The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart.

The mind of the beginner is empty, free of the habits of the expert, ready to accept, to doubt, and open to all the possibilities.

In the monastery of your body, the monk of your mind must stay in retreat.

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

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

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

In a mind clear as still water, even the waves, breaking, are reflecting its light.

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

Where is the place that your original face has not yet emerged?

The Buddha taught that wealth does not bring happiness and security. The pursuit of wealth is a matter of living in balance.

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

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

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

Instead of having a deep understanding of the teaching, we need a strong confidence in our teaching, which says that originally we have Buddha nature.

The trouble is, you think you have time.

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

The practice of Dharma is a constant battle within oneself.

The everyday practice is simply to develop complete acceptance and openness to all situations and emotions.

When dharma fills your body and mind, you realize that something is missing.

The four foundations of mindfulness are not separate practices but different aspects of the same practice of clear awareness.

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

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

Choose to be optimistic, it feels better.

Time passes unhindered. When we make ourselves better, we make the world better.

Just as a snake sheds its skin, we must shed our past over and over again.

The silence between the notes is as important as the notes themselves.

Just as a mother would protect her only child with her life, even so let one cultivate a boundless love towards all beings.

You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.

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 supreme path is not to fabricate anything. The supreme meditation is not to be distracted.

True happiness comes from a sense of inner peace and contentment, which in turn must be achieved through cultivation of altruism, of love, of compassion.

Compassion is the radicalism of our time.

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

The practice of mindfulness is simple: whatever you experience, you observe and note it.

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.

The true mark of a spiritual practitioner is that your own behavior is better, not that you can criticize others well.

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

If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.

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

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

The way to change the world is to change your own mind.

Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

Mindfulness helps you go home to the present. And every time you go there and recognize a condition of happiness that you have, happiness comes.

The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment and feeling truly alive.

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

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

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

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

Like a fine flower, beautiful to look at but without scent, fine words are fruitless in a man who does not act in accordance with them.

In meditation, we are continuously discovering who and what we are.

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

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

Whatever we do, we should see ourselves. Reading books doesn't show us our defilements. Watch yourself. Watch your mind.