The root of suffering is resisting the certainty that no matter what the circumstances, uncertainty is all we truly have.

If we learn to open our hearts, anyone, including the people who drive us crazy, can be our teacher.

The most fundamental aggression to ourselves, the most fundamental harm we can do to ourselves, is to remain ignorant by not having the courage and the respect to look at ourselves honestly and gently.

To be fully alive, fully human, and completely awake is to be continually thrown out of the nest.

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

Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth.

Rather than letting our negativity get the better of us, we could acknowledge that right now we feel like a piece of shit and not be squeamish about taking a good look.

You are the sky. Everything else is just the weather.

The trick is to keep exploring and not bail out, even when we find out that something is not what we thought.

Whatever is happening is the path to enlightenment.

The only reason we don't open our hearts and minds to other people is that they trigger confusion in us that we don't feel brave enough or sane enough to deal with.

Meditation practice isn't about trying to throw ourselves away and become something better. It's about befriending who we are already.

The future is completely open, and we are writing it moment to moment.

The essence of bravery is being without self-deception.

Hope and fear come from feeling that we lack something; they come from a sense of poverty. We can't simply relax with ourselves. We hold on to hope, and hope robs us of the present moment.

Sticking with uncertainty, getting the knack of relaxing in the midst of chaos, learning not to panic—this is the spiritual path.

The truth you believe and cling to makes you unavailable to hear anything new.

Feelings like disappointment, embarrassment, irritation, resentment, anger, jealousy, and fear, instead of being bad news, are actually very clear moments that teach us where it is that we're holding back.

The most difficult times for many of us are the ones we give ourselves.

Rejoicing in ordinary things is not sentimental or trite. It actually takes guts.