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

Meditation is not an escape from reality but a way to understand reality as it truly is.

The root of all mind is your own present pure awareness. Rest in that essence without seeking elsewhere.

The Buddha's teaching is a teaching of self-reliance, of being one's own master, one's own refuge.

Each decision we make, each action we take, is born out of an intention.

The truth of Zen is the truth of life, and life means to live, to move, to act, not merely to reflect.

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

The practice of mindfulness leads naturally to concentration. Concentration leads naturally to wisdom.

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

Our emotions are like waves in the ocean. We can't stop the waves, but we can learn to surf.

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

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

True happiness comes from a sense of inner peace and contentment, which in turn must be achieved through cultivation of altruism, of love, of compassion.

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

The purpose of Buddhist practice is not to become a Buddhist but to awaken to the nature of reality.

Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.

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

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

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

The Buddha's teachings are not about abandoning our lives but about bringing the fullness of our attention to our lives.

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.

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

The heart of the path is quite simple. No need for long explanations. Give up clinging to love and hate, just rest with things as they are.

The path of insight is a path of discovery, not a path of creation. We are discovering what is already there.

Where there is great doubt, there is great awakening; small doubt, small awakening; no doubt, no awakening.

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

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

The practice of metta begins with oneself, for only when we have developed loving-kindness towards ourselves can we truly offer it to others.

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

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

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

Radiate boundless love towards the entire world — above, below, and across — unhindered, without ill will, without enmity.

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

We practice to learn how to let go, not how to increase our holding on to things.

The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment and feeling truly alive.

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

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

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

Do not follow the ideas of others, but learn to listen to the voice within yourself.

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

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.

Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile.

The way to overcome anger is to be too busy being kind to have time to be angry.

Life and death are of supreme importance. Time swiftly passes by and opportunity is lost. Each of us should strive to awaken. Awaken! Take heed, do not squander your life.

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

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

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

The highest mantra is to be without deception. The highest medicine is to have few desires. The highest meditation is not to be attached.

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

The practice of Dharma is a constant battle within oneself.

Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it.

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

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

Study how water flows in a valley stream, smoothly and freely between the rocks.

Liberation is not found by running away from our experience but by looking deeply into it.

If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.

Forgiveness means giving up all hope for a better past.

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

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