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

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

The practice of mindfulness is the practice of being alive in the present moment.

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.

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.

When you do something, you should burn yourself completely, like a good bonfire, leaving no trace of yourself.

Wisdom is not about accumulating knowledge, but about seeing through all knowledge.

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

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

Waking up this morning, I smile. Twenty-four brand new hours are before me. I vow to live fully in each moment.

Faith is the firm foundation, diligence the supporting pillar, and wisdom the roof of the house of practice.

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

The true understanding is that the practice itself is enlightenment.

The path of practice requires both faith and wisdom, both devotion and understanding.

The path is not about moving from one place to another. It's about recognizing where we already are.

The superior person is like water, bringing benefit to all without competing.

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

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

Every step on the path must be with the understanding of anicca - impermanence. This is the essence of the teaching.

Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.

The only thing that we truly have control over is our attitude toward experience.

The silence between the notes is as important as the notes themselves.

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

Look at situations from all angles, and you will become more open.

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

Love is not a feeling. It's a capability.

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

The true path is not difficult; just avoid picking and choosing.

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

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

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

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

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 real purpose of Zen is to see things as they are, to observe things as they are, and to let everything go as it goes.

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

When mindfulness is weak, defilements are strong; when mindfulness is strong, defilements are weak.

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

If we learn to open our hearts, anyone, including the people who drive us crazy, can be our teacher.

The most important point is to accept yourself and stand on your two feet.

The practice of meditation requires both energy and patience, both effort and relaxation.

The Noble Eightfold Path is a path of training: training in ethical conduct, training in mental discipline, and training in wisdom.

Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax.

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

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

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

Right practice is steady practice. Whether you feel lazy or diligent, just keep practicing.

Whoever told you that practice and enlightenment are separate?

Every moment of confusion is also a moment of wisdom, if we can learn to recognize it.

When you find your place where you are, practice occurs, actualizing the fundamental point.

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

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

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

Meditation is not just about sitting quietly, it's about transforming the mind.

When you note pain, you are not trying to make it go away. You are trying to understand its true nature.

Study the Buddha's teaching which is present in every moment.

The Dhamma is not a collection of doctrinal formulas but a path leading to direct insight into the nature of reality.

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

Don't think that only sitting with the eyes closed is practice. If you do think this way, then quickly change your thinking.

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.

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