Meditation is not about getting rid of thoughts; it's about changing the way we relate to them.

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

Better to have one moment of genuine meditation than to perform religious activities for a thousand years.

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.

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

Anxiety and excitement are the same emotion. The only difference is our attitude toward the experience.

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

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

The great gift of meditation is that it returns us to the simplicity of our own being.

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

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.

Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.

Hasten slowly and you will soon arrive.

Meditation practice isn't about trying to throw ourselves away and become something better. It's about befriending who we are already.

The Buddha's teaching is not a philosophical system but a practical guide to living.

Whoever told you that practice and enlightenment are separate?

Don't try to change the world. First, change yourself.

Our task is to learn to see clearly what is happening in each moment, rather than be lost in our reactions and judgments.

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

When you practice zazen you should not try to attain anything. You should just sit in the complete calmness of your mind and not rely on anything.

Compassion is a verb.

When we meet real tragedy in life, we can react in two ways - either by losing hope and falling into self-destructive habits, or by using the challenge to find our inner strength.

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

A good friend who points out mistakes and imperfections and rebukes evil is to be respected as if he reveals a secret of hidden treasure.

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

There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.

The source of love is deep in us and we can help others realize a lot of happiness. One word, one action, one thought can reduce another person's suffering and bring that person joy.

The restraint of the senses is not a matter of suppression but of wise attention to our experience.

Concentration develops naturally through continuous noting. Don't try to force concentration to arise.

The true understanding is that the practice itself is enlightenment.

The perfect moment is this one, not the one you're waiting for.

Mindfulness is the key to transformation. It enables us to see our experience as it really is, free from distortion and bias.

The goal of Buddhist practice is not to escape from the world but to transform our relationship with it.

Feelings like disappointment, embarrassment, irritation, resentment, anger, jealousy, and fear, instead of being bad news, are actually very clear moments that teach us where it is that we're holding back.

Mindfulness is the gentle effort to be continuously present with experience.

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

The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.

Kindness is the solution to all of life's problems.

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

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

The dharma is not about collecting more beliefs but about becoming free from the power of belief itself.

The greatest obstacle to meditation is our expectation about what it should be.

The practice of vipassana is the study of the self. When you study physical and mental phenomena, you are studying the truth about yourself.

The practice of Zen mind is beginner's mind. In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities; in the expert's mind there are few.

The Four Noble Truths are not mere doctrinal propositions but a framework for understanding and transforming our lives.

Zazen is not step-by-step meditation. Rather it is simply the easy and pleasant practice of a Buddha, the realization of the Buddha's Wisdom.

The zazen I speak of is not meditation practice. It is simply the dharma gate of joyful ease.

The measure of success in spiritual life is how peaceful you are.

The Dhamma unfolds in accordance with a definite sequence: faith, virtue, learning, generosity, wisdom, and insight.

Breathing in, there is only the present moment. Breathing out, it is a wonderful moment.

The signs of practice are not in extraordinary experiences but in extraordinary awareness of ordinary experiences.

The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.

The true mark of a spiritual practitioner is that your own behavior is better, not that you can criticize others well.

Short moments, many times. That is the essence of meditation practice.

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

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

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

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

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.