Treat every moment as your last. It is not preparation for something else.

Life and death are of supreme importance. Time swiftly passes by and opportunity is lost. Each of us should strive to awaken. Awaken! Take heed, do not squander your life.

The path of practice moves from faith through understanding to direct realization.

Smile, breathe, and go slowly.

Personal experience is everything in Zen. No ideas are intelligible to those who have no backing of experience.

The goal of meditation is not to achieve a blank mind, but to gain insight into the nature of mind itself.

Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

Try to be mindful and let things take their natural course. Then your mind will become still in any surroundings, like a clear forest pool.

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

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

Each decision we make, each action we take, is born out of an intention.

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 way to change the world is to change your own mind.

Wisdom arises when you see the true characteristics of phenomena through direct experience.

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

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

The most important thing is to enjoy your life - to be happy. This is the goal of Buddhist practice.

Compassion is not just about being kind to others. It's about being kind to ourselves as well.

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

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

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

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.

The path is the goal. Every step of the journey is the journey.

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.

The true understanding is that the practice itself is enlightenment.

There is no need to have a deep understanding of Zen. Even though you read much Zen literature, you must read each sentence with a fresh mind.

The practice of meditation is like learning to play an instrument - it takes patience, regular practice, and a gentle touch.

Buddhist practice is not to eliminate life's problems but to grow with them patiently and with compassion.

Live in joy, in love, even among those who hate. Live in joy, in health, even among the afflicted. Live in joy, in peace, even among the troubled. Look within, be still.

The only way to experience truth is to look within, to observe oneself.

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

Just know what is happening in your mind - not happy or sad about it, not attached. If you suffer, see it, know it, be empty.

Our practice cannot be perfect, but without being discouraged by this, we should continue it. This is the secret of practice.

Metta is the ability to embrace all parts of ourselves, as well as all parts of the world.

The Buddha taught that wealth does not bring happiness and security. The pursuit of wealth is a matter of living in balance.

Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile.

Words have the power to both destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world.

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

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

If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.

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

The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.

The practice of mindfulness is the practice of being alive in the present moment.

The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment and feeling truly alive.

If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything; it is open to everything.

The obstacle is the path.

Where is the place that your original face has not yet emerged?

The heart of one who practices is like the earth. No matter what they throw on it, the earth remains unchanged.

Just observe whatever arises. Don't try to create anything, and don't reject anything.

There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called yesterday and the other is called tomorrow, so today is the right day to love, believe, do and mostly live.

A disciplined mind leads to happiness, and an undisciplined mind leads to suffering.

The superior person is like water, bringing benefit to all without competing.

The more clearly you see the arising and passing of phenomena, the less you will be attached to them.

Meditation is the ultimate mobile device; you can use it anywhere, anytime, unobtrusively.

True happiness is not found through the multiplication of desires but through their simplification.

Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.

The law of nature is the law of cause and effect. As you sow, so shall you reap.

The development of wisdom does not occur in isolation but requires the cultivation of the entire Noble Eightfold Path.

The practice of meditation is like tuning an instrument. Too tight, and the strings break. Too loose, and they won't play.