The dharma is not in the books. If you want to find the dharma, look in your mind.

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

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

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

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

The trick is to keep exploring and not bail out, even when we find out that something is not what we thought.

Mindfulness is not just bare attention but wise attention that leads to understanding and insight.

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

The quieter you become, the more you can hear.

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

Technical knowledge is not enough. One must transcend techniques so that the art becomes an artless art, growing out of the unconscious.

The teaching is simple: act with kindness and compassion. If you cannot do this, at least try not to harm others.

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

The Buddha's teaching challenges us to master the art of living, to live in a way that leads to the extinction of suffering.

The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater our own sense of well-being becomes.

The most profound meditation is to think nothing at all.

The willingness to empty ourselves and then seek our true nature is an expression of great and courageous love.

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

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

Anger or hatred is like a fisherman's hook. It is very important for us to ensure that we are not caught by it.

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 most important thing in life is to know death is coming and to prepare for it.

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

Meditation in the midst of activity is a thousand times superior to meditation in stillness.

In true vipassana practice, there is no room for likes and dislikes. There is only observation.

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

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 practice of meditation is not about achieving states of bliss but about seeing things as they really are.

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

As a flower that is lovely and beautiful, but is scentless, even so fruitless is the well-spoken word of one who does not practice it.

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

Your mind is like a garden. Your thoughts are the seeds. You can grow flowers or you can grow weeds.

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

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

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

When we look directly at our thoughts, they dissolve like bubbles in water.

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

The idea of Zen is to catch life as it flows. There is nothing extraordinary or mysterious about Zen. I raise my hand; I take a book from the other side of the desk; I hear the boys playing ball outside my window; I see the clouds blown away beyond the neighboring wood: all these I do in Zen.

The archer ceases to be conscious of himself as the one who is engaged in hitting the bull's-eye which confronts him. This state of unconsciousness is realized only when, completely empty and rid of the self, he becomes one with the perfecting of his technical skill.

The practice is simply this: keep coming back to your breath during the day. This will give your mind a steadiness and your life a balance.

The practice of mindfulness begins in the small, remote cave of your unconscious mind and blossoms with the sunlight of your conscious life.

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.

The essence of Buddhism is not a belief system but a systematic investigation of our experience.

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

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

The seed of suffering in you may be strong, but don't wait until you have no more suffering before allowing yourself to be happy.

The spiritual journey begins with the recognition that beneath our surface happiness there lies a deep inner pain.

Don't be afraid of the future. The future is good.

The key to transformation is not to fight with our experience but to open to it with awareness.

Zen teaches nothing; it merely enables us to wake up and become aware. It does not teach, it points.

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

The goal of meditation is not to reach some highest place, but to remain in the place where you already are.

Let go of what has passed. Let go of what may come. Let go of what is happening now. Don't try to figure anything out. Don't try to make anything happen. Relax, right now, and rest.

External seeking only leads to exhaustion. When you imitate others, you lose your own authenticity.

Meditation is not about achieving anything. It's about letting go of everything.

If you love someone, the greatest gift you can give them is your presence.

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

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

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

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