My religion is to live and die without regret.

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

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

Happiness is a skill that can be developed like playing an instrument or learning to read.

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

It is never too late to turn on the light.

The master's introduction is direct recognition of one's own nature. Meditation is maintaining the continuity of this recognition.

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

The three characteristics - impermanence, suffering, and non-self - are not philosophical concepts but aspects of experience to be directly observed.

Whoever told you that practice and enlightenment are separate?

When you note pain, you should not dwell on the thought, "I feel pain." Simply recognize the presence of pain.

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

Meditation is not about getting away from it all. It's about getting into it all.

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

The essence of meditation is not something complicated or exotic. It is simply taking a break from our habitual patterns.

The best way to solve a problem is to help someone else solve their problem.

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

The rising and falling of the abdomen is not the main object. The main object is to develop mindfulness, concentration, and insight.

The best way to control people is to encourage them to be mischievous. Then they will be in control in a wider sense.

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

The quieter you become, the more you can hear.

If you let go a little, you will have a little peace. If you let go a lot, you will have a lot of peace. If you let go completely, you will have complete peace.

The challenge in meditation is not to eliminate thinking but to understand the nature of thought itself.

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

Our true nature is like a diamond - pure, brilliant, and indestructible. No matter how much dirt covers it, its essential nature remains unchanged.

If it isn't good, let it die. If it doesn't die, make it good.

Live in joy, in love, even among those who hate. Live in joy, in health, even among the afflicted. Live in joy, in peace, even among the troubled. Look within, be still.

Misery ceases to exist when we stop reacting to sensations.

When you understand one thing through and through, you understand everything. When you try to understand everything, you will not understand anything.

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

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

Every small positive change we make in ourselves repays us in confidence in the future.

There are many ways to meditate. But at the heart of them all is mindfulness.

Compassion is a verb.

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

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

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

Observe the reality as it is, not as you wish it to be.

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

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

People who study a lot but don't practice are like a ladle in a soup pot. It's in the soup every day, but it doesn't know the taste of the soup.

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.

Let none find fault with others; let none see the omissions and commissions of others. But let one see one's own acts, done and undone.

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

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

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

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

Wisdom is not something we have to strive to acquire. Rather, wisdom arises naturally as we open our hearts to the truth of what is.

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

When you note effectively, there is no time for defilements to arise. The mind becomes pure through noting.

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

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

Compassion is not something we develop. It arises naturally as we see the truth of what is.

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

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

Our practice cannot be perfect, but without being discouraged by this, we should continue it. This is the secret of practice.

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

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

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