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

The affairs of the world will go on forever. Do not delay the practice of meditation.

Wisdom arises when you see the true characteristics of phenomena through direct experience.

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

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.

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

Rather than letting our negativity get the better of us, we could acknowledge that right now we feel like a piece of shit and not be squeamish about taking a good look.

The Buddha taught us to leave alone the things that don't lead to awakening.

The mind is like a wild monkey, jumping here and there. But through meditation, we learn to see whatever arises in our mind with more spaciousness and clarity.

If you want to climb a mountain, begin at the top.

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

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

Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.

When we develop patience, we find that we develop a reserve of calm and tranquility.

The Buddha's teaching is not about belief but about investigation, not about accepting but about examining.

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

The dharma wheel turns from the beginning. There is neither excess nor deficiency. The whole universe is moistened with nectar, and the truth is ready to harvest.

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

The Noble Eightfold Path is not a path of mere intellectual understanding but a path of practice, of inner transformation.

The highest truth cannot be taught except through the conventional truth.

There is no need to have a deep understanding of Zen. Even though you read much Zen literature, you must read each sentence with a fresh mind.

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

A disciplined mind leads to happiness, and an undisciplined mind leads to suffering.

Understanding at the intellectual level is not enough. There must be experience at the actual level.

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

The more we witness our emotional reactions and understand how they work, the easier it is to refrain.

Do everything with a mind that lets go. Don't accept praise or gain or anything else. 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.

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.

Mindfulness is attention to life, and life itself is sacred.

Compassion is the radicalism of our time.

The treasure house within you contains everything, and you are free to use it. You don't need to seek outside.

Wisdom and compassion must be developed equally and harmoniously.

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

The technique of self-observation is the technique of observing the reality about oneself at the experiential level.

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

Start from where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.

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

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.

We can learn the art of fierce compassion - redefining strength, deconstructing isolation and renewing a sense of community, practicing letting go of rigid us-vs.-them thinking.

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

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

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

Don't expect or desire anything. Just keep noting whatever arises in the present moment.

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

The Buddha's teaching is a middle way between all extremes, between eternalism and annihilationism, between self-indulgence and self-torture.

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

You are the master of your own mind. You can be your best friend or your worst enemy.

The purpose of meditation is not to create a mental vacuum but to come to know one's own mind.

My religion is to live and die without regret.

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

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

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

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

The Buddha's path is not about becoming somebody different but about becoming more and more who you really are.

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

The true understanding is that the practice itself is enlightenment.

The Buddha's teaching is not a philosophy or a religion; it is a method of practice.

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

The practice of meditation is like learning to play an instrument - it takes patience, regular practice, and a gentle touch.

Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind.