The noting mind and the object noted appear to occur as a pair. Through concentration they are seen to arise and vanish together.

Forgiveness means giving up all hope for a better past.

We need to learn to let our emotions pass through us like waves, without getting caught in their undertow.

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

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

Sensations are not your enemy. They are your teacher. Through observing them, you understand the truth of existence.

Wisdom and compassion must be developed equally and harmoniously.

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

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

The movement of love is what creates the beauty in our lives.

The precious pot containing my riches becomes my teacher in the very moment it breaks.

Meditation in the midst of activity is a thousand times superior to meditation in stillness.

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 Buddha never taught a sectarian religion; he taught Dhamma - the way to liberation - which is universal.

Each moment of mindfulness is a moment of purification.

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

The key to transformation is not to fight with our experience but to open to it with awareness.

Only to the extent that we expose ourselves over and over to annihilation can that which is indestructible be found in us.

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

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

The Dhamma is not a collection of doctrinal formulas but a path leading to direct insight into the nature of reality.

When we look directly at our thoughts, they dissolve like bubbles in water.

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

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

In the end, just three things matter: How well we have lived, how well we have loved, how well we have learned to let go.

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

As surely as there is a voyage away, there is a journey home.

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

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

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 more you meditate, the more you understand yourself and the better friend you become to yourself.

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

The true understanding is that the practice itself is enlightenment.

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.

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

Much of spiritual life is self-acceptance, maybe all of it.

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

Meditation is not about stopping thoughts, but recognizing that we are not our thoughts.

Faith is not a commodity that you either have or don't have - it is an inner quality that unfolds as we learn to trust our own deepest experience.

The goal of meditation is not to achieve a blank mind, but to gain insight into the nature of mind itself.

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

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

Meditation is not about achieving anything. It's about letting go of everything.

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

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

Meditation is not about trying to change your experience; it's about changing your relationship to your experience.

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

If you cannot find the truth right where you are, where else do you expect to find it?

The essence of Buddhist practice is to bring everything onto the path. Every experience becomes an opportunity for awakening.

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

The trouble is, you think you have time.

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

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

It is never too late to turn on the light.

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.

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

The Dhamma unfolds in accordance with a definite sequence: faith, virtue, learning, generosity, wisdom, and insight.

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

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

The obstacle is the path.