The path to liberation is through understanding the true nature of mind and matter through direct observation.

What we call "I" is just a swinging door which moves when we inhale and when we exhale.

The root of all mind is your own present pure awareness. Rest in that essence without seeking elsewhere.

The cave I live in is empty and so is my mind. I live simply and at ease.

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

The Buddha's teaching challenges us to master the art of living, to live in a way that leads to the extinction of suffering.

The grass is greener where you water it.

The practice of patience guards us against losing our presence of mind.

The nature of mind is clearer than the sky, yet we keep looking elsewhere.

The movement of love is what creates the beauty in our lives.

The root of happiness is altruism — the wish to be of service to others.

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

The basic teaching of Buddhism is the teaching of transiency, or change.

The true person is not anyone in particular. But like the deep blue color of the limitless sky, it is everyone, everywhere in the world.

To see nothing is to perceive the Way, and to understand nothing is to know the Dharma.

The root of suffering is not in the world outside us but in our own minds.

Wisdom and compassion must be developed equally and harmoniously.

The more you understand yourself, the more you understand the world.

Sometimes one creates a dynamic impression by saying something, and sometimes one creates as significant an impression by remaining silent.

The contradiction so puzzling to the ordinary way of thinking comes from the fact that we have to use language to communicate our inner experience, which in its very nature transcends linguistics.

Peace and negativity cannot coexist just as light and darkness cannot coexist.

As long as our orientation is toward perfection or success, we will never learn about unconditional friendship with ourselves, nor will we find compassion.

Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

The truth of Zen is the truth of life, and life means to live, to move, to act, not merely to reflect.

The things that matter most in our lives are not fantastic or grand. They are the moments when we touch one another.

The purpose of meditation is not to create a new state of mind, but to recognize what is already present.

The more a thing tends to be permanent, the more it tends to be lifeless.

The basic idea of Zen is to come in touch with the inner workings of our being, and to do this in the most direct way possible, without resorting to anything external or superadded.

Real happiness lies within. It cannot be found in external objects or achievements.

Forgiveness is not a moral issue. It's a power issue. When we hold onto grievance and resentment, we are giving our power away.

We think that the point is to pass the test or overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don't really get solved. They come together and they fall apart. Then they come together again and fall apart again. It's just like that. The healing comes from letting there be room for all of this to happen: room for grief, for relief, for misery, for joy.

The purpose of studying Buddhism is not to study Buddhism, but to study ourselves.

The precious pot containing my riches becomes my teacher in the very moment it breaks.