The art of living... is neither careless drifting on the one hand nor fearful clinging to the past on the other. It consists in being sensitive to each moment, in regarding it as utterly new and unique, in having the mind open and wholly receptive.

The goal is not to be better than the other man, but your previous self.

When you note effectively, there is no time for defilements to arise. The mind becomes pure through noting.

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

Mind training is based on the idea that two opposite mental factors cannot happen at the same time.

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

You will not be punished for your anger; you will be punished by your anger.

As surely as there is a voyage away, there is a journey home.

Every time we become aware of a thought, as opposed to being lost in a thought, we experience that opening of the mind.

Compassion is not something we develop. It arises naturally as we see the truth of what is.

You are the master of your own mind. You can be your best friend or your worst enemy.

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

Through understanding emptiness, one does not become proud of one's virtues, just as one does not become proud of building a castle in the sky.

The practice is like peeling an onion. Layer after layer of delusion is removed through continuous mindfulness.

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

When you note pain, you should not dwell on the thought, "I feel pain." Simply recognize the presence of pain.

Meditation is not about trying to change your experience; it's about changing your relationship to your experience.

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 Four Noble Truths are not merely theoretical propositions but a framework for understanding and transforming our experience.

The essence of meditation is not something complicated or exotic. It is simply taking a break from our habitual patterns.

Only to the extent that we expose ourselves over and over to annihilation can that which is indestructible be found in us.

Right View is not just a matter of intellectual understanding but of seeing things as they really are.

Our emotions are like waves in the ocean. We can't stop the waves, but we can learn to surf.

Sensations are not your enemy. They are your teacher. Through observing them, you understand the truth of existence.

The noting mind and the object noted appear to occur as a pair. Through concentration they are seen to arise and vanish together.

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

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

At the bottom of great doubt lies great awakening. If you doubt fully, you will awaken fully.

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

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

Faith is not a commodity that you either have or don't have - it is an inner quality that unfolds as we learn to trust our own deepest experience.

In meditation, we're not trying to get rid of thoughts but to recognize their true nature.

Mindfulness means keeping one's consciousness alive to the present reality.

The essence of Buddhist practice is to reduce our selfishness and to work for the benefit of others.

There is no way to happiness - happiness is the way.

The purpose of meditation is not to create a mental vacuum but to come to know one's own mind.

The path to liberation is a gradual path of self-discipline, self-development, and self-transformation.

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

We don't set out to save the world; we set out to wonder how other people are doing and to reflect on how our actions affect other people's hearts.

Concentration and insight are like two wings of a bird: both are necessary for the flight to liberation.

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

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

Meditation is not an escape from life but a way to fully engage with life.

Zen proposes its solution by directly appealing to facts of personal experience and not to book-knowledge.

The mind is like a room with many windows. Open them all and let the fresh air in.

Choose to be optimistic, it feels better.

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.

When we recognize that our thoughts are just thoughts, we can choose whether or not to follow them.

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 dharma wheel turns from the beginning. There is neither excess nor deficiency. The whole universe is moistened with nectar, and the truth is ready to harvest.

We deal with our mind from morning until evening, and it can be our best friend or our worst enemy.

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

When you practice gratefulness, there is a sense of respect toward others.

Forgiveness is letting go of the hope that the past could have been any different.

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

Much of spiritual life is self-acceptance, maybe all of it.

The way to overcome anger is to be too busy being kind to have time to be angry.

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.

The ultimate purpose of Buddhism is to serve and benefit humanity.

Generosity generates its own enthusiasm. We don't have to force ourselves to be generous; we just need to start.