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.

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

Meditation is the road to happiness.

To have faith is to trust yourself to the water. When you swim you don't grab hold of the water, because if you do you will sink and drown. Instead you relax, and float.

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

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

Mindfulness means keeping one's consciousness alive to the present reality.

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

Life is nothing but a continuous chain of sensations. Pleasant or unpleasant, observe them objectively.

The moment you note a thought, it disappears. The noting mind keeps the hindrances away.

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

The purpose of studying Buddhism is not to study Buddhism, but to study ourselves.

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

My religion is to live and die without regret.

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

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

Sticking with uncertainty, getting the knack of relaxing in the midst of chaos, learning not to panic—this is the spiritual path.

The obstacle is the path.

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 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.

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

Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.

When you listen to someone, you should give up all your preconceived ideas and your subjective opinions.

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

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

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

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

Whatever is happening is the path to enlightenment.

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

My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground upon which I stand.

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

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

When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something new.

The yogi's joy is in the solitude of mountains, where all distractions naturally dissolve into emptiness.

Meditation is not an escape from life but a way to fully engage with life.

The essence of Buddhist practice is to reduce our selfishness and to work for the benefit of others.

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.

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

Each of you is perfect the way you are... and you can use a little improvement.

True love is not for the faint-hearted.

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

There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called yesterday and the other is called tomorrow, so today is the right day to love, believe, do and mostly live.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

We need the courage to learn from our experience and the wisdom to be willing to change and grow.

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

Liberation is found in the practice, not in the theory.

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

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

The whole path of mindfulness is about letting go. We let go of our attachment to our views, our attachment to our opinions, our attachment to our ideas.

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

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

The grass is greener where you water it.