The greatest achievement is selflessness. The greatest worth is self-mastery.

The purpose of a spiritual discipline is to give us a way to stop the war, not by our force of will, but through understanding and through letting go.

The true understanding is that the practice itself is enlightenment.

The best way to control people is to encourage them to be mischievous. Then they will be in control in a wider sense.

When we are mindful, deeply in touch with the present moment, our understanding of what is going on deepens, and we begin to be filled with acceptance, joy, peace and love.

The four foundations of mindfulness are not separate practices but different aspects of the same practice of clear awareness.

If you want to understand suffering, you must look into the situation at hand. The teachings say that wherever a problem arises it must be settled right there.

The cultivation of loving-kindness is the thread that runs through all Buddhist teachings.

Be a lamp unto yourself. Work out your liberation with diligence.

Like a fine flower, beautiful to look at but without scent, fine words are fruitless in a man who does not act in accordance with them.

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

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

If you want to climb a mountain, begin at the top.

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

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

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

The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

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

In the monastery of your body, the monk of your mind must stay in retreat.

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.

The mind of the beginner is empty, free of the habits of the expert, ready to accept, to doubt, and open to all the possibilities.

Whatever is happening is the path to enlightenment.

Every sensation shares the same characteristic - arising, passing. Arising, passing. Learn to observe objectively.

The rising and falling of the abdomen is not the main object. The main object is to develop mindfulness, concentration, and insight.

Maintain the state of undistractedness and distractions will fly away.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Start from where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.

When we get too caught up in the busyness of the world, we lose connection with one another – and ourselves.

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.

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

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

The more you meditate, the more you understand yourself and the better friend you become to yourself.

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

When we develop patience, we find that we develop a reserve of calm and tranquility.

The more you are motivated by love, the more fearless and free your actions will be.

Time passes unhindered. When we make ourselves better, we make the world better.

The problem is not the problem; the problem is your attitude about the problem.

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

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

The path to liberation requires both understanding and practice, both pariyatti and patipatti.

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

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

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

Just as parents care for their children, you should bear in mind the whole universe.

When dharma fills your body and mind, you realize that something is missing.

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

The truth of suffering is not to be feared but to be understood through direct observation.

Face your own anger and you will be free from anger. Face your own fears and you will be free from fear.

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

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.

It is never too late to turn on the light.

In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few.

Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.