, you get wet.

The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater our own sense of well-being becomes.

The more you are motivated by love, the more fearless and free your actions will be.

Do not think you will necessarily be aware of your own enlightenment.

Metta (loving-kindness) becomes truly effective only when it arises from a peaceful mind, a pure mind, a balanced mind.

Mindfulness isn't difficult, we just need to remember to do it.

Muddy water is best cleared by leaving it alone.

The world is its own magic.

Wisdom and compassion must be developed equally and harmoniously.

The practitioner and practice are like fire and wood. The more you practice, the more you burn.

Mindfulness is being aware of what's going on, not trying to control what's going on.

Our true nature is like a diamond - pure, brilliant, and indestructible. No matter how much dirt covers it, its essential nature remains unchanged.

The lamp of wisdom burns constantly, illuminating the nature of mind.

Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

Intrinsically all living beings are Buddhas, just as ice and water are of the same substance.

When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don't blame the lettuce. You look for reasons it is not doing well. It may need fertilizer, or more water, or less sun. You never blame the lettuce.

The practice is simply this: keep coming back to your breath during the day. This will give your mind a steadiness and your life a balance.