The practice of Buddhism is fundamentally a practice of expanding our happiness and diminishing our suffering.

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

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.

When you let go of trying to control everything, you can relax and enjoy life.

The development of insight is gradual, but the realization of truth is sudden.

When you generate negativity, you are the first victim of your negativity.

The practice of mindfulness is simple: whatever you experience, you observe and note it.

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.

The practice of Dharma is a constant battle within oneself.

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

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

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

When things fall apart and we're on the verge of we know not what, the test of each of us is to stay on that brink and not concretize.

The moment you note a thought, it disappears. The noting mind keeps the hindrances away.

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

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

Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves - slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future.

If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.

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.

Instead of having a deep understanding of the teaching, we need a strong confidence in our teaching, which says that originally we have Buddha nature.

Meditation is not about escaping from difficulty but about meeting it with awareness.

Mindfulness is being aware of what is happening right now, without wishing it were different.

True peace comes not from controlling the world, but from letting go of control.

It is never too late to turn on the light.

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

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

Should you desire the great tranquility, prepare to sweat white beads.

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.

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

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

The development of wisdom requires both study and practice, both learning and direct experience.

Choose to be optimistic, it feels better.

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

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

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

When we rest in awareness, we discover a peace that is always present, regardless of circumstances.

The everyday practice is simply to develop complete acceptance and openness to all situations and emotions.

The Buddha's path is not about becoming somebody different but about becoming more and more who you really are.

The practice of Zen is forgetting the self in the act of uniting with something.

Don't be a bodhisatta; don't be an arahant; don't be anything at all. Being something makes you suffer.

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

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

The only way to fail at meditation is to stop doing it.

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

It is under the greatest adversity that there exists the greatest potential for doing good, both for oneself and others.

Not by hatred is hatred conquered, but by love alone. This is an eternal law.

The challenge in meditation is not to eliminate thinking but to understand the nature of thought itself.

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

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

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

Equanimity is not indifference. It is the balanced mind that sees things clearly without reaction.

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

When walking, just walk. When sitting, just sit. Above all, don't wobble.

Zen does not confuse spirituality with thinking about God while one is peeling potatoes. Zen spirituality is just to peel the potatoes.

Ethical conduct is not a constraint upon our freedom but a condition of our freedom.

This is the real secret of life -- to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.

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

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

Misery ceases to exist when we stop reacting to sensations.