Smile, breathe, and go slowly.

As a flower that is lovely and beautiful, but is scentless, even so fruitless is the well-spoken word of one who does not practice it.

Choose to be optimistic, it feels better.

The measure of success in spiritual life is how peaceful you are.

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.

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

The most important thing in life is to know death is coming and to prepare for it.

Our own life has to be our message.

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.

Don't think that only sitting with the eyes closed is practice. If you do think this way, then quickly change your thinking.

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.

It is never too late to turn on the light.

The entire path is a path of self-responsibility. Nobody else can walk it for you.

The practice of meditation is not about achieving states of bliss but about seeing things as they really are.

Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile.

Each moment of mindfulness is a moment of purification.

Karma is not fate but the law of moral causation, showing us that we are the architects of our own destiny.

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 essence of bravery is being without self-deception.

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

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

The Four Noble Truths are not mere doctrinal propositions but a framework for understanding and transforming our lives.

To be fully alive, fully human, and completely awake is to be continually thrown out of the nest.

The law of nature is the law of cause and effect. As you sow, so shall you reap.

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

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

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.

If you want to understand suffering, you must look into the situation at hand. The teachings say that wherever a problem arises it must be settled right there.

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

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

Ethical conduct is not a constraint upon our freedom but a condition of our freedom.

Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness.

The deepest happiness comes from having an enduring sense of purpose, one that gives our lives meaning beyond the endless pursuit of pleasure and success.

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.

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

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

Compassion is not mere sentiment but a powerful force that can transform both ourselves and others.

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

The force of the kindness of others is so strong, we can't possibly measure it.

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

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

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

The zazen I speak of is not meditation practice. It is simply the dharma gate of joyful ease.

No valid plans for the future can be made by those who have no capacity for living now.

If we learn to open our hearts, anyone, including the people who drive us crazy, can be our teacher.

The practice of meditation is like tuning an instrument. Too tight, and the strings break. Too loose, and they won't play.

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

Zen is a way of life, not a theory or a piece of knowledge to be stored away in our minds.

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

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.

Though the view should be as vast as the sky, keep your conduct as fine as barley flour.

The first step toward faith is to admit that we don't know everything.

Work diligently. Diligently. Work patiently and persistently. Patiently and persistently. And you're bound to be successful. Bound to be successful.

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

The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater our own sense of well-being becomes.

Mindfulness is the key to the present moment. Without it we cannot see the world clearly, and we cannot make the wisest choices in our lives.

The real purpose of Zen is to see things as they are, to observe things as they are, and to let everything go as it goes.

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.

The Four Noble Truths are not merely theoretical propositions but a framework for understanding and transforming our experience.

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