Smile, breathe, and go slowly.

Ardently do today what must be done. Who knows? Tomorrow, death comes.

Vipassana is the art of living. Not the art of escaping.

Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.

The practice of vipassana is the study of the self. When you study physical and mental phenomena, you are studying the truth about yourself.

The best way to solve a problem is to help someone else solve their problem.

The signs of practice are not in extraordinary experiences but in extraordinary awareness of ordinary experiences.

The real purpose of Zen is to see things as they are, to observe things as they are, and to let everything go as it goes.

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

My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground upon which I stand.

Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively.

The practice is not about achieving special states but about seeing ordinary experience with extraordinary clarity.

Mindfulness is attention to life, and life itself is sacred.

The door of your heart can only be opened from the inside.

The role of Zen is neither to stand above life nor to run away from it, but to face it with a spirit of determination.

The essence of Buddhist practice is to bring everything onto the path. Every experience becomes an opportunity for awakening.

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

The technique of self-observation is the technique of observing the reality about oneself at the experiential level.

The goal of Buddhist practice is not to escape from the world but to transform our relationship with it.

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

The way to change others' minds is with affection, and not anger.

The practice of metta begins with oneself, for only when we have developed loving-kindness towards ourselves can we truly offer it to others.

When mindfulness is weak, defilements are strong; when mindfulness is strong, defilements are weak.

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

May all beings be happy, be peaceful, be liberated.

We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.

Liberation is not found by running away from our experience but by looking deeply into it.

The more precisely you note, the more clearly you understand. The more clearly you understand, the stronger your insight becomes.

Knowledge must be stabilized by meditation. Without meditation, knowledge is like a child in battle.

Observe the reality as it is, not as you wish it to be.

The path is not about perfecting ourselves, but about perfecting our love.

Every moment is a fresh beginning. Every breath is a new chance.

Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others.

The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers.

The true purpose of Zen is to see things as they are, to observe things as they are, and to let everything go as it goes.

Our defilements are like tame tigers. If you feed them, they're tame. If you stop feeding them, they'll eat you up.

In the moment of love, awareness is very strong. Use that awareness, that strength of consciousness, to look into yourself.

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

The grass is greener where you water it.

Faith is the firm foundation, diligence the supporting pillar, and wisdom the roof of the house of practice.

Do not mistake understanding for realization, and do not mistake realization for liberation.

The past is gone, the future is not yet here. Live in the present moment with awareness.

Zazen is not step-by-step meditation. Rather it is simply the easy and pleasant practice of a Buddha, the realization of the Buddha's Wisdom.

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

If you want to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be miserable, expect something in return.

Choose to be optimistic, it feels better.

The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart.

The supreme path is not to fabricate anything. The supreme meditation is not to be distracted.

You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.

Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness.

True happiness comes from a sense of inner peace and contentment, which in turn must be achieved through cultivation of altruism, of love, of compassion.

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

Mindfulness is the key to the present moment. Without it we cannot see the world clearly, and we cannot make the wisest choices in our lives.

The path to liberation requires both individual effort and the support of the spiritual community.

What you are is what you have been. What you'll be is what you do now.

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

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

Breathing in, there is only the present moment. Breathing out, it is a wonderful moment.

Panic is a gateway to wisdom. When we learn to stay present with our panic, it becomes our teacher.

Compassion is a verb.