Hope and fear come from feeling that we lack something; they come from a sense of poverty. We can't simply relax with ourselves. We hold on to hope, and hope robs us of the present moment.

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

Choose to be optimistic, it feels better.

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

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

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

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

Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.

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

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

The practice of Zen is forgetting the self in the act of uniting with something.

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

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

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

When you see forms or hear sounds fully engaging body-and-mind, you intuit dharma intimately.

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.

Every moment is a fresh beginning. Every breath is a new chance.

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

The more precisely you note, the more clearly you understand. The more clearly you understand, the stronger your insight becomes.

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

Each moment of mindfulness is a moment of purification.

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

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

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

Awareness is like the sun. When it shines on things, they are transformed.

The obstacle is the path.

Compassion is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength.

Technical knowledge is not enough. One must transcend techniques so that the art becomes an artless art, growing out of the unconscious.

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

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

Concentration is a cornerstone of mindfulness practice. Your mindfulness will only be as robust as your capacity to ground your attention in the present moment.

Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It's a relationship between equals.

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

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.

Metta is the ability to embrace all parts of ourselves, as well as all parts of the world.

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

When mindfulness and concentration are strong, insight into the three characteristics naturally unfolds.

The past is gone, the future is not yet here. Live in the present moment with awareness.

My religion is to live and die without regret.

Even if you speak of 'understanding,' this understanding is not a matter of knowledge. It is what fills the entire body and mind.

Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know.

Try to be mindful and let things take their natural course. Then your mind will become still in any surroundings, like a clear forest pool.

Conquer anger with non-anger. Conquer evil with good. Conquer stinginess with giving. Conquer deceit with truth.

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

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

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 trouble is, you think you have time.

Concentration and insight are like two wings of a bird: both are necessary for the flight to liberation.

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

Compassion is not just about being kind to others. It's about being kind to ourselves as well.

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

The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.

We can learn to be present with whatever is happening in our lives, and in this way, we can begin to transform our relationship to difficulty.

Should you desire the great tranquility, prepare to sweat white beads.

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

At the bottom of great doubt lies great awakening. If you doubt fully, you will awaken fully.

Meditation is the road to happiness.

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

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