This is the real secret of life -- to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.

Generosity generates its own enthusiasm. We don't have to force ourselves to be generous; we just need to start.

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

Genuine happiness comes from having developed basic human qualities, such as attention, emotional balance, and generosity.

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

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

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.

The practice of vipassana is the study of the self. When you study physical and mental phenomena, you are studying the truth about yourself.

If you want to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be miserable, expect something in return.

The door of your heart can only be opened from the inside.

Self-awareness is the key to freedom. The more we understand ourselves, the more we understand how to be free.

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

When we meet real tragedy in life, we can react in two ways - either by losing hope and falling into self-destructive habits, or by using the challenge to find our inner strength.

Every time we become aware of a thought, as opposed to being lost in a thought, we experience that opening of the mind.

The obstacle is the path.

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

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

The true understanding is that the practice itself is enlightenment.

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

Knowledge must be stabilized by meditation. Without meditation, knowledge is like a child in battle.

The development of wisdom does not occur in isolation but requires the cultivation of the entire Noble Eightfold Path.

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.

What is the sound of one hand clapping?

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

The seed of suffering in you may be strong, but don't wait until you have no more suffering before allowing yourself to be happy.

The practitioner and practice are like fire and wood. The more you practice, the more you burn.

When we get too caught up in the busyness of the world, we lose connection with one another – and ourselves.

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

Don't try to change the world. First, change yourself.

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

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

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

We deal with our mind from morning until evening, and it can be our best friend or our worst enemy.

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

Just observe whatever arises. Don't try to create anything, and don't reject anything.

The key to meditation is to recognize the nature of your mind rather than trying to change it.

Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax.

The practitioner and practice are like fire and wood. The more you practice, the more you burn.

The development of wisdom requires both study and practice, both learning and direct experience.

Vipassana is the art of living. Not the art of escaping.

May all beings be happy, be peaceful, be liberated.

The quieter you become, the more you can hear.

The practice is not about achieving special states but about seeing ordinary experience with extraordinary clarity.

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

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.

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

As long as our orientation is toward perfection or success, we will never learn about unconditional friendship with ourselves, nor will we find compassion.

Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.

The practice of ethics is not about following rules but about developing inner purity and freedom.

There is no way to happiness - happiness is the way.

Should a person do good, let him do it again and again. Let him find pleasure therein, for blissful is the accumulation of good.

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.

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

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

The only way to experience truth is to look within, to observe oneself.

The mind is like a room with many windows. Open them all and let the fresh air in.

The problem is not the problem; the problem is your attitude about the problem.

Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

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.